Answered By: Judith (Customer Services Manager)
Last Updated: Mar 25, 2024     Views: 3557

The SCONUL access scheme is a reciprocal scheme which allows many university library users to use other libraries which belong to the scheme. You can find out if your university is a member of SCONUL via their website.

Students or staff wishing to apply for SCONUL access need to apply first to their home institution for the SCONUL Band A, B, C or R Access email via the SCONUL website (link below).
Once you have an approval email, complete our registration form and provide a recent photograph digitally for your library card.

If your university is not a member of the SCONUL access scheme, you can apply for Reference membership:

You will need to apply via completing the online Membership form. Applications can only be processed during staffed hours. If your application is successful, your library card will be produced once your payment is received. There is a cost of £5.00 for a library card (and for any replacement cards). We will need a recent photograph provided digitally for your library card. Cards can take a week or longer to be produced.

You will have access to a limited number of our e-resources via the identified Digital Library terminals located throughout the library buildings. These resources cannot be accessed in this way from other devices or networks. These terminals show a link E-Resources for non-ARU members which give further instructions for the service. We provide a list of resources available for "walk-in" access.

Non-university students - On an exceptional basis we will allow access to students studying for a university-entry level qualification (A levels, International Baccalaureate, BTEC or Advanced Diploma) in order to use materials that are not available elsewhere. This requires a letter of introduction from your school or college setting out the materials that you wish to access.

Private language school students - will not be allowed into our libraries.

Under 18s - we cannot allow access to anyone under 18 unless they are supervised by a responsible adult.