National, regional and local access schemes

The main UK scheme for students is
UK Libraries Plus
The main UK scheme for academic staff and research level students is
Sconul Research eXtra

Last updated: 24th July 2006

For details of UK regional higher education consortia see http://www.uklibrariesplus.ac.uk/libraries/consortia.htm

"Others" denotes non-HE libraries.
Libraries shown below in bold are members of
UK Libraries Plus
[ ] indicates the scheme does not appear to have an official name, so bracketed shorthand is used.

Please help me to keep this information up to date by email to Adam Edwards

National schemes (UK)     Regional and local schemes (UK)     Other national schemes

 

National schemes (UK)

Name of scheme

Member institutions Eligible users User's rights

CURL - Consortium of University Research Libraries 

http://www.curl.ac.uk/members/accpol.htm

 

 

Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, British Library, Cambridge, Dublin - Trinity College, Durham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London University (Senate House) Library,  London - British Library of Political and Economic Science (LSE) 
London - Imperial College and Science Museum Library, London - King's College, Manchester, National Library Scotland, National Library Wales, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford - Bodleian Library and other libraries, SOAS, Southampton, Sheffield, University College London, Warwick

Academic staff, research staff research-only postgraduate students, academic-related staff (or their equivalent)

Rights vary but some borrowing if fee paid.

INSPIRE England

http://www.inspire.gov.uk/

Inspire is developing a nation-wide library access scheme for learners and potential learners to public, academic, national and many other libraries. The scheme is open to all who may benefit from it. As a minimum, libraries will provide reference access to hard copy materials. Access is by referral from the 'home' library.
SCONUL Research Extra

http://www.sconul.ac.uk/using_other_libraries/srx/

Nearly all SCONUL member libraries opted in

See web site for list

Academic staff and research postgraduates (MPhil, PHd) Access and borrowing

SCONUL Higher Education Vacation Access Scheme

http://www.sconul.ac.uk/using_other_libraries/srx/

All SCONUL HE member libraries

Undergraduate students and postgraduate students following taught courses

Reference use during the vacations of the host institution.

UK Libraries Plus

www.uklibrariesplus.ac.uk

Nearly all UK University and HE colleges. 

See web site for list.

 

Staff and students on HE award bearing courses of 1 year or more

Access for all staff and full time students, borrowing for part time students, distance learning students and full time students on placements of 6 weeks or more

Regional and local schemes (UK only)

Name of scheme

Member institutions Eligible users User's rights

Access Salford

http://www.access-salford-libraries.salford.ac.uk/

Salford Libraries and Information Services, Salford People who live work and study in Salford.

Reference access and use of some e-resources. Borrowing from Salford public libraries.

Access West Midlands 

http://www.staffs.ac.uk/uniservices/infoservices/
library/libserv/accesswm.php

 

Aston, Birmingham, Central England, Coventry, Keele, Open, Staffordshire, Warwick, Wolverhampton, UC Worcester, Newman College and Harper Adams UC. Academic staff and all postgraduates. Limited borrowing

ALLIN - Access to Libraries for Learning in Northamptonshire

 

UC Northampton, Northamptonshire Libraries and Information Service

All members of both organisations

Access to materials and facilities (Borrowing at UCN for payment)

ALLIS - Accessing Lancashire Library and Information Services

http://www.allis.org.uk/

Academic (including Central Lancashire, Lancaster), health & public libraries in Lancashire.  Eligible users and their rights differ between institutions. Eligible users and their rights differ between institutions.

APU Regional Membership

http://libweb.anglia.ac.uk/distance/regional.htm

Anglia Polytechnic University and colleges in the Regional University Partnership

Staff and Students of Regional Partner Colleges

Borrowing up to 5 items. Excludes: ILLs, database access

ATLIS (Access To Libraries In Swansea Bay)

http://www.atlis.org.uk/atlis_eng/atlisopen.htm


Swansea Libraries, Neath Port Talbot Libraries, Swansea, Swansea Institute of HE, Swansea College, Gorseinon College, Swansea Bay Health Information and Library Service.

All members of member libraries

Borrowing in HE and FE member libraries for anyone registered with Swansea or Neath Port Talbot public library services. Other access and borrowing arrangements depend on regulations of host library.

