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Family facilities

The Library welcomes members with caring responsibilities. If you are responsible for someone aged under 18 they may come with you when you visit the building. You must accompany them at all times and you are responsible for their safety and behaviour.

The building is not designed for younger visitors so it is important that you read our risk assessment crib sheet for children in the Library. A copy of this will be given to you when you arrive. We strongly recommend you review the complete risk assessment too. Key things to remember are:

  • Always ask staff at the Welcome Desk to open an access gate for you so you can all enter and leave the building safely
  • Under 18s are not permitted up to, or on, the 5th floor (the silent study floor)
  • There are a lot of hard surfaces and potential falling hazards
  • For any emergency, report to the Welcome Desk

Children must not disturb other Library users. Library staff are not authorised or insured to look after any children brought onto the premises. The Library rules are extended to cover any child for whom an adult is responsible. A printed copy is available from the Welcome Desk. If these guidelines are breached in any way, you may be asked to leave the Library.

If you are not a member of the Library please note that during the University Examinations period (April until mid-June), access for non-Library members is restricted to weekends only and needs to be arranged in advance. See Information for members of the public for details of visiting restrictions and how to request access. Study spaces may not be used when visiting during this time as these are required by our own students revising for their exams.

Priority study space

Under 18s are welcome everywhere except the 5th Floor but we also have a Group Study table at the back of the Ground Floor that provides priority space for families if you would feel more comfortable there.

It is the last of the three Group Study tables behind the Self-Service Points, just outside staff office G09 and next to G20.

Breastfeeding facilities

The Parents' room (G25 in the Library Foyer) provides a private and comfortable space for staff or students, who are working or studying on campus whilst breastfeeding, to express milk or feed their baby. The room is furnished with a nursing chair and small fridge where breastmilk can be stored. Plug sockets are available for use with electric pumps and there are hand washing facilities.             

Access is by swipe card and should be arranged in advance through the Parent and Family Network, who can be contacted via email or on Teams.

The creation of the room was a joint initiative between the Parent and Family Network and the Staff Forum.  Additional Parents' rooms are available in the Meteorology Building and on London Road campus. Please contact the  Parent and Family Network for more information on these facilities.