About us

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

The library is next to the Queen's lawn. Visitors are asked to report to the Welcome Desk. If you have a question please ask at the Information Hub.

Study zones

All areas of the library are silent study only.

• Level 1 - area for individual study and Wolfson Suite (silent study)
• Level 2 - silent study, height adjustable desks available
• Level 3 - silent study, height adjustable desks available
• Level 4 - silent study
• Level 5 - silent study

Please observe the displayed COVID-19 safety guidance, and encourage your friends and colleagues to follow this too.

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

Printing PCs, laptops and iPads

Printers

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

All devices 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.

Chargers for your phone or tablet are available – please ask at the Information Hub.

ICT support

On-site ICT support has moved to Level 4, Sherfield Building.
Book in advance to get an appointment or alternatively, call them on +44 (0)20 7594 9000. 

Eating and drinking

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

Only drinks with a lid and cold food items are allowed beyond the entrance turnstiles.

Water fountains are provided on all levels.

Phone friendly areas

Please keep your phone on silent wherever you are in the building. You may make and receive calls in the below areas to reduce disturbance. They are equipped with acoustic phone hoods.

• Level 1 - café, phone hoods at the base of main staircase and outside training room 2
• Level 2 - outside the toilets
• Level 3 - outside the toilets

Books and other items

Our book collection contains material to support both 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

The Central Library has four study rooms available for student use only.

Students may book study rooms via Library bookings.

You 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