The 1930s building of the Library, with its awe-inspiring vaulted timber ceiling, was complemented in 2005 by a multi-award-winning extension. This created a spacious IT resources area and a state-of-the-art repository to house the Archive and the Special Collections. These collections range from rare Sanskrit manuscripts to gifts of books from Girton’s most notable early supporters such as Tennyson, Ruskin, and George Eliot. There are extensive and internationally important collections on the history of women and work, the suffrage movement, and women’s education, as well as an extensive archive of the College’s ground-breaking history.
Library News
Library Christmas and New Year arrangements, 2025-26
Work in the Library on Thursday 18 December
There is work being carried out in the Library on Thursday 18 December. Although the Library will remain open, there will be noise and disturbance throughout the day, particularly upstairs. If you would like a quiet space to study, we recommend either that you find an alternative location (such as a study room), or that you bring headphones.
Vacation opening hours for the Library:
- During the vacation, opening hours for current College members are Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. Please note that it may be necessary to close for periods during the day, depending on staff availability.
- The Library will close for Christmas and the New Year at 5pm on Friday 19 December, and open again on Monday 5 January 2026.
- If you are planning a special journey to use the Library, we recommend contacting us in advance at tel. 01223 338970 or by email to library@girton.cam.ac.uk.
Borrowing from the Library:
- Current students may borrow up to 10 items for the vacation, with loans due back by Wednesday 21 January 2026. No loans can be recalled during the vacation.
- Loans to current staff and fellows can be recalled during the vacation, and the loan period remains at 28 days (excluding days when the Library is closed).
- The Click & Collect service will remain available until 5pm on Tuesday 16 December.
Opening hours for the study rooms:
- Please book study rooms in the usual way over the vacation.
- All the study rooms will be unavailable from 5pm on Friday 19 December onwards. They will reopen at 10am on Monday 5 January 2026.
Nearby libraries:
- The Moore Library will close at 5pm on Tuesday 23 December, and will re-open at 9am on Friday 2 January 2026. Please note that it will not be open during the weekend of 3-4 January 2026.
- The West Hub's study spaces on the first and second floors will be closed after Friday 12 December and will re-open on Monday 5 January 2026. Certain other areas remain open until Friday 19 December.
- The University Library will close at the end of Tuesday 23 December and will re-open at 9am on Friday 2 January 2026.
Electronic resources
E-books, e-journals, and other electronic services will remain accessible over the Christmas vacation. However, please note that any issues arising during this time may not be resolved until after the holiday period.
Archive and Special Collections:
The opening hours for the Archive and Special Collections are different. Please see the Arranging a Visit section of the website for full information, but note that the Reading Room is open by appointment only on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-4.30pm.
The Archive and Special Collections are CLOSED as follows:
- Monday 22 December to Friday 2 January 2026 (Christmas and New Year)
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