The 1930s building of the Library, with its awe-inspiring vaulted timber ceiling, was complemented in 2005 by a multi-award-winning extension. This created a spacious IT resources area and a state-of-the-art repository to house the Archive and the Special Collections. These collections range from rare Sanskrit manuscripts to gifts of books from Girton’s most notable early supporters such as Tennyson, Ruskin, and George Eliot. There are extensive and internationally important collections on the history of women and work, the suffrage movement, and women’s education, as well as an extensive archive of the College’s ground-breaking history.
Library News
Please note the following arrangements for the Library over the Christmas and New Year period:
Borrowing from the Library
- Current students may borrow up to 10 items for the vacation, with loans due back by Wednesday, 22 January 2025.
- Reservations, recalls, and requests will be turned off on Tuesday, 3 December, and no loans can be recalled during the vacation.
- Loans to current staff and fellows can be recalled during the vacation and the loan period remains at 28 days (excluding days when the Library is closed).
- The Click & Collect service will remain available until Tuesday, 17 December.
Opening hours for the Library
- The Library will operate its usual Full Term hours (9 am–11 pm) until Sunday, 8 December.
- From Monday, 9 December, opening hours for current College members will be Monday to Friday 9 am–5 pm, with possible closures for lunch (subject to staff availability).
Please note that on Wednesday, 18 December, opening hours will be 9am–12noon and 2pm–5pm.
Please also note that further closures may occur at other times due to staff availability. If you are planning a special journey to use the Library, we recommend contacting us in advance at tel. 01223 338970 or email library@girton.cam.ac.uk.
*** The Library will close at 5 pm on Friday, 20 December 2024 and will reopen at 9 am on Monday, 6 January 2025. ***
Full Term opening hours will resume the weekend before Lent Full Term (18–19 January 2025).
Opening hours for the study rooms
- All the study rooms will be unavailable from 4 pm on Friday, 20 December 2024, and will reopen at 12 noon on Friday, 3 January 2025.
- Please book study rooms in the usual way.
Electronic resources
Ebooks, ejournals, and other electronic services will remain accessible over the Christmas vacation. However, please note that any technical issues arising during this time may not be resolved until after the holiday period.
Archive and Special Collections:
For visits, please check the Arranging a Visit section of the website, as their hours may differ from the general library hours.
We look forward to seeing you!
Library Team
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