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Dear students and colleagues

Removal of social distancing & booking system in the Library 

The Library will be removing social distancing, the booking system and time-limited slots from Friday 22 October. This is part of the Provost’s second phase of the Return to Campus plan and is in line with the Government’s reopening plans. 

Approximately 2,300 seats will be reinstated, bringing the Library back to full capacity in time for students to have full use of the Library for Reading Week and the busy assessment period. 

The requirement for face coverings will remain in place and Library stewards will continue to monitor compliance. Depending on the details of guidance received from the Government, readers may be asked to use the COVID Tracker app for contact tracing purposes.

Enabling works to reinstate seats will take place during the week commencing 18 October. This will be carried out area by area, with the aim of minimising disruption to Library users as much as possible. 

Please note the following exceptions. At the request of the Graduate Students’ Union, the booking system will remain in place in the 1937 Postgraduate Reading Room. The Joint Research Collections Reading Room will also maintain a booking system for the time being, due to preparatory works for the Old Library Redevelopment Project. 

In the period leading up to 22 October, 2m social distancing will continue to apply and bookings will still be required to enter Library buildings.                    

Student spaces 

Need a space to take an online class?	One of the Marquees in New Square continues to operate as an Online Study Space where students can take online classes – it is not expected to be a fully quiet space like the library – talking is permitted.  Opening hours: Mon-Fri, 9am-9pm; Sat/Sun, 10am-5pm You can book here
Need access to a computer?	Lots of computers around campus are available for you to use… both PCs and Macs. You can book here
Need a space to sit indoors?	The following indoor Zon Mac Léinn (student spaces) reopened this week with some caveats… Bookings are not required but the furniture in these spaces has been carefully laid out in Pods of up to 6, in line with Government regulations for indoor spaces where occupants may have mixed immunity. We ask you to respect these layouts and only be in the space if there is a seat available for you, to ensure the maximum allowed occupancies are adhered to. Goldsmith Hall Zón Mac Léinn (Lobby) max 30 Hamilton Zón Mac Léinn (JCR) max 30 D’Olier Street Lobby max 24 Arts Building Zón Mac Léinn (Room 4017) max 21 TBSI Zón Mac Léinn (Grd Flr) max 18 Seomra na Gaeilge     max 18 Trinity Hall Oldham House, sitting rooms max 30 - doors and windows to be kept open   St James’s Old Stone Building UG JCR (max 8)   PG JCR (max 6)

 

Let’s all be responsible!

With the forthcoming easing of restrictions, the onus on each of us to take personal responsibility increases. Please do not come onto campus if you have any COVID-19 symptoms and remember to continue to adhere to all protective measures such as wearing face coverings, hand washing, cough etiquette etc. 

We strongly encourage you to get vaccinated. The HSE pop up vaccination centre will return to campus on Wednesday 20 October and no appointment is necessary. In the meantime, you can participate in the UniCoV project which assists in the detection of increased levels of COVID-19 across higher education institutes.  

We also encourage you to use Government’s free and easy-to-use COVID Tracker App. This app is a convenient way of storing your EU Digital COVID Certificate too.

Stay safe. Stay well. Bígí slán agus sábháilte.

Kind regards,

John Coman, Secretary to the College
Seán Ó Comáin, Rúnaí an Choláiste

Orla Cunningham, Interim Chief Operating Officer
Orla Ní Chuinneagáin, An Príomhoifigeach Oibriúcháin Eatramhach