Library Overview

Your College library provides you with a place to study, access to resources across all subjects and help from library staff.

The information on this page covers the basics to help you get started.  

New Student Inductions

If you are a returning student who wants a refresher please email us: library@magd.cam.ac.uk

Undergraduates

Undergraduate inductions will take place on Monday 7th and Tuesday 8th October and are arranged in subject groups - please come to the library foyer at your time (see the freshers pack or download the timetable below). The tour will take 20-30 minutes and will cover the basics of using the College library.

Your induction should take priority over non-academic events but if you are unable to attend there are catch up sessions on Wednesday 9th October.

Postgraduates

Postgraduate inductions will take place on 3rd & 4th October and 10th &11th October. These are optional and can be booked online here: Cambridge Libraries calendar

 You can also email us to arrange a specific time.

Opening Hours and Access

The New Library is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week throughout term time and vacation periods.

Access is via your University card - we are open to Magdalene College members only but you also have access to the University and subject Faculty Libraries.

Before arriving for the first time please update your card by scanning it on the card reader outside the Porters’ Lodge to activate access.

The entrance has automatic doors, there is a lift to all floors and there are disabled bathrooms on each floor.

Library Staff

College Library staff are available to provide support in making best use of the Library and its resources and to answer questions and help with problems. We are available 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday, please come and speak to us at the staff desk or send us an email at library@magd.cam.ac.uk.

We communicate important information via email (so keep an eye out for those) but also regularly update this website, social media and our blog (all @magdlibs).

JCR and MCR student representatives sit on the Libraries Committee, which meets once a term to discuss policy relating to the College’s Libraries. They can also be approached if you have suggestions for the College Library or issues you’d like them to raise with us.

Library Rules

The Library rules are in place to provide a safe and welcoming environment that is conducive to study for all users and staff:

• The Library is for current Magdalene members only. You may not borrow books on behalf of non-members or bring non-members to work in the library although you can bring in visitors to see the library during vacation periods.
• All items must be borrowed before you take them out of the Library.
• You are responsible for borrowed items until they are returned. If a returned item is lost or damaged (containing markings, stained etc.) you may be charged for a replacement copy.
• The Library is primarily for silent study. Please take conversations and phone calls into the social space or outside.
• Drinks can be brought in lidded containers but reusable cups/thermos’ are preferred. Magdalene Eco Travel Cups and water bottles are available to purchase in the Library. Food food should only be eaten in the social space.

Studying in the Library

We have over 90 study spaces available with a mix of individual desks, group desks, comfortable seating and window seats. There is also a social space (Rowan Williams Room) with a kitchenette for taking breaks and where you can have food and drink.

A Group Study Room with six seats is available to book for group work and three bookable individual desks which are available to students who have disclosed a student support document. Please see the Studying in Library page for Group Study Room bookings and the Accessibility and Welfare page for further information and to book the individual desks.

Searching and locating items in the Library

Library collections can be searched using iDiscover. The ‘classmark’ is the number which tells you where the book is in the Library.

A map can be picked up from the map holders throughout the Library, and can also be accessed on the Library Map page.

Please see the Library Collections and Finding Items page for more detailed information and you can always ask staff if you have any problems locating items.

Borrowing and managing your Library account

You can borrow up to 12 items at one time from the College Library and up to 200 items across all the University Libraries

Items on loan to you will automatically renew every 7 days unless it is requested or until you return it.

If your loan is requested by another user you will have 3 days to return it.

Board games can be loaned for 4 days during term time and cannot be renewed.

The Library works on a self-service system for borrowing and returning books, with a self-service station on the Ground Floor and on the Second Floor.

For detailed information about finding and borrowing books, watch the video below and check our Borrowing and Managing your Library Account page.

Do I have access to other Libraries?

You will have access to (at least) three libraries during your studies: your College Library, the Faculty (subject) Libraries and the University Library. You will automatically be registered with the relevant Faculty Libraries but you can contact others if you wish to register with them.

Each library has their own rules, opening hours and borrowing rights. You can find details of every library in Cambridge via this directory.

Please note that each College Library is only open to its own College members!

The University Library has produced a short Cambridge libraries introduction video.