Welcome to the Library! Recordings and slides

Posted on October 2, 2025 by lawlibrarian

Now that everyone is settling in to the new semester, we wanted to remind all students and staff that there is lots of material to help you use library resources for study and research.

In Week One we held live online sessions for PGT and PGR students, recordings of which can be found on the Law Librarian Media Hopper Channel:

If you missed them please feel free to use the videos to catch up, or download the slide decks attached to each video.

Last week we also ran an in-person on campus session for UG students. Although we didn’t record the session, you can find the slides for each part of the session below, or you can watch the PG session above for a similar introduction to library services.

UG Using the Library 2025-2026

Using Legal Databases – 2025-2026

If you require these documents in a different format please contact us by email: law.librarian@ed.ac.uk.

You can also contact us to book an individual appointment for a 30 minute one-to-one session where we can help with finding resources for research and study, referencing and making the most of library resources. Booking is available via the MyEd events booking system, or you can use the following links to find available time in our diaries.

Anna’s appointment booker
SarahLouise’s appointment booker

We look forward to hearing from you!

Changes to Library Opening Hours

Posted on August 22, 2025 by lawlibrarian

From 15 September 2025 changes will be made to the opening hours of some of our libraries, these changes are set out below. Please check the library opening hours webpage for full details of all library opening hours. 

Semester opening times of four site libraries – Law, ECA, Moray House, Noreen and Kenneth Murray – will be: Monday to Thursday 9am-8pm; Friday 9am-5pm (9am-7pm for Law and Noreen and Kenneth Murray) 
New College Library will close at 5pm Monday-Friday 
Weekend opening hours of the following libraries – Law, ECA, Moray House, Noreen and Kenneth Murray and New College – will be standardised to 12pm-5pm. 
Art & Architecture Library will close for University vacation periods.

Changes at the Western General Hospital Library 

The Western General Hospital Library will convert to a self-service Student Study Area from 1 September. The EdHelp service desk and Library will close at 5pm on Friday 22 August, and the small book collection will be moved in the week of 25 August. 

Changes at the Main Library 

From 1 September, the EdHelp service desk in the Main Library will close at 7pm weekdays and 5pm weekends. This does not affect the opening hours of the Main Library itself, which remains open 24×7. 

Feedback

These changes are being made based on analysis of library and service usage and will allow us to provide a more effective service. Comments and feedback from users (both staff and student) can be directed through the normal channel at Information Services Feedback Form | Help | Information Services

Free University Card Replacement

Posted on April 29, 2025 by lawlibrarian

So, what do you do when your university card is lost, damaged or stolen?

Well, usually you will visit our EdHelp Service Desk in the Main Library or any Card Help Desks and get a replacement card. But, you will need to pay the £10 fee; and the fee applies to all card holders (staff, students and visitors)

But for the next few weeks, between April 21 – May 23 you can get your university card replaced for free!!!

This is a one time, single offer for the duration specified above, so if your card is lost, damaged or stolen, head to one of our card help desks and the super friendly library staff there will be able to help you.

Best wishes

Your Academic Law Librarians

Library Databases search box now live!

Posted on March 12, 2025 by lawlibrarian

So, how have you been searching for databases for your studies so far?

Have you been using the link from myEd?

Or perhaps going straight to the Databases A-Z list or by subject?

Well, now there is another way that is user friendly and hopefully can increase your engagement with using databases. A Library Databases search went live a few weeks ago. Its aim is to improve the way you search for databases; you can either search by name (if you already know the name of the database you want to access) or by subject. Using either way, will limit the results in DiscoverEd to the ones that are most relevant. Library Database search bar

Here are two examples:

a) if you want to search for Westlaw, you type the name of the database and click on the search button. As soon as you do that, you will be directed to the Westlaw link in DiscoverEd Library Database search displaying the result for Westlaw

b) if you don’t know which database you want to access but instead search by subject, then you will get a list of databases that are relevant to the subject term you inserted. In this example, I used ‘law’. Library Database search displaying the results for law

In both cases, please remember to sign in before you go any further so that you can access all the material we are subscribed to.

The usage of this new featured will be monitored over the next few months (in comparison to the Databases A-Z for example) and if you find it useful, any feedback will be welcomed.

Till then, happy searching and be in touch with any comments!

Dear Library, I love you / I am breaking up with you because….

Posted on February 4, 2025 by lawlibrarian

Happy February all!