AULIC - Avon University Libraries in Co-operation

http://www.uwe.ac.uk/library/aulic/

 

Bath, Bath Spa UC, Bristol, West of England

1 Academic and academic related staff, library staff and research students

2 All other members

1 Access and borrowing of up to 5 items.



2 Access to collections

[Birkbeck and SOAS or Institute of Education] Birkbeck, School of Oriental and African Studies, Institute of Education Taught postgraduate students Borrowing 

BLAG - Bolton Libraries Access Group

http://www.bolton.ac.uk/learning/
issuedesk/access/blag.htm

 

Bolton, Bolton Public Library, Bolton Sixth Form College, Bolton Health and Social Care Community (NHS Trusts etc.)

All members of member libraries Access to collections and some borrowing

[Bournemouth area]

1 and 2 see:
http://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/library/using/
membership.html#external

 

3 see:
http://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/library/using/
off-campus_use.html

 

1 Bournemouth and The Arts Institute


2 Bournemouth and Bournemouth and Poole CFE

 

3 Bournemouth and partner colleges

1 All full time staff and students

2 Staff and students

 

3 Staff and students

1, 2 & 3 
Borrowing of 3 books only. Excludes serials and videos

Canterbury Circle of Libraries 

www.lib.circle.cant.ac.uk

Kent at Canterbury, Imperial College at Wye, Kent Institute of Art and Design, Canterbury Christ Church UC, Canterbury Cathedral Library, FE Colleges, Schools and NHS Trust libraries in Canterbury area.  Members of the libraries Gives access to collections and limited borrowing. 
CHELPS - Cumbria Higher Education Institutions Library Partnership Scheme

http://www.ucsm.ac.uk/library/libinfo/otherlibraries/
CHELPS/index.php

Cumbria Institute of the Arts, St. Martin's College Carlisle and Ambleside campuses, Central Lancashire Newton Rigg campus, Northumbria Carlisle Campus, Cumbrian FE colleges Members of the libraries Access and limited borrowing

CROESO (see also WALIA)

http://whelf.ac.uk/croeso.shtml

Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff, UWI - Cardiff, Glamorgan, Lampeter, Newport, North-East Wales IHE, Swansea IHE,  Swansea, Trinity College - Carmarthen, Welsh College of Music and Drama

All staff and students

Access to collections

[De Montfort & Warwick]

No web site

De Montfort and Warwick

Academic, academic related and research staff, postgraduate research students

Reference access and borrowing

 

DIG  - Derbyshire Information Group

Web link not longer working

Derby, Derby Public Library, Derbyshire Public Libraries, 7 x FE colleges, 4 x NHS Trusts, 3 Special Libraries (2 x industry, 1 x Police)

Registered members of DIG libraries

Access to collections (By appointment at NHS and Special libraries)

FOYLE - INSPIRE group for Derry City Council area

No web site but press release at:
www.inspire.gov.uk/nireland.php

Altnagelvin Hospitals Health & Social Services Trust Library, Derry City Council Heritage & Museum Services (Genealogy and Health Promotion libraries), North West Institute of FE, Letterkenny Hospital (St Conal's Hospital Education Centre), Omagh College, Ulster (at Magee), Verbal Arts Centre, Western Education & Library Board Members libraries in the FOYLE scheme Reference and borrowing from some of the member libraries
GALT - Glasgow Area Libraries Together   

www.slainte.org.uk/galt/index.htm

Alliance Française Mediathèque, Bell College, Glasgow, Glasgow Caledonian, Glasgow Colleges Group, Glasgow School of Art, Mitchell Library (Public) Paisley, Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Strathclyde. Varies, see web site.  Access to materials and borrowing for academic staff researchers

 

GaLW - Gateway to Libraries in Wrexham 

www.newi.ac.uk/galw 

 

Bangor (School of Health Studies Library in Wrexham only), North East Wales Institute of HE, Yale College Wrexham, Wrexham County Borough Libraries, North East Wales Schools Library Service, Health Studies Library Wrexham

Members of libraries are the users Awareness of library facilities  available to citizens in Wrexham and promotes reference access. 

