Opening hours during the Olympics and beyond

We will be open as usual during the Olympics.

That is:

Monday-Friday: 9:30am-6pm
Saturday: 10am-4:30pm


At 6pm on Friday, August 17th we will close for our annual summer break. The library will re-open at 9:30am on Monday, September 3rd. Evening openings will re-commence with the start of term. All loans taken out between now and August 17th will be due back on September 3rd.

We will also soon be welcoming a new graduate library trainee, so if you see a new face behind the library desk in the next few weeks, do say hello!

Library opening hours during the Olympics

Please be aware that Library opening hours will remain the same as usual over the summer Olympics (9:30am - 6:00pm weekdays, 10:00am - 4:30pm Saturdays in July, closed Sundays).

Every effort will be made to maintain a regular service during the Olympics, and we will use our website, Twitter feed, and Facebook page to keep readers up-to-date about any disruptions.

Final Arrangements for the Media Hub in Russell Square

Image via Flickr user Rain Rabbit

LOCOG have now released the final arrangements for the media hub that will occupy Russell Square during the games. This will cause some disruptions and changes to traffic flow and access for the duration of the Olympics. You can view a map of Russell Square detailing the changes here.

Please be aware that vehicle access to Senate House will be restricted and will require a pass to be shown.

Pedestrian access will remain the same, however the crossing times at Woburn Place and Southampton Row have been shortened to improve traffic flow.

Taxis will not be allowed into the restricted area around Russell Square. If you are travelling by taxi, you are advised to go to Gower Street or Tottenham Court Road.

Cycling will not be affected, but cyclists should take extra care during the Olympic period due to the increased number of pedestrians and vehicles.

If you have any questions about accessing the Library during the Olympics, please speak to a member of staff or get in touch.

Ancient and Modern Olympics Blog

Image via Flickr user Sebastia Giralt

For those interested in the ancient Olympics, in light of the upcoming London games, Dr Jason König from the University of St. Andrews has started a blog about the games: http://ancientandmodernolympics.wordpress.com/

Further information on accessing the library during the Olympics

Image via Flickr user Peter Schauer

 As Russell Square will be made into the Media Transport Hub for the Olympics, there will be some access restrictions throughout July and August. Half of the square will have 24 hour restricted pedestrian access, including the Senate House side. Malet Street will remain unaffected.

There's a plan of vehicle and pedestrian access to Russell Square during the Olympics, and a list of FAQs for access in Bloomsbury.

TfL has a page describing changes to public transport services during the games. Please do have a look at this if you reach us by public transport, particularly by bus, as the Russell Square media hub means that some routes have been temporarily changed or will be experiencing significant delays.

The Library will be remaining open as usual during the Olympics, as will Senate House. If you have any concerns, please speak to a member of staff.

For more information on access during the Olympics, please look at the Olympics website.

Ancient and Modern Olympics events in London

Image via Flickr user failing_angel

Museums, universities, societies and institutions all over London will be holding Olympics-related events in June to celebrate the ancient roots of the competition.

The Roman Society says:

2012 is a great year for athletics. And for the history of athletics. The whole concept of peaceful international competition through sport has its origin in the ancient world. To celebrate the return of the games to London after 64 years we are offering a rich programme of events dedicated to sport and competition, ancient and modern. Through exhibitions, public lectures and conferences our programme looks not just at events and sites but at the idea of competition, the pursuit of excellence, motivation, rewards and prizes; we look at the way the ancient games have travelled across space and time, from a small site in ancient Greece to worlds then undreamt of. We look at the rebirths and revivals, at the different shapes the original idea has taken in different periods and cultures down to today.

 To find out more, have a look at the calendar of events.

Accessing the Library during the Olympic Games

Image via Flickr user DGjones

The Olympic website Get Ahead of the Games gives advice about the impact that the games will have on travel in London. So far, they have this to say about Bloomsbury:

There will be 22,000 accredited journalists and media from all over the world in London and many will be based in Bloomsbury throughout the Olympic Games. The Media Transport Hub will be operated by London 2012 as the pickup and drop-off point for transport that takes accredited journalists and media to and from Games venues. The Media Transport Hub will be in Russell Square and is expected to serve up to 5,000 people a day. Due to their different broadcast times and deadlines, journalists will need access to their accommodation, the Olympic Park and other venues 24 hours-a-day.

Some access restrictions will apply in the area during July and until the end of August. An access permit scheme for local residents and businesses is being developed for Russell Square (west and north), Montague Street, Montague Place, Malet Street, Bedford Place, Keppel Street and Cardington Street. The latest details of this, plus contact details for the London 2012 team, are available on the London 2012 website.

The area will be busy from 13 July with shuttle buses providing a pre-Games service for media preparing for the Games. The Media Transport Hub will be fully operational from Wednesday 25 July to Wednesday 15 August. The busiest times are likely to be 6-10am and 6-10pm each day. After the end of the Olympic Games, the temporary transport facilities and signs will be removed by the end of August.

We will keep you posted as we receive more information about how the games will impact the Library.