Food, drink and cloakrooms

Food and drink

Food, drink (including bottled water), sweets and gum must not be brought into the Library. Water fountains are located opposite Library Reception and at three locations within the Library. Water should only be drunk at the fountains, using the conical cups provided, and should not be taken into study areas. Water bottles and drink containers of any description, filled or empty, are not allowed into the Library.

Cloakrooms and lockers

Please leave coats, bags and umbrellas in the staffed cloakroom near the entrance to the building or use the coin-operated self-service lockers in the Library.

Security staff may scan and search items left in the cloakroom or lockers but will normally only do this in your presence.

Bags larger than 29 × 21 × 7 cm, including laptop sleeves, cannot be brought into the Library. We can supply clear plastic bags for you to carry essential items into the Library.

Restrictions on coats and bags protect the security of the collections and are a condition of admission.

The cloakroom is free to use.

The lockers operate a £1 deposit system:

• there is a £1 returnable deposit for items left in the cloakroom. Lost tags will forfeit the £1 deposit
• the lockers take a £1 returnable deposit. The lockers will be cleared daily, and any left items held will be deposited in lost property for one week
• any unclaimed £1 coins will be put towards the charitable work of the Wellcome Trust.

Toilets

Toilets are located near the Library Reception.