About us

Information Hub, Central Library
Imperial College London
South Kensington Campus
London
SW7 2AZ
+44 (0)20 7594 8810
centrallibrary@imperial.ac.uk

The library is next to the Queen's lawn. If you are a visitor please speak to a member of staff at the Welcome Desk.

Study zones

We provide different types of study space to suit your style of working:

Silent Study - levels 1 and 2
Quiet study - levels 1, 4 and 5
Group study - level 5

Please observe the displayed COVID-19 safety guidance.

Our Library Attendants regularly patrol all floors and will be pleased to help maintain the study environment.

Printing PCs, laptops and iPads

Printers

Printer-copiers are located on levels 1, 2, 4 and 5 - use them to print, scan or photocopy.

All printer-copiers output to black and white (mono), or colour. 

Visit the ICT webpage for instructions on uploading documents or topping-up print credit online.

You can also top-up credit using the machine on level 1, Wolfson Suite printing area.

PCs, laptops and iPads

You'll find PCs on levels 1, 2, 4 and 5. You are advised to book in advance to use the Business PCs.

We have iPads and laptops for students to borrow, see Laptops and iPads.

If you need to charge your phone please ask for a charger at the Information Hub.

ICT support

ICT support is available at the Service Desk on level 1.

Eating and drinking

The Library Cafe is the best place for eating and drinking.

Only drinks with a lid and cold food are allowed beyond the library gates.

Water fountains are provided on all levels.

Phone friendly areas

Please keep your phone on silent wherever you are in the building and only make and receive calls in our phone zones:

• Level 1 - group study area, main entrance
• Level 2 - near staircase
• Level 3 - near staircase

Books and other items

Our book collection supports taught courses and research. We also hold a wide range of recreational reading material both fiction and non-fiction. Books are arranged in classmark order:

To borrow items use the self-service machines on level 1.

The 24 hour loan room on level 1 has books in heavy demand.

Pick up your requested items from the 24 hour loan room and use the self-service machine to borrow them.

Print journals and theses are kept in the Store and are fetched, on request, by the Store Service. We also hold a number of special collections of historical interest originating from the College's department and medical schools.

Study rooms

During the COVID-19 pandemic our study rooms are available for use by one student at a time only.

To book a room visit Library bookings.

All our study rooms have a PC.

Students may book two sessions in any seven days (maximum booking of two hours allowed per day). Please make sure you arrive on time, after 15 minutes Library Services may reassign the time slot to another user.
Non-members of Imperial will not be permitted to enter the library in order to join a group of students who have booked a room.

For group study see Breakout spaces.

Training and meeting rooms

For our training room and meeting room booking policy see Room bookings.