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The McClay Library
Queen's University Belfast and AFBI Libraries (Stormont & Newforge Lane, Belfast). Also a Short Loan Collection for essential texts.

One of several QUB Libraries, including the Medical (Royal Victoria Hospital Grounds), Biomedical (MBC Building, Lisburn Rd.) The McClay Library is situtated in College Park, at the top of Botanic Avenue, flanked by the trees of Botanic Park. The ground floor brings together a range of facilities to support teaching and research. Here you will find the Language Centre, with two language labs, the Computer Help Desk and Shop and specialists in media production. There's an Extended Hours Study Room, designed to provide computing access when the main floors with their workstations have closed. An auditorium and training rooms on the ground floor support organised sessions on library and computing resources. The upper floors contain the Library's main collections in the arts and humanities, the sciences, social sciences, and law. Designed by Boston-based architects Sheply, Bulfinch, Richardson & Abbott, working in association with Belfast architects, Robinson Patterson Partnership, the library opened in July 2009. The building has been named in honour of Sir Allen McClay, a major benefactor of Queen's University and of the Library. Sustainability was a critical factor in the design and construction of the library, in keeping with the University's environmental policy. The building meets the highest environmental standards.

15/10/2026

As part of we'll be welcoming Libraries NI to the McClay Library to launch the Books & Banter Bookclub on Wednesday 21st October. Come join us in the foyer to sign up for the first meeting

13/10/2026

📣 Got a question, suggestion, or bright idea?

The Library Operations Manager, Sean Beattie, will be in the McClay library late tonight and wants to hear from you!

Pop over to the foyer for a chat about opening hours, library services, and ways we can make your McClay experience even better. 💬📚

📆 Tuesday 13th October
🕚10.30pm - 1.30am
📍McClay Library

11/10/2026

🗣️ Let's Talk McClay!

Got feedback, ideas, or questions about the library? The Library Operations Manager will be in the McClay on Tuesday 13th October and would love to chat about opening hours, library services, and how we can improve your experience. Drop by and have your say! 📖✨

📆Tuesday 13th October
🕚11.30pm - 1.30am
📍McClay Library Foyer

07/10/2026

✨ Winner, winner! ✨

Congratulations to our Library Tour Quiz winner from Welcome Week, who popped in this week to collect their prize! 🎁✨

A huge thank you to everyone who took part. 👏

👀 Keep your eyes on our socials for more competitions, events and chances to win at the McClay Library!

01/10/2026

Having trouble logging in to e-resources or borrowing items? The new Library Account Checker lets you see if your account is active and confirms your access to e-resources. It also shows your expiry date, user group, entry history, loans, and charges. Check your account here: https://go.qub.ac.uk/checklibraryaccount

30/09/2026

Special Collections is pleased to announce that a new section of the Alderdice Collection (MS 88/2) is now available for consultation. These papers are the second release of material in the Alderdice Collection. The collection, which is a part of the Modern Political Collections project, is a donation of personal papers from Lord John Alderdice, former Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly and leader of the Alliance Party Northern Ireland. This section contains 14 boxes of items dating largely from 1985 to 1992, comprising correspondence, press clippings, policy papers, meeting minutes, party strategy documents, and handwritten notes. These documents provide insight into Lord John Alderdice’s political career during the period prior to the Multi-Party Talks, 1991–1992 and during their earliest stages, following the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement and its period of review in 1988. You can find a full listing of the Alderdice Photograph Collection on the Special Collections webpages. We are happy to help with any questions regarding consultation.

29/09/2026

Planning a visit to the McClay Library? You can check live occupancy levels to see how busy it is, and view trends from the past seven days to help plan your study time. See real-time data here: https://go.qub.ac.uk/occupancy

28/09/2026

Special Collections is pleased to announce that the MS 108 Irish Electoral Ephemera 1922–1948 Collection is now available for consultation. The collection comprises 14 rare items of electoral ephemera from four Irish political parties: Cumann na nGaedheal, Fianna Fáil, Labour and Sinn Féin. The items present a range of political perspectives from the post-revolutionary era of Irish politics and offer a textual record of political discourse in the first decades of Irish independence, from the Free State to the beginnings of the Republic. This collection of rare broadsides, handbills, and multi-page leaflets provides a unique insight into Irish political history. The collection is of research value for researchers working across a range of disciplines, including Irish political history, print and material cultures, nationhood, public policy, labour history, and media studies. You can find a full listing of the Irish Electoral Ephemera 1922–1948 Collection on the Special Collections webpages. We are happy to help with any questions regarding consultation.

27/09/2026

We have launched the new Open Research Repository for theses and datasets! See https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/InformationServices/TheLibrary/News/QUBOpenResearchRepositoryORR-1

25/09/2026

The Open Research Team are in the Canada Room for the Post Doc Showcase drop in clinic. We'll be there until 13.45 - come and say hello!

Address

The McClay Library, 10 College Park
Belfast
BT71LP

Telephone

+442890976135

Website

http://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/InformationServices/TheLibrary/Contact/

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