Libraries Winter Hours 2025
The Christmas vacation and inter-semester break are almost here. To try to help you plan-ahead, our revised opening hours can be found below. These include some additional opening hours during the revision period, as well as our shorter opening times during the break, and our Christmas closures.
You can view the full University semester dates online, but it might be useful to note that the Christmas vacation officially starts on Monday 23 December 2025. Week 1 of Semester 2 begins Monday 26 January 2026.
All of our current hours, including Help Desk availability at the Main Library, are shown on the library spaces page. If you have any queries, please email [email protected] or get in touch via the library chat.
We know that there can be a lot to juggle during the winter break. If you have children and think you might need to bring them to the library, this is absolutely fine for a short visit. However, we do ask that you not bring children into library buildings for longer periods of time. Please take a look at our FAQ for more info.
Butts Wynd
Study space and PC classrooms will remain available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, throughout the break. These spaces are available to all library users via swipe card access.
Main Library
Until Sunday 30 November: standard term time hours
Monday 1 December – Friday 12 December: 8am to 2am, 7 days
Saturday 13 December – Friday 19 December: 8am to 12am
Saturday 20 December – Tuesday 23 December: 8am to 10pm
Wednesday 24 December: 8am to 12pm (midday)
Thursday 25 December – Sunday 4 January: CLOSED
Monday 5 January – Sunday 25 January: 8am to 10pm
Monday 26 January onwards: 8am to 12am (midnight), 7 days
Thomson Reading Room, in Martyrs Kirk – available to postgraduate students and University staff only
Until Sunday 30 November: standard term time hours
Monday 1 December – Friday 12 December: 8.30am to 1.30am, 7 days
Saturday 13 December – Friday 19 December: 8.30am to 11.30pm
Saturday 20 December – Tuesday 23 December: 8.30am to 9.30pm
Wednesday 24 December: 8am to 11.30am
Thursday 25 December – Sunday 28 December: CLOSED
Monday 29 December – Wednesday 31 December: 8am – 8pm
Thursday 1 January – Sunday 4 January: CLOSED
Monday 5 January – Sunday 25 January: 8.30am to 9.30pm
Monday 26 January onwards: 8.30am to 11.30pm, 7 days
St Mary’s and King James Libraries
Until Sunday 30 November: standard term time hours
Monday 1 December – Friday 12 December: 9am to 1am, 7 days
Saturday 13 December – Friday 19 December: 9am to 11pm
Saturday 20 December – Tuesday 23 December: 9am to 9pm
Wednesday 24 December: 9am to 11:30am
Thursday 25 December – Sunday 4 January: CLOSED
Monday 5 January – Sunday 25 January: 9am to 9pm
Monday 26 January onwards: 9am to 11pm, 7 days
JF Allen Library
Until Friday 28 November: standard term time hours
Saturday 29 November – Sunday 14 December: 9am to 9pm Monday – Friday; 9am to 5pm Saturday – Sunday
Monday 15 December – Friday 19 December: 9am to 5pm
Monday 22 December – Tuesday 23 December: 9am to 5pm
Wednesday 24 December: 9am to 12pm (midday)
Thursday 25 December – Sunday 4 January: CLOSED
Monday 5 January onwards: 9am to 5pm, Monday – Friday
Library at the Gateway
Until Friday 28 November: standard term time hours
Saturday 29 November – Sunday 14 December: 9am to 9pm Monday – Friday; 9am to 5pm Saturday – Sunday
Monday 15 December – Friday 19 December: 9am to 9pm
Monday 22 December – Tuesday 23 December: 9am to 6pm
Wednesday 24 December: 9am to 12pm (midday)
Thursday 25 December – Sunday 4 January: CLOSED
Monday 5 January – Sunday 25 January: 9am to 5pm, Monday – Friday
Monday 26 January onwards: 9am to 9pm, Monday – Friday
Walter Bower House Reading Room
Until Tuesday 23 December: 9am to 5pm, Monday–Friday
Wednesday 24 December: 9am to 12pm (midday)
Thursday 25 December – Sunday 4 January: CLOSED
Monday 5 January onwards: 9am to 5pm, Monday–Friday