With Valentine’s day fast approaching, the Law Library has decided to run again the very successful ‘Love Letters to the Library’.

The idea for these Love Letters is taken from Andy Priestner’s A Handbook of User Experience Research & Design in Libraries.

Library users are asked to write letters to the Library, and it can be about anything that they love or hate. It has been very successful as Priestner says “the method is universally understood and very willingly participated in”.

So, you are given the option to either declare your love or break up with the Library. The letters are written specifically to the Library and not to staff and you can give your reasons for your choice. Your responses help us have a very informal and often funny but instructive idea as to how you feel. We will run this from the 10th till the 16th February; you can pick up your love or break up letter from the foyer at the Law Library and fill it in at your leisure.

Table with 3 transparent small stands. There are 2 read trays with pieces of paper in them. The is a small bowl with chocolates

Responses are private and are judged by Law Library staff. When winners are chosen from each category they are contacted for permission to anonymously post the letters on social media. And there will be a £20 book token for a winning love letter and a winning break up one! So, go ahead and pick up your love or break up letter from the Library and let it know how you feel and what you like or don’t like about it.

: Example of love letter to be completed

: Example of breaking up letter to be completed

We are looking forward to reading your replies; and remember to address them to the Library.

Have fun!

Happy New Year and Welcome back

Posted on January 9, 2025 by lawlibrarian

Happy new Year all and welcome back!

2025 has landed and the new semester is already underway. Teaching has resumed and the Law Librarians are busy delivering new information literacy classes to postgraduate students.

The Law Library is now open but still on reduced hours until this Sunday. Please check before planning your trip there to avoid any disappointment. Normal opening hours will resume on Monday 13 January. The Main Library has resumed its normal opening hours.

3 students in the entrance of the Law Library, in the Old College

As always, we are here to help you with any enquiries you have about resources, referencing and literature searching. We offer one to one appointments most weeks; visit the MyEd Events Booking system and look for ‘literature search clinic’ and select the option relating to Law. And if you can’t see a bookable slot that suits you please email us on law.librarian@ed.ac.uk.

Warm Wishes from your Law Librarians

Posted on December 19, 2024 by lawlibrarian

With the exam period almost finished, it is time for all of us to get a well deserved break from studies, assignments and work in general. The University will be closed across the 2024 festive period from 5pm on Monday 23rd December 2024 and reopening at 9am on Friday 3rd January 2025.

The Law Library will remain closed for the period mentioned above. If you are studying or conducting research over the winter break you will find our online resources remain accessible via the usual channels, but should you run into difficulties we will not be able to respond to any messages until we return in January. Your Law Librarians will be away from Friday 20th December 2024 and coming back on Monday 6th January 2025.

The Main Library will remain open for most of the duration of the holidays but with reduced staffing and opening hours.

We wish you a restful and pleasant winter break during your time away from the University. See you in 2025!

~ Anna & Rania

Study Spaces in and around the Law Library during your exams

Posted on December 11, 2024 by lawlibrarian

With the exam period already here and the need for more space to study and revise, one of the most common concerns for Law students is finding study spaces in the library.The Law Library is the favourite and preferred place to study but as spaces are limited, we have looked around the central campus for more options to manage demand during peak times.

ringbound notebook with screwed up bits of paper next to it, indicating multiple drafts.

From Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/photos/garbage-trash-litter-recycling-3259455/)

EXTENDED OPENING HOURS:

More information about opening hours for the Law Library specifically over the festive period can be found on the Law Library pages of the Library website. Please note that there are extended opening hours on Sundays in November (on 24th) and December (on 1st, 8th and 15th) until 18.50. Usual Sunday opening hours (open until 16.50) will resume in January.

STUDY BREAK CARDS:

Cards are situated around the library that can be used to keep your space while you take a short break. Turn the card to 15 minutes for a Short Break or fill out the time you intend to be away from your desk for longer breaks like lunch (up to one hour). This scheme has been shown to encourage healthy study patterns and help utilise the space we have available. We’ve used this system in the Law Library in the past and it’s gotten great feedback, so much so that it’s been extended to other libraries in our network.

