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Dear College community 

We hope you are keeping safe and well. As December begins, we would like to update you on the following: 

 

Library & study spaces - Christmas and New Year period

Thank you for wearing face coverings in the Library and study spaces - there is a strong level of compliance which is very important for the health of our community and which is greatly appreciated. Below are the current plans for the Library and study spaces over Christmas and New Year. Please note that they may change due to any emerging Government guidelines and we will update you if necessary. 

 

20 – 23 December inclusive

Libraries will operate shorter ‘out of term’ hours in the week running into the Christmas closure period. The Berkeley/Lecky/Ussher (BLU), Hamilton (HAM) and John Stearne Medical libraries will close at 5pm. Kinsella Hall and 1937 Reading Room will close at 10pm.

 

24 December - 3 January inclusive (Christmas Closure)

As normal, the vast majority of College fully closes during this period, providing a much-needed rest for the community. This year only, as an extraordinary exception, given that some students may be unable to travel home for the holiday season due to the ongoing pandemic and some Junior Fresh and Scholar examinations are taking place in January:

• Kinsella Hall Library (First Floor) and 1937 Reading Room will open 10am-6pm on 27, 28, 29, 30 December 2021 and 2, 3 January 2022.

Graduate students will steward the spaces and emergency procedures will be agreed with Library staff in advance. Campus Security control room will be staffed at the normal levels for the Christmas period and mobile patrols will be in operation. Essential cleaning will be done thanks to our housekeeping staff who have kindly volunteered to work the necessary hours. These are the only services that will be provided.

We would like to thank everyone – housekeeping staff, the Graduate Students’ Union and its postgraduate stewards, Students’ Union and Library staff - who has been involved with making this once off exception to normal closing hours possible for students at the end of this extraordinary year.

4 January 2022 - Reopening

Libraries, the 1937 Reading Room, Computer Rooms and JCR spaces will reopen and follow normal term-time opening hours. Stewarding as before Christmas of these spaces will continue until 21 January where it will be reviewed. This will help College staff and students safely navigate through a period of heightened assignment activity, Junior Fresh and Scholar examinations.

 

Please see the table below:

Christmas Season Opening Hours (changes highlighted in red)

 

	20 – 23 December 2021 (inclusive)	24 December 2021 – 3 January 2022 (inclusive)	From 4 January 2022 until further notice
	Out-of-Term Hours	College Closed	Term-Time Hours
Libraries
Berkeley, Lecky & Ussher Libraries	09.30-17.00	Closed	Mon-Fri               09.00–22.00 Sat                        09.30-16.00 Sun                       Closed
Hamilton Library	09.30-17.00	Closed	Mon-Fri               09.00–22.00 Sat                        09.30-16.00 Sun                       Closed
John Stearne Medical Library	09.30-17.00	Closed	Mon-Fri               09.00–17.00 Sat                        09.30-13.00 Sun                       Closed
Kinsella	09.30-22.00	First Floor Open  10am – 6pm on 27,28,29,30 Dec 2021 2,3 Jan 2022	Mon-Fri               09.00–midnight Sat                        09.30-midnight Sun                       08.00-midnight
Research Collections	10.15-12.15 and  13.30-15.30 Mon-Fri 10.15-12.15 Saturdays	Closed	Mon-Fri         10.15-12.15 & 13.30-15.30 Sat                  10.15-12.15
1937 Reading Room	08.00-22.00	Open  10am – 6pm on 27,28,29,30 Dec 2021 2,3 Jan 2022	Mon-Sun             08.00-midnight
1937 Overflow (Exam Hall)	19.00-22.00	Closed	Mon-Fri               19.00-2200* Sat-Sun                09.00-22.00* *subject to availability
Other Spaces
Computer Rooms (General Access) Hamilton, Arts, TBSI, Aras an Phiarsaigh	09.00-18.00	Closed	09.00-18.00
Computer Science Labs South Leinster St; Trinity Centra, Hamilton	08.30-19.30	Closed	08.30-19.30
JCR Hamilton	09.00-21.00	Closed	09.00-21.00
Zón Mac Léinn	Various	Closed	Various – as normal

International travel 

If you are planning any international travel over the holiday period, it is very important that you are aware of - and keep monitoring - the latest government travel advice which can be found here. 

All passengers coming into the country now need proof of a negative test. Passengers who are vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 have to show a negative antigen test carried out 48 hours prior to arrival or a negative PCR test from 72 hours prior to arrival. Antigen tests have to be carried out by approved professionals - you can't test yourself.

If you do not have a digital COVID Certificate based on vaccination or recovery, you have to show a negative PCR test carried out no more than 72 hours before arrival.

Volunteer for the UniCoV study – free COVID-19 testing

The need for COVID-19 detection and control continues. Please consider participating in UniCoV which offers free regular COVID-19 lateral flow antigen testing and saliva LAMP PCR testing twice a week. Such tests assist with the early identification of SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as the omicron variant, thereby helping to stop the spread of the virus. To find out more, please see here.

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

Dr David McGrath, Director, College Health Service
An Dr Daithi Mac Craith, Stiúrthóir, Seirbhís Sláinte an Choláiste