Get to know the Library

Contacting the Library
Rutherford Building
Tel: 020 7919 7150
E-mail: library@gold.ac.uk
Monday to Friday 8.00am-midnight (self-service before 9.15 am and after 8.45pm), Saturday and Sunday 9.30am-midnight (self-service before 11.30 am and after 5.15pm)

Different opening hours may operate during exam and vacation periods. Check online.

To enter the Library, borrow books and make photocopies, you need your Goldsmiths Card.



Collections
The Library contains over 280,000 books, over 9,000 periodicals, most of which are available electronically, and a number of electronic databases. There are also 30,000 videos and DVDs, including films, documentaries and material recorded from television, and a large collection of  sound recordings on CD. The Library’s Special Collections focus on the creative and performing arts and include the Women’s Art Library, LIFT Archive and Constance Howard Material Collections.

Library support
The Library catalogue is online. There are dedicated computers in the Library for accessing the catalogue. The Library webpages contain information about the Library collections, other resources for your subject, study skills and contact details for Library staff. You can also obtain help from the Library area of the VLE,
at the enquiry desk in the Library or from your Subject Librarian.

Borrowing
Most books can be borrowed for three weeks, but those in heavy demand are lent for shorter periods – one week or occasionally three days. Audiovisual items are also available for loan. Fines are charged on all overdue items. The number of items you can borrow depends on whether you are undergraduate or postgraduate – check the Library website for more details.

Other Library facilities
Wireless connection to the College’s network is available at the west end of the building on all three floors, where there are also sockets into which you may plug your laptop.

As a Goldsmiths degree student you’re able to borrow books from the University of London Library, Senate House. Senate House Library is a large research library covering arts, humanities and social sciences, and is a great supplement to the facilities at Goldsmiths, housing around two million books, as well as electronic resources. Find out more at www.gold.ac.uk/library/using-other-libraries.
 
Your input
We welcome your views on the Library. You can leave a comment on the feedback board, or contribute by joining one of our focus groups or library surveys. Recently we have extended opening hours during the exam period at students’ request.