Edinburgh
Cameron Smail Library
Study Spaces
Arranged over 4 floors, the Edinburgh Campus Library offers a wide variety of great places to study - whether you want to study alone or in a group, in silence or in quiet discussion, during the day or at the evenings and weekends – all students and staff are welcome to visit.
The library has both open and bookable spaces, see Study spaces in the library for further information.
Access and Card Activation
The library has internal security gates, so you need to bring your student/staff card on every visit. If it is your first visit, press the buzzer and get your card activated at the Service Desk.
The building also has secure entry for access outwith staffed hours. If you plan to use the library during 24 hour opening, bring your card to the Service Desk during staff hours, and they will activate it for you.
Virtual Tour
Our virtual tour of the library has all the information you need to navigate the building.
Opening Hours
See Opening Hours for building and staffed hours.
Visitor Access
External visitors can apply for access to the library through the SCONUL access scheme, or register as an external visitor with the library.
Campus Location
The Cameron Smail Library is building 5 on the campus map.
Contact
For any enquiries related to accessing or using the building, contact the Edinburgh Campus Library Service Desk.
Edinburgh Campus Library Service Desk
- servicedesk@hw.ac.uk
- Phone
- +44 (0)131 451 3577
- Address
Study spaces in the library
Open seating
There are 950 open study seats throughout the library, you do not need to book these seats. We offer a variety of types of open seating: tables, pods, lounge chairs - come and find your favourite study spot!
Silent study
The ground floor and the top floor are dedicated to silent study. We also have a silent study room on level 2 and 19 bookable individual study rooms.
Group Study
The library has five group study rooms and six digital study studios. The rooms/studios offer large LCD displays and connectivity for your own device. You need to book these rooms.
There are also many pods and group study tables on the first and second floor of the library for quiet discussion.
Accessible rooms
The library has four accessible rooms. Use of these rooms must be arranged via the Student Wellbeing Service.
Other study spaces
Learning Commons 1 (Hugh Nisbet Building)
There are 200 study spaces in learning Commons 1
See Opening Hours.
Book a study room via Resource Booker.
Learning Commons 2 (Postgraduate Centre)
There are 100 study spaces in Learning Commons 2
See Opening Hours
Book a study room via Resource Booker
The GRID
James Watt
Semester opening hours
- Monday-Friday: 06:00-23:00
- Weekends: 08:00-18:00
Out of semester opening hours
- Monday-Friday: 08:00-22:00
- Weekends: Closed
Student Union
Study in the relaxed atmosphere of your Student Union. Offering a mix of seating, bars and catering. All areas have wi-fi.
Room booking available, see HW Union, room booking for more information.
Crush Areas
Study and social areas often with vending machines nearby. Located across campus within each School.
Some spaces can be booked via Resource Booker.
Central catering areas
From cafés to food courts, take your choice. All catering areas have wi-fi.
See Catering for more information.