What is SCONUL Access?

SCONUL Access is a reciprocal access scheme, granting borrowing privileges to many types of library users working or studying at participating higher education libraries. SCONUL Access is supported by most of the higher education libraries of the UK and Ireland. Membership of SCONUL Access is open to all full SCONUL members. The full list of SCONUL Access member libraries can be found here.

SCONUL Access provides borrowing privileges for most:

• academic staff on open or fixed term contracts
• postgraduate research students registered for a PhD, MPhil or similar qualification
• part-time, distance learning and placement students
• full-time postgraduates

SCONUL Access provides for a reference only service for most:

• full-time undergraduate students
• staff of a few higher education libraries not participating in the reciprocal borrowing arrangements

Please note that some libraries do not offer borrowing to all the types of user listed above.

Reciprocal access means that an individual will only be allowed to access a library if their home library grants library privileges to his / her type of users.

For example

• If a library offers borrowing under the scheme to full time postgraduates then it can issue a SCONUL Access card to its own full time postgraduates.
• If it only offers borrowing to staff and research students under the scheme then it can only issue a SCONUL Access card to its own staff and research students.