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Library Services

Opening hours

Opening and staffed hours for our libraries and study spaces

Opening hours

You will find today’s opening hours on the library homepage, and detailed opening hours and library staffed hours below. Please note visitors must apply in advance of their first visit.

Mile End Library

Staffed hours

A library-staffed enquiry service is available at the Welcome Desk during the following times: 

  • Monday – Friday: 8am to 8pm 
  • Saturday – Sunday: 11am to 6pm 

Exceptions: 

  • Wednesday 24 December: 10am to 4pm 
  • Saturday 27 December - Thursday 1 January: 10am to 4pm 

Outside of these hours Mile End Library is staffed by Library Security and a range of self-service facilities are available.   

Opening hours

Monday 15 September to Saturday 22 November 2025: 

  • 8am to midnight

Sunday 23 November to Friday 05 December 2025: 

  • Open 24 hours from Sunday 8am to Friday midnight
  • Saturday: 8am to midnight

Saturday 06 December 2025 to Saturday 07 March 2026*:

  • 8am to midnight

* Closed - Thursday 25 - Friday 26 December 2025

Loan extension: items borrowed from Saturday 06 December will have a due date of Monday 05 January 

Sunday 08 March 2026 to Friday 17 April 2026:

  • Open 24 hours from Sunday 8am - Friday midnight
  • Saturday: 8am to midnight

Saturday 18 April 2026 to Saturday 02 May 2026:

  • 8am to midnight

Sunday 03 May 2026 to Friday 05 June 2026:

  • Open 24 hours from Sunday 8am - Friday midnight
  • Saturday: 8am to midnight

Whitechapel Library

Staffed hours

A library-staffed enquiry service is available at the Welcome Desk during the following times: 

  • Monday – Friday: 8am to 8pm 
  • Saturday – Sunday: 11am to 6pm 

Outside of these hours Whitechapel Library is staffed by Library Security and a range of self-service facilities are available.   

Opening hours

Tuesday 26 August to Sunday 21 December 2025: 

  • Monday – Sunday: 8am to midnight 
  • Loan extension: items borrowed from Saturday 6 December will have a due date of Monday 5 January 2025 

Monday 22 December 2025 to Thursday 01 January 2026:

  •  Closed

Friday 02 January to Friday 03 July 2026:

  • Monday – Sunday: 8am to midnight

Saturday 04 July to Sunday 30 August 2026:

  • To be confirmed

 

West Smithfield Library

Staffed hours

A library-staffed enquiry service is available at the Welcome Desk during the following times: 

  • Monday-Friday: 10am to 8pm

Outside of these hours West Smithfield Library is staffed by Library Security and a range of self-service facilities are available. 

Basement Reading Room opening hours

  • 24/7 

Queen Mary staff or student ID card is required for access to the basement. Please note, due to the refurbishment of the lift, there is currently no step-free access to the Basement Reading Room. 

Library opening hours

Tuesday 26 August to Friday 19 December 2025: 

  • Monday – Friday: 10am to 8pm 
  • Saturday – Sunday: Closed 
  • Loan extension: items borrowed from Saturday 6 December will have a due date of Monday 5 January 

Saturday 20 December 2025 to Sunday 04 January 2026: 

  • Closed

Monday 05 January to Sunday 22 February 2026: 

  • Monday – Friday: 10am to 8pm 
  • Saturday – Sunday: Closed 

Monday 23 February to Sunday 22 March 2026: 

  • Monday – Sunday: 10am to 8pm 

Monday 23 March to Sunday 03 May 2026: 

  • Monday – Friday: 10am to 8pm 
  • Saturday – Sunday: Closed 

Monday 04 May to Sunday 14 June 2026: 

  • Monday – Sunday: 10am to 8pm

Monday 15 June to Sunday 05 July 2026: 

  • Monday – Friday: 10am to 8pm 
  • Saturday – Sunday: Closed 

Monday 06 July to Sunday 30 August 2026:

  • To be confirmed

Canalside

Staffed hours

A library-staffed enquiry service is not available at Canalside. The nearest service is located at Mile End Library. Canalside is monitored by Library Staff and Security. 

Opening hours

  • 24/7* 

* Closed from Tuesday 26 August - Tuesday 16 September 2025

The Hive

Staffed hours

A library-staffed enquiry service is not available at The Hive. The nearest service is located at Mile End Library. The Hive is monitored by Library Staff and Security. 

Opening hours

Saturday 7 June to Monday 25 August 2025: 

  • Closed 

Tuesday 26 August to Wednesday 17 September 2025:

24/7 (to cover for Canalside) until 6pm on Wednesday 17 September

Thursday 18 September to Friday 12 December 2025: 

  • Monday – Friday: 8am to 6pm 
  • Saturday – Sunday: Closed 

Saturday 13 December 2025 to Thursday 1 January 2026: 

  • Closed 

Friday 2 January to Friday 5 June 2026: 

  • Monday – Friday: 8am to 6pm 
  • Saturday – Sunday: Closed 

Saturday 6 June to Sunday 13 September 2026: 

  • Closed 

The Graduate Centre

Staffed hours

A library-staffed enquiry service is not available at The Graduate Centre 7th floor Study Space. The nearest service is located at Mile End Library. The space is monitored by Library Staff and Security. Please note access is only for postgraduate level students. 

Opening hours

  • Postgraduate taught students: 
    • Monday – Friday: 8am to 10pm 
    • Saturday – Sunday: 10am to 10pm 
  • Postgraduate research students have 24/7 access 

 

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