The Central Library serves the Kelburn Campus and is the home of most of the Library's collection. It occupies most of the Rankine Brown building, located on the harbour side of the campus. Today's hours are available on the library home page or you can see the full hours for the month.
On the 4th of March, 2013, the University launched Vic Info Ihonui, the first integrated service point at the Central Library. Vic Info Ihonui is located outside the Central Library on Level 1. A larger Vic Info Ihonui service point will be located outside Level 2 of Central Library once construction is complete.
There are two entrances to the Library. The main entrance is on level 1, the other is on Level 3 of the Campus Hub Reading Room.
Read more about these and other changes.
0800 LIBCALL - Library help on call
Library redevelopment during Campus Hub Project
Finding where items are shelved
Staff and students needing help in the Kelburn library can ring roving Library staff.
The roving librarians can help you find a book, respond to noise complaints and help you to navigate the library. Phone:
0800 LIBCALL (0800 5422255)
Use the floorplans of the Kelburn campus library help you find your way around, floor by floor, with collections, services and facilities clearly marked on each map.
View the online floorplans, or see them via the interactive touchscreen kiosks on levels 1 to 3 of the Central Library.
The Glass Room on Level 2 of Rankine Brown now houses a variety of Library services. In the Glass Room you can:
All of these items can be self-issued inside the Glass Room.
If you have need any assistance or would like some help using the room, please talk to a Library staff member or call the 0800 number, 0800LIBCALL.
Library users may bring cold food and covered drinks into the Central Library. The decision of Library staff is final on the appropriateness of particular items of food; if you are asked to eat it outside, you must do so.
The Kelburn campus library is being redeveloped as a welcoming space with contemporary facilities and intuitive access to resources and services as a part of the Campus Hub Project.
Find out more about the Kelburn Library redevelopment using our interactive tour (to view this you must have flash player installed).
To accommodate your study needs, the Central Library's study spaces have been divided into two zones. Green Zones are for group work and conversation. Blue Zones are for silent, individual study.
The Green Zones are currently Levels 1 and 3 and the Blue Zones are Levels 0, 5, 6 and the Reading Room on level 3. Students talking in groups in the Blue Zones will be asked to move to a Green Zone.
Zones are indicated on the floor charts by the lifts, and on signs on each Level. Please respect your fellow library users and adhere to the zone rules.
To help you find your way around the Central Library we offer regularly scheduled library tours. Come along on a 15-minute tour and learn about how the Central Library is organised and the resources we can offer to support your study and research.
The Central Library has the following facilities available for your use:
The following table is a guide to where items are currently shelved in the Central Library, based on their callmark. The location of items will change during the redevelopment project. This table is updated as items are moved. The noticeboard at the library entrance and directories by the lifts also display current information on where items are shelved.
Level 0 is open for public access. All journals are shelved on level 0.
| Callmark begins | Subject | Shelved on | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | General works | Level 0 | |
| B | Philosophy, Psychology, Religion | Level 0 | |
| C | History (Classical) | Level 0 | |
| D–F | History (General, Asia, Europe, Africa, Commonwealth, Americas) | Level 3 | |
| G | Geography, Anthropology, Tourism | Level 3 | |
| H–HJ | Economics, Finance | Level 3 | |
| HM–HX | Social Sciences | Level 3 | |
| J | Political Science | Level 3 | |
| K | Law | Level 3 | Most material with a K callmark is at the Law Library. |
| L–LG | Education | Level 3 | Most Education books with an L callmark are kept at the W.J. Scott Education Library. |
| M | Music | Level 3 | |
| N | Arts & Architecture | Level 3 | Architecture material (callmarks beginning NA) is mostly at the Architecture & Design Library. |
| P–PM | Languages, Literature (chiefly non-English language) | Level 3 | |
| PN–PQ | Film and Literature | Level 6 | |
| PR | Literature | Level 5 | |
| PS–PZ | Film and Literature | Level 6 | |
| Q–QZ | Science | Level 6 | |
| R–V | Applied Sciences (including Nursing) | Level 6 | |
| Z–ZA | Information Studies, Librarianship | Level 6 |
