Frank Waterton, Library Assistant, working through the cataloguing backlog
As most Covid restrictions will be lifted next week, for the remainder of July we are extending Library opening hours to three days a week: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Unfortunately, we cannot return to opening Monday to Friday just yet as our small Library team still need to process an enormous backlog of publications that arrived during the pandemic.
Aside from only being open three days a week, in every other respect we are returning to business as usual as much as possible. Library opening hours are 10.00 to 5.00 and Fellows no longer need to book in advance. Browsing in the Library and basement is possible once again so there is no need to send reading lists in advance, although we do ask for advance warning if Fellows wish to consult material in closed access.
Unlike previous years, the Library will not be closing entirely this August. To try and compensate for the lack of access over the last year and half, we will be opening the Library on Wednesdays from 10.00 to 5.00 Again, Fellows will not need to make an appointment to come and use the Library on these days.
The Fellows Room is also open, and refreshments will be served as before the pandemic: coffee in the morning at 11.00 am and tea in the afternoon at 3:15 pm.
There is now no requirement to complete Covid declaration forms, no temperature checks on arrival and the wearing of facemasks, though recommended, is optional. There is, however, a QR code for the NHS Track and Trace app at the entrance to Burlington House, and staff, Fellows, and visitors are asked to scan it before entering the building.
To keep us all safe we are still making hand sanitiser available in the main entrance as well as in the Library, and we ask everyone coming to SAL to try and maintain social distance wherever possible.