SCONUL Access

Introduction

The University of Aberdeen is a member of SCONUL Access, the largest borrowing scheme for higher education researchers in the UK and Ireland. SCONUL Access is a reciprocal service supported by most of the higher education libraries of the UK and Ireland. It was created from two existing schemes, SCONUL Research Extra and UK Libraries Plus and carries forward the basic principles of these schemes.

SCONUL Access is a reciprocal access scheme, granting borrowing privileges to many types of library users working or studying at participating higher education libraries in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Reciprocal access means that each participating library chooses which types of users to accept under the scheme. Its users are then offered exactly the same level of service by other member libraries.

Who's eligible?

• 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 also provides for a reference only service for most full-time undergraduate students and staff of a few higher education libraries not participating in the reciprocal borrowing arrangements

Access to IT facilities and electronic library resources are not normally included in the scheme. Borrowing entitlements - e.g. number of loans, loan period and types of material may vary among institutions.

How do I join?

• Check that the library or libraries you wish to use are members of the scheme - check the list of participating institutions.
• Download and complete a SCONUL Access application form (PDF format - requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
• Take or send your form to the Sir Duncan Rice Library. A SCONUL Access card will be issued to you, provided that your University of Aberdeen library record has no problems such as outstanding fines, overdues, etc. Please allow 2 working days for the processing of your application.
• Your SCONUL Access card will be valid until the expiry date of your empoyment contract or student registration, or for a maximum of 3 years, whichever is shorter.

Visiting other libraries

• Check the web sites of the libraries you wish to use for opening hours and any requirements or restrictions they may have e.g. for a passport size photo or limited admissions hours. You can also check the library catalogues of libraries you wish to visit. COPAC is a union catalogue that provides access to the merged online catalogues of many of the largest university research libraries in the UK and Ireland, most are participating in the SCONUL Access scheme .
• Take with you:
• • your SCONUL Access card
  • your Aberdeen University ID card
• The libraries you join will issue you with a library card which will have the same expiry date as your SCONUL Access card.
• There is no limit to the number of SCONUL Access libraries you can join.
• You will be subject to the rules of the library that you join and you will be responsible for any fines or other charges incurred.

Membership of the SCONUL Access scheme may be withdrawn if you cease to be a member of good standing at Aberdeen University Library or if you infringe the rules and regulations of any SCONUL library that you visit.

Data Protection: personal data supplied by you will be used only for the purposes of administering the scheme, including transfer of data between home and host libraries and vice versa.

Further information

• Full scheme details and a list of participating institutions are available on the SCONUL Access web site.
• For local guidance contact the Circulation Services Manager