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About Library and Learning Services

Current library services

Kingston University library buildings are open for all our learners and the wider community.

Please note, to help manage building capacity from Monday 23 May 2022 until 17 July 2022 – only Kingston University students, staff or invited guests are allowed to use our study desks / study areas. Visitors are welcome to view our buildings and use our cafes but not use study areas.

From 18 July 2022 – Designated study spaces (limited capacity) will be available to visitors. For more information, see our library services for visitors page.

Face coverings are a personal choice when in any library building.

An Information Centre service operates at all Kingston University Libraries. Both Information Centre and specialist library staff offer a variety of channels to support students with their studies or support needs. Students can click on the 'Chat now' box on iCat to access this support.

Students and staff can also log in to My Kingston to access a range of library services, including our extensive e-book and e-journal collections available through the iCat library catalogue. To learn more about the services we offer, you can enrol on the library module on Canvas.

About us

The Library and Learning Services at Kingston University supports our students and staff in pursuing their learning, teaching and research ambitions.

Our focus is on the delivery of high-quality learning resources and services to students and staff (face to face and online). We support a wide range of information-driven activity from skills support through to innovative online learning experiences.

This is achieved through the following key areas:

Support

  • Helpful, friendly and knowledgeable staff at all our Help Desks.
  • Library online chat, including at weekends, to help with library queries from any campus or from home.
  • Library staff who can help you with some key academic study skills such as referencing and citation, and finding and evaluating resources. You can access this help online via library Canvas and library online chat, or in person at a Help Desk.
  • Support for disabled students and students with specific learning difficulties – through reformatting of core texts and specialist access technology rooms at all libraries.
  • Our libraries provide a base for careers, accommodation and student finance consultations.
  • Working closely with students to shape our services.

Study spaces

  • Four modern libraries on each of the main teaching campuses.
  • A range of study spaces.
  • More than 1,800 open access PCs.
  • Internet access and Wi-Fi.
  • Printing and photocopying facilities.

Resources

  • Whenever possible we buy e-books rather than print, to enable students to access the texts when and where they need them.
  • Over 330,000 books – plus 275,000 e-books.
  • A wide range of databases to search for articles on specific subjects.
  • More than 78,000 journals available online.
  • Audiovisual items including DVDs.
  • Cafes at three of our libraries.

On 6 January 2020 the library at our Penrhyn Road campus moved into the new Town House building.

Contact details

Libraries

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