Gloucestershire Learning Network Contacts

Web link not longer working

 

Gloucestershire, Gloscat, Stroud College, Cirencester College, Forest of Dean College, Royal Agricultural College, West of England at Hartpury, Gloucestershire County Library

Members of the member libraries

Access to collections

Hertfordshire Libraries Agreement

No web site

Hertfordshire, 4 FE Colleges and Hertfordshire Community Information (Public Library)

All who live or work or study in Hertfordshire

Access to collections

LASH - Libraries Access Sunderland scHeme 

Sunderland, City of Sunderland College, Sunderland Public Libraries

Members of the member libraries

Access to collections 

Learning through libraries in Plymouth

No web site

Plymouth, College of St Mark and St John, Plymouth CFE, Plymouth College of Art & Design, Plymouth City Library plus others

Members of the constituent libraries

Access to materials

Libraries Together: Liverpool Learning Partnership

www.liv.ac.uk/Library/llgroup/
llg.html

Liverpool, Liverpool JMU, Liverpool Hope, Liverpool Institute of the Performing Arts and Liverpool Libraries and Information Services

Members of the libraries

Access only. However, separate borrowing agreements do exist between individual libraries within the partnership

LAILLAR Access Scheme – Libraries Agreement in Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland 

 

De Montfort, Leicester City Libraries, Leicestershire Libraries and Information Service, Loughborough, Rutland County Libraries, Leicester Members of the public libraries use of libraries at De Montfort  Loughborough and Leicester Universities  Reference for £20 per year for all 3 University Libraries

LINC y Gogledd

Bangor and the public library services of Conwy, Gwynedd and Ynys Mon/Anglesey All members of the University and all registered users of the three public library services Full borrowing rights either in person or by delivery to local branch. Some excluded stock categories

LISN (Lincolnshire Information Services Network) 

www.lisn.org.uk

 

Bishop Grosseteste Colleg, Boston College, Grantham College, Grimsby College, North Lincolnshire College, Stamford College,  Lincoln, Lincolnshire Archives, Lincolnshire Libraries, RAF College (Cranwell)

Staff and students

Access to materials. Pilot reciprocal journal copying.

No reciprocal borrowing as yet

LLiL (Libraries and Learners in London)

http://www.londonlibraries.org/servlets/llil

Public libraries, M25 scheme libraries and British Library  Anyone with a London borough public library card and membership of London's public libraries Reference access to the academic and specialist libraries by referral

University of London Access Agreement

Some constituent institutions of the University of London (excluding the University of London Library, Senate House)

1 Permanent academic and academic related staff, student son research degrees

2 Other staff and students

1 Borrowing under local terms and conditions

 
2 Access to collections

M25 Access and Borrowing Scheme

http://www.inform25.ac.uk/VAL/m25scheme.html

This scheme is for customers those M25 libraries which are not higher education libraries to enable them to use the higher education libraries in the M25 Consortium.

Staff and students at M25 higher education libraries should use SCONUL Research eXtra or UK Libraries Plus

British Library
British Museum
Imperial War Museum
Natural History Museum
Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew)
Royal Society of Chemistry
Victoria and Albert Museum
Weiner Library
Wellcome Library

1 Member of staff on an open or fixed term contract who has current institutional ID

2 Postgraduate research student registered for a PhD, MPhil or similar qualification awarded purely by research who has current institutional ID

1 Borrowing under local terms and conditions

 
2 Access to collections

Milton Keynes Learning City Library Network

http://www.mkweb.co.uk/mk-libraries-network/

Cranfield, De Montfort, Buckingham, Open, Milton Keynes College, Milton Keynes Public library and Milton Keynes General NHS Trust. Anyone who lives, studies or works in Milton Keynes Provides awareness of library facilities available and encourages use.

The Newcastle and Gateshead Libraries Partnership

Newcastle, Northumbria, Newcastle College, Gateshead College, Newcastle City Library and Information Service, Gateshead Library and Information Service, Literary and Philosophical Society

Members of the member libraries

Access by reciprocal arrangement between member libraries

NEWLIS

http://www.newlis.org.uk

Newport, FE, Public, health, School, special and museum libraries in Newport area

Members of the member libraries

Access to collections, 
some libraries by appointment only
NOWAL - North West Academic Libraries

http://www.nowal.ac.uk/access/introduction.htm

Bolton, Central Lancashire, Chester, Cumbria Institute of the Arts, Edge Hill, Lancaster, Liverpool, Liverpool Hope, Liverpool John Moores,  Manchester, Manchester Business School, Manchester Metropolitan, Royal Northern College of Music, St Martin’s College, Salford   Reference access to collections.  Other students covered by UK Libraries Plus, staff by SCONUL Research Extra.

