SCONUL Access visitors

Students and Academic Staff from Higher Education institutions participating in the SCONUL Access scheme may access the University of Bath Library.

You should apply to join the scheme via the SCONUL Access website. Your application will be reviewed and approved by your home institution. You will be sent a confirmation email by your home institution that can be presented to other libraries participating in the scheme to gain entry. This email will indicate the Banding associated with your membership of scheme (as detailed below).

Successful applicants should provide their confirmation email and their home library ID card as proof of their eligibility to use the library they are visiting. You need only apply once to the Access Scheme so the same email confirmation is valid across all participating libraries.

Library staff will specifically need the information listed in the section of the confirmation email titled Your application details:

Expiry Date
User Band
User Type
Library ID
Application status

The bands are defined as:

Band A: staff (both academic and support staff) and research students
Band B: part time, distance learning, placement students, apprentice degree students
Band C: full time taught postgraduates
Band R: reference access to full-time undergraduates (and some other users not covered by the banding agreement).

For SCONUL Access users to obtain a University of Bath Library card for access to the building, we recommend that you contact Reader Services prior to your visit, so we can prepare the card for your arrival.

To make a new Library card, we will ask for:

a digital image file showing your face in a "selfie" or passport style format for use on the card.
your SCONUL Access confirmation email from your home institution
please also provide details of your current postal address for our records and so we can post your card to you if required

Please also bring your home university membership card as proof of your student or staff status when you visit the University of Bath Library for the first time to collect our membership card. You can collect or request a new Library card from the Library's Reader Services Desk, please note we don't have any facilities to take your picture so we'll always ask you to email us your picture for the card.

University Alumni

We welcome applications to join the Library from alumni. As an alumni member you will have continued access to five selected online resources, where licences allow this. You will be able to borrow up to 5 books at a time if you visit the Library in person with a Library card.

Please visit our Library Services for University Alumni webpage for further information and details of how to apply.

Access to additional online subscription resources is possible from dedicated public-access catalogue computers in the library building. These are positioned near the information points on Levels 3-5. Please note that no printing or downloading is possible from these computers.

Visitors from other Universities

We welcome visitors from other Higher Education institutions to visit the Library on a reference only basis.

Please present your University/Student identification to staff in the Library entrance area to be granted entry.

External members of the Library

Annual membership grants you a members card to enter the Library at any time and the right to borrow up to 5 books at a time subject to our usual circulation rules.

Paying members can access a subset of our online resources while in the Library via the catalogue terminals, located near staffed offices, where publisher licence agreements allow on a reference only basis - without the means to save or print materials.

Guest wifi is available but paying members are not issued a username and password to access the campus network computers or wider online resources and applications.

There is an annual membership charge of £150.

Please contact Reader Services via library@bath.ac.uk if this membership would benefit you.

School and College visits to the University Library

The Library plans to offer school and college visit appointments from Monday 6th June 2022.

We welcome group visits from local schools and colleges to enable students to supplement their research for A-level projects, Extended Project Qualification, or International Baccalaureate, and to ease the transition to University for prospective students.

If you would like to make a visit, then please follow the link to the School and college visits web page to find out more and submit the online request form.

Members of the public

From Saturday 2 April 2022, the Library will be able to welcome back members of the public without any university affiliation to visit the Library.

However, access is only permitted during the periods listed below:

Weekends
During University holidays - academic year with vacation dates

Visitors without a library membership card or another University affiliation will be asked to sign-in at the Security point in the Library entrance at each visit. Please bring a form of identification when you visit.

Please visit our Library Services for Visitors page for further information about how you can use the library.

Visitor access to the University Library

Advice for Alumni, SCONUL Access users, Schools, Colleges and members of the public about how and when you may enter the Library.