ALL UNIVERSITY CAMPUS LIBRARIES (CENTRAL, KB, EASTER BUSH, WESTERN & ROYAL INFIRMARY)

Did you know that you can use any of the 13 site libraries that are part of the University’s library network? There are 5 within 5-10 minutes walk of the Law Library and the rest a bit further afield. Feel free to explore the different Library Locations

We believe this is a compromise that can work for students who need to use materials held specifically in this library without limiting who can work and study in the space. We understand Law students can feel that they should be prioritised when it comes to space in the Law Library, however the Law Library is part of the libraries’ network – including the Main Library, which also houses high use law books – and limiting access to one of these is neither possible nor fair. Law students also benefit from being able to use any of the campus library facilities – for example, did you know that the new KB nucleus is directly connected to the Murray Library and is open to everyone (including Law students)?

ADDITIONAL SPACES WITHIN THE SCHOOL OF LAW

For those of you that prefer to work within the space of the School of Law, there are additional spaces alongside any cafe facilities. You can also use the Dame Margaret Kidd Social Space and the Ken Mason Postgraduate Hub.

MORE STUDY SPACES AROUND THE CENTRAL CAMPUS

There are also temporary additional study spaces open at the Main Library and 40 George Square for study and revision. For all Postgraduates, the 5th floor in the Main Library is the place to be. And 40 George Square now features a Heat & Eat space! Details can be found of these and many other spaces across campus on the Study Spaces page of the website

And don’t forget, you can book group study rooms and student study spaces in all libraries by visiting the myEd Room Booking system (Booker).

Lastly, did you know about the Lister Learning & Teaching Centre? A beautiful space, not that far away from Old College, it offers space for teaching and revising. You can visit or book a space (through Booker) to revise or work on your assignments

All this information can be found in a handy leaflet we have prepared for you. Make sure you pick one up from the Law Library or download it and you can access the different locations by scanning the QR codes.

While we can appreciate the issues with finding space in the Law Library we find it a great compliment that so many students want to study with us. We are limited in the number of seats available but we hope you’ll understand we’re doing what we can to maintain a pleasant and peaceful study environment; the fantastic Helpdesk team are always on hand to assist where they can.

Our Helpdesk staff are ready to assist you in the library.

If you have queries or want to speak to someone directly about our libraries and collections, you can contact us by email: law.librarian@ed.ac.uk. We’d love to hear from you.

Resource Lists: What do you think? We want to know!

Posted on March 15, 2024 by lawlibrarian

Vectored image of small people standing on and around a ginormous stack of books with a laptop balanced on top. The laptop screen shows the Resource List logo. Many of the small figures are reading books or on devices.

We’re in the midst of gathering feedback about Resource List use within the School of Law and would like to invite our students to get involved in a short focus group that will help us shape our approach to lists in the future.

If you’re available on Wednesday 17 April 2pm to 4pm and will be in Central Edinburgh then please email our project manager Karen to register your interest.

Tea, coffee and cake will be provided and participants will receive a £10 gift card for Blackwells, which can be used to purchase any of their worldly goods (including books, games, stationery and much more!).

There are eight spaces available. The focus group will take the form of informal discussion with some structured questions about whether or not you use the List system, what you like about it, and will give you lots of time to provide your thoughts and discuss with others in the room. All feedback will be used to inform the development of lists within the school and responses will be anonymised.

If you have any questions about the process please contact Karen Stirling by email.

(NOTE: Date changed from 26th March to 17th April to gather more participants.)

Dissertation prep: resources for writing dissertations

Posted on February 16, 2024 by lawlibrarian

Did you know the library has a list of resources that can help you get started with big research projects such as dissertations? You may feel a bit overwhelmed about how to begin, but the library team have helpfully compiled a Resource List of books, guidance and articles that we think will ensure you feel more confident:

Law Dissertation (UG)

Law Dissertation (PG)

Resource Lists are clickable pages of bookmarks that link directly to items in our library catalogue, many of which you can access online. Most courses will have prescribed Resource Lists that indicate the reading for your modules, and students tell us they find them helpful and easy to use. PG Students will also find this list linked in the Learn pages for PG dissertation students.

If this is your first time conducting a large research project, you may find the session we run each semester for PhD students in Law to be of interest. You can watch a recording of this session on our Media Hopper channel here:

Finally if you’re struggling to get to grips with literature searching then you can arrange a one-to-one appointment with us, your Law Librarian team. Visit the MyEd Events Booking system and look for ‘literature search clinic’ and select the option relating to Law. We offer appointments most weeks, and if you can’t see a bookable slot that suits you please email us on law.librarian@ed.ac.uk.

Law Librarian

Academic Support Librarians for staff & students in the School of Law blogging on Library resources, services and skills.

Category Archives: General information