Lancaster University library foyer with the living tree in the centre.

Lancaster University Library

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A Library at the heart of Lancaster University's community, local and global. We connect, we innovate, we include.

Welcome to the library

The Library sits at the heart of the Lancaster University. The library building is located at the centre of the Bailrigg campus, providing a welcoming, open and inclusive place for library and university activity. Integrating our in-person provision with a strong digital presence extends the library's reach well beyond campus, so our resources, facilities and support are available wherever you are.

Our approach is based on a library vision Towards 2025, that expresses our firm commitment to be innovative and inclusive in all we do, and a desire to connect with and bring people together.

The library towards 2025

The library vision describes our ambitions for the five year period up to academic year 2025-26. It outlines our approach and commitments to providing a library that fully integrates digital and physical provision, connecting and partnering with our communities, taking innovative and sustainable approaches, and underpinning all we do by seeking to be inclusive and celebrating diversity.

The Library Towards 2025
Side profile of the Library, with the lights shining out from the windows.

Achievements and awards

NSS 91%

We were rated the top university library of its kind by students in the 2022 National Student Survey.

The Library was invited to join Research Libraries UK in 2022. RLUK is a consortium of the most significant research libraries in the UK and Ireland.

Our Learning Development team were awarded the prestigious Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence in 2022.

We received the Outstanding Library Team award in the Times Higher Education awards in 2022.

News

Stylised image of 2 people sat on a book.

Living Library

The library hosted the first “Living Library” at Lancaster University at the end of the Lent term.
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Trailblazers: exciting new OA initiative in partnership with Liverpool University Press, The University of Liverpool, and The University of Salford

Trailblazers is a new open access initiative for the rising stars of their disciplines.

An image of the Open Access Logo, which is an orange circle with a white open padlock.

First Monograph published Open Access by the Library’s Pilot Institutional Open Access Fund

The library is delighted to announce the publication of the first Open Access monograph made possible by funding from the Pilot Institutional Open Access Fund.  
White text surrounded by books reads: Library Careers Event for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic students, staff and public.

Library Careers Event for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic students, staff and public

Join us on Wednesday 6th March to find out more about the diverse range of roles that are available at university libraries, listen to the experiences of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic library staff and network with a wide range of people across the national library sector.
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New UKRI Open Access Policy for Longform outputs (Monographs, Book Chapters and Edited Collections) Policy

A new Open Access policy for Monographs, Book chapters and edited collections will come into effect on the 1st of January 2024. 
An image of the archive research centre. There are items from the collection displayed on wooden tables.

Opening of the Archives Research Centre

On the 7th November we officially open our new Archives Research Centre (or ARC). The launch event was attended by people from across the University and representatives for local heritage organisations.

More News

Explore the library

  • What's on

    We have a rich programme of activities, both on campus and online. Explore our programme of workshops, exhibitions and other events.

  • Visit

    Discover the library building and find all you need to plan your visit, including details of community card membership.

  • Collections

    Explore our extensive print and online collections, including primary source materials, Special Collections and Archives, and Lancaster Digital Collections.

  • Learn

    Find out how our Faculty Librarian and Learning Development teams support learning, including partnering with students, working with schools and independent online learning.

  • Research

    Find out how we support the University commitment to open research by partnering with researchers and supporting research activity.

  • Connect

    Connect with us via social media and find out more about our partnership activities.