The Healthcare Library of Northern Ireland

Evidence, resources and updates for health and social care.

Blog

  • Christmas Opening Hours 2025🎄

    All branches of The Healthcare Library of Northern Ireland will be closed on Wednesday 24th December to Thursday 1st January inclusive. Normal opening hours resume on Friday 2nd January 2026.

    Full details of Christmas opening hours for each of our locations can be found below.

    Contact your local branch directly if you have any questions.

    Royal Victoria Hospital
    Monday 15th – Tuesday 23rd December: 8:30am – 5:00pm
    CLOSED: Wednesday 24th December – Thursday 1st January inclusive

    QUB Medical Biology Centre:
    Monday 15th – Tuesday 23rd December: 9:00am – 5:00pm
    CLOSED: Wednesday 24th December – Thursday 1st January inclusive

    Antrim Area Hospital:
    Monday 15th – Monday 22nd December: 9:00am – 4:30pm
    CLOSED: Tuesday 23rd December – Thursday 1st January inclusive
    Returned books may be left in the box outside the library door

    Craigavon Area Hospital:
    Monday 15th – Monday 22nd December: 9:00am – 5:00pm
    Tuesday 23rd December: 9:00am – 2:00pm
    CLOSED: Wednesday 24th December – Thursday 1st January inclusive

    Altnagelvin Area Hospital:
    Monday 15th – Tuesday 23rd December: 9:00am – 5:00pm
    CLOSED: Wednesday 24th December – Thursday 1st January inclusive

    Access to E-Resources will remain available over the closure period at heathcarelibrary.qub.ac.uk

    All at The Healthcare Library of Northern Ireland would like to wish you a happy and peaceful festive break and thank all of you who will be working through the holiday season. 🌟

  • Library Account Checker

    The new Library Account Checker lets you see if your account is active. It shows your expiry date, user group, entry history, loans and charges. Use it if you are having problems logging in to e-resources, borrowing items, entering the McClay Library, or simply want to check your account is up to date.
    Log in with your Healthcare Library credentials to get your summary by email.

    https://go.qub.ac.uk/checklibraryaccount

  • Antrim Branch opening hours – Week beginning 24 November

    Changes to the opening hours for The Healthcare Library at Antrim Area Hospital over the coming week:

    Monday 24thTuesday 25thWednesday 26thThursday 27thFriday 28th
    9.00am – 4.30pm9.00am – 2.00pm
    ONLY    		9.00am – 2.00pm
    ONLY    		LIBRARY CLOSED9.00am – 4.30pm

    If the library is closed please call the Medical Library on 028 9097 6021 or email info@healthcarelibrary.qub.ac.uk

    Returned books may be left in the box outside the library door.

    You can contact library staff via the Chatbot, and e-resources are still available at https://healthcarelibrary.qub.ac.uk/

    Antrim Library will return to normal opening hours on Monday 1st December.

  • Antrim Branch opening hours 18 – 29 August

    Changes to the opening hours for The Healthcare Library at Antrim Area Hospital over the coming two weeks:

    Monday 18thTuesday 19thWednesday 20thThurs 21stFriday 22nd
    9.00am – 4.30pm9.00am – 2.00pm
    2pm-4.30pm UNSTAFFED     		9.00am – 2.00pm
    2pm-4.30pm UNSTAFFED     		9.00am – 4.30pm UNSTAFFED 9.00am – 4.30pm
    Monday 25thTuesday 26thWednesday 27thThursday 28thFriday 29th
    LIBRARY CLOSED
    9am – 2.00pm
    2pm-4.30pm UNSTAFFED
    9am – 2.00pm
    2pm-4.30pm UNSTAFFED     		9.00am – 4.30pm UNSTAFFED9.00am – 4.30pm

    If the library is closed please call the Medical Library on 028 9097 6021 or email info@healthcarelibrary.qub.ac.uk

    Returned books may be left in the box outside the library door.

    You can contact library staff via the Chatbot, and e-resources are still available at https://healthcarelibrary.qub.ac.uk/

    We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

    Antrim Library will re-open as normal on Monday 1st September.

  • Healthcare Library, RVH – Group Study Rooms 1 and 2 Refurbishment (August 2025)

    We are excited to inform you that Group Study Rooms 1 and 2 in the Healthcare Library at the Royal Victoria Hospital will be undergoing refurbishment this month, with works commencing on Monday 4th August. 

    While these works are taking place, Group Study Rooms 1 and 2 will be temporarily closed and not available to book. Our staff are here to assist if you have any questions and will be able to help you find alternative study spaces. 

    The refurbishment works include the installation of new audio-visual equipment and are expected to be completed by September.  We hope that the impact of this refurbishment work is minimal, and apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.  We will continue to provide updates via our social media channels and Library News.

    If you have any feedback about these changes, we would love to hear from you.  Please submit feedback via the our online form: https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/InformationServices/TheLibrary/CustomerService/Doyouhavefeedback/

    Thank you for your patience as we make these improvements for our customers.

  • Craigavon Branch closed Friday 25 July

    Due unexpected staff absence, the Library at Craigavon unfortunately will not be open on Friday 25th July 2025.

    The computer rooms and reading room are open 24/7 as normal.  

    Please contact the Healthcare Library at the RVH if you need any help . Library staff will still be available to answer queries via email , telephone 028 90978906.or Healthcare Library Chatbot.

    Access to e-resources is still available at https://healthcarelibrary.qub.ac.uk/

    We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

  • Antrim Branch Closed Tuesday 29 July to Friday 1 August

    The Healthcare Library of Northern Ireland at Antrim Area Hospital will be closed from Tuesday 29th to Friday 1st August inclusive, to facilitate a windows replacement project in Fern House.

    If you need to contact the library during this time please email info@healthcarelibrary.qub.ac.uk, telephone 028 9097 8906 or use the Healthcare Library Chatbot.

    Access to e-resources is available at https://healthcarelibrary.qub.ac.uk/

    We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

  • July Holiday arrangements

    Healthcare Library branches will be closed from 11th July to 14th July inclusive at:

    • The Royal Victoria Hospital
    • Antrim Area Hospital
    • QUB Medical Biology Centre
    • Craigavon Area Hospital

    Altnagelvin Area Hospital Library will only be closed on Monday 14th July

    Healthcare Library Chatbot and access to e-resources is still available at the Healthcare Library website – login with your library account to access online resources while we are closed.

  • Craigavon branch Closure

    Due to bank holidays and unexpected staff absence the Library at Craigavon will be closed: 

    Wed 9th – Mon 14th  and Wed 16th – Fri 18th July 

    Open  Tuesday 15th 9.00-5.00 

    The computer rooms and reading room are open 24/7 as normal.  

    Please contact the Healthcare Library at the RVH if you need any help . Library staff will still be available to answer queries via email , telephone 028 90978906.or Healthcare Library Chatbot.  Access to e-resources is still available at https://healthcarelibrary.qub.ac.uk/

    We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

  • Spring Bank Holiday opening

    The Healthcare Library at Altnagelvin, Antrim and Craigavon will be closed on Monday 26th May for the Bank Holiday.

    Branches at The Royal Victoria Hospital and QUB Medical Biology Centre remain open. Please call 028 9097 6021 or email info@healthcarelibrary.qub.ac.uk if you need assistance.

    Online resources are still available on the Healthcare Library website.

    All branches will open as normal on Tuesday 27th May.