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Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Notice of Temporary Building Closure and Service Changes

Library building exterior

The welfare and safety of our students, staff and visitors are our top priority and we are doing all we can to minimise any disruption to our services.

The Library building will remain closed to visitors until both we and the University's Estates department are confident we can start to reopen it whilst ensuring the safety and welfare of everyone in the building. It is unlikely that we will be able to open the building to visitors before June 2021.

We will continue to update this page with the latest information.

Last Updated: 16/03/2021

Services that are available

Services that are currently unavailable

  • Helpdesk by phone is not available. Please contact us by Webchat and email available 24/7.  
  • Visiting the OU Library in-person – This means no access to the print collection, meeting and study space or offices located in the Library building. We are unable to post items from the collection. 
  • Processing of Library cards and SCONUL Access accounts
  • Inter-Library loans - We cannot process Inter-library print book requests. 
  • Visiting the University Archives in-person

Covid-19 Impact on SCONUL Access  

Access to library buildings around the UK continues to be restricted by government social distancing guidelines to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The SCONUL Access scheme, which ordinarily allows OU students and staff to apply to visit other university libraries near them, has been suspended until further notice. 

Further information is available on the SCONUL Access website.

Items out on loan

If you have books or other items out on loan, please don't worry about when they are due. You can return them once the Library is open again. This includes Interlibrary Loans and items from the OU Library collection. 

Please also refer to the OU help page on the Coronavirus for updated information and advice.