We are delighted to report that, subject to final approval from University Council in July, the Library on campus will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week all year round during the next academic year and beyond.

The SU has campaigned on this for several years now, and so we are extremely pleased to see it finally happen. Its passing as formal SU policy last year at our All Student Meeting gave the project extra impetus, and offers a timely example of how sustained student engagement with these sorts of issues can ultimately help them come to fruition.

Since there is no typical way of working, we firmly believe that the main study space on campus should be accessible at all times, and are delighted that we have joined all of the UK’s other Top 10 universities in having a 24/7 Library. With the opening hours of the Postgraduate Hub having also been extended to evenings and weekends, we are proud to have substantially improved access to study space this year, and are extremely grateful to Library staff and to other members of the University, including senior staff, for their support.

We will be working with the University to put mechanisms in place relating to wellbeing, transport and other key aspects relevant to a 24-hour space.

This is a great example of student democracy, lobbying and pressure in action, and we should all be proud of what we have achieved. Now we are committed to the longer-term battle of securing more actual study space on campus!

The Sabbatical Officer Team