PAL - Portsmouth Access to Libraries 

http://pal.libr.port.ac.uk/  

English Heritage Centre for Archaeology, Portsmouth City Council, Portsmouth College, Highbury College, Royal Marines Museum, Royal Naval Museum, Portsmouth NHS, Portsmouth  Members of the member libraries Access to collections (some by appointment only); borrowing depending on the regulations of the host library.

SCURL Research eXtra

Complex see: 
http://scurl.ac.uk/about/SCURLResearchExtraGuide(2).doc

Scottish academic libraries not in SCONUL Research eXtra or UK Libraries Plus

Academic staff and research students

 

Access and borrowing

Southampton Libraries in Cooperation Southampton, Southampton Solent , Southampton City College, Southampton City Libraries Members of the member libraries Access
[Staffordshire] Pilot project at very early stage Staffordshire, Staffordshire Libraries and Information Service Not yet known Not yet known
SYALL -South Yorkshire Access to Libraries for Learning

http://extra.shu.ac.uk/syall/index.html

 

Barnsley Libraries, Barnsley College, Northern College, Doncaster Library & Information Service, Doncaster Archives, Doncaster College, Rotherham Library, Museums and Arts, Thomas Rotherham College, Rotherham College of Arts &  Technology, Dearne Valley College, Sheffield Libraries, Archives and Information, Sheffield Hallam University, University of Sheffield, The Sheffield College, Health Information and Library Service.

Members of the participating libraries

Access to materials

TWIRL - Tyne and Wear Information Resources for Learning  Sunderland and Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland and Tynemouth FE Colleges 1 Staff

2 Students

1 Borrowing for staff

2 Access for students

WALIA - Wales Academic Libraries Inter-Access
(see also Croeso)

http://whelf.ac.uk/walia.shtml

Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff, UWI - Cardiff, Glamorgan, Lampeter, Newport, North-East Wales IHE, Swansea IHE,  Swansea, Trinity College - Carmarthen, Welsh College of Music and Drama

Academic staff, other research staff, research postgraduate students

Access to collections and borrowing of up to 5 items

[Westminster and UCL access scheme]

http://www.wmin.ac.uk/page-3797

Westminster and UCL

Some students (not law or associate)

Access to collections

WELCOME!  (Kirklees and Calderdale) 

http://welcome.hud.ac.uk/

Huddersfield, Dewsbury College, Greenhead College,  Huddersfield New College,  Huddersfield Technical College, Kirklees Libraries, Calderdale and Kirklees Careers, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust. All adults over 16, on production of ID Access is for reference use of the printed collections.
Other national schemes

Name of scheme

Member institutions Eligible users User's rights

ALCID - Academic Libraries Co-operating in Ireland

Dublin City, Dublin Institute of Technology, National University of Ireland Cork, NUI Galway, Limerick, NUI Maynooth, Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Royal Irish Academy and St Patrick’s College Drumcondra. 

Academic and academic related staff and students registered for higher degrees

Access to materials

Bibliopass [Swiss national scheme]

http://www.bibliopass.ch/index.html

600 Swiss national, university and local libraries All members of all libraries Borrowing, but may involve a fee
Canadian University Reciprocal Borrowing Agreement

http://www.coppul.ca/rb/rbindex.html

All Canadian University libraries listed on the scheme site

Students, faculty and staff. Borrowing, but not UG at some libraries in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec
University Library Australia

http://www.caul.edu.au/ula/

 

All CAUL members (universities who are members of the Australian Vice Chancellor's Committee universities) All staff and students Borrowing  from universities outside home region borrowing scheme (some charge a $50 registration fee)

© Adam Edwards,
Head of Library Academic and Research Services / Deputy Librarian

Roehampton University
adam.edwards@roehampton.ac.uk

24th July 2006