Academic staff, research postgraduate students, part-time, distance learning or placement student? 

SCONUL Access

Swansea University is a member of the SCONUL Access scheme.  This allows academic staff,  research postgraduate student, part-time, distance learning or placement students to borrow from other HE libraries across the UK who are members of the scheme.

• Download and print out the pdf application form. 
• Take the form to the Issue Desk in the library, or to the Miners' Library for authorisation and you will be issued with a SCONUL Access card .
• Take your SCONUL Access card and your Swansea library/ID card along with you. You will be issued with a library card, which will normally have the same expiry date as your SCONUL Access card. Your SCONUL Access card will be valid for up to three years, or until your course or contract ends, if earlier.

Open To All

The Open to All scheme allows any current member of Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire public library services to have free borrowing access at all public libraries covered by these areas along with free borrowing access at Swansea University, Swansea Metropolitan University, Swansea College, Neath Port Talbot College, Gorseinon College, Pembrokeshire College and Trinity Saint David.  Please visit your nearest public library branch and join the library if you are not already a member.  Ask for an Open to All passport stating which college or Higher Education library you want to join.  Take the passport along to your chosen library, and they will register you as a borrower.  This scheme is managed by SWAP (South Wales Area Partnership) and funded by CyMAL (Museums Archives and Libraries Wales).

Reference access schemes

  CROESO

The CROESO scheme allows all students and staff from Welsh Higher Education institutions to use the libraries of other Welsh institutions for reference, at any time of the year.  Please be prepared to show your Swansea ID card in order to gain access to other libraries.

SCONUL vacation access

The SCONUL vacation access scheme allows all  students to use the libraries of other UK Higher Education institutions for reference only. Access is granted during the vacations of the library being visited.
(SCONUL student details).

Access for staff and researchers is normally granted at any time.

Swansea University/Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University NHS Trust West Division Library 

Staff and students from Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University NHS Trust West Division (ABM UT WD) and from Swansea University may use the libraries of both ABM UT WD and SU for reference purposes only. 

Access to computing services

It is unusual for other institutions to allow non-members to use their networked computing facilities. You should contact individual institutions to check their policy. 

Remember that the catalogues of most university libraries can be accessed from our Other Library Catalogues page.

Using the National Library of Wales

The Library is open to anyone who may wish to use its services and take advantage of its collections. Access to the Reading Rooms is available to anyone over the age of 16 who has a valid reader's ticket.
You can now also access a number of the Libraries services online.

How to obtain a Reader's Ticket

You can now register for a reader's ticket before visiting The National Library of Wales, and register for remote access to all the Library's electronic resources provided through Athens, as long as you live in Wales and have a Welsh postcode. .

See the National Library of Wales Higher Education Learning Page for more information. 

Using the British Library 

The British Library provides access to its collections for those whose research requires the facilities of the national library, and for those who need to see material not available to them elsewhere. 

Admission to the reading rooms is for those who:

• have reached a point in their research where no other library can adequately supply all the information required
• can demonstrate a legitimate need to use the items in the collection to further their research needs
• need access to the Library's public records.

Normally, you will have started your research and used other libraries before applying for a reader's pass.

See the British Library Admissions Information for further details.  You will need to provide proof of your signature (eg credit card, passport, driving licence) and address (eg utility bill, bank statement, driving licence).  Your student or staff card may also be helpful, but please also provide proof of your status in the University (eg letter of enrolment or appointment) as our ID cards do not carry a great deal of information.

If you are a student, please arrange to discuss your research needs with your subject librarian before considering a visit to the British Library, as it may be possible for us to help you find suitable materials in a library closer to Swansea. 

Further information:

Reader Admissions Office
The British Library
96 Euston Road
London NW1 2DB
United Kingdom

Telephone: 020 7412 7677
Fax: 020 7412 7794
E-mail: reader-admissions@bl.uk
Web: http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/inrrooms/stp/register/stpregister.html