The Library: Using Other Libraries

The British Library holds millions of publications in the Reading Room at the Document Supply Centre, Boston Spa, near Leeds.

You can visit to consult material but you can't borrow from the Library. You must pre-register for a Reading Room pass and order your material online before visiting.

Opening hours and other information is available from the Library's website.

You should contact the library you wish to visit beforehand to check opening hours, access policies, accessibility and any documentation you need to take with you. Please note many libraries don't allow access during busy times such as exams so please check before you visit.

You may also find useful resources in your local public library or in specialised libraries.  Ask your Academic Librarian about these.

Library Hub Discover enables you to search over 130 national, academic, and specialist library catalogues to help you identify resources held elsewhere.

If you are looking for theses or dissertations you can find information on our dissertations page.

SCONUL Access allows students (except full-time undergraduates*) to borrow from most higher education libraries in the UK and Ireland. Please check the SCONUL website for more information and to find out which libraries are participating.

• apply online at www.sconul.ac.uk/sconul-access
• make only one application - once approved this will allow access to other libraries in the scheme
• use your Leeds Beckett student email address e.g. B.Smith1234@student.leedsbeckett.ac.uk on your application 
• your application will be declined if you use your personal email addresses e.g @gmail/@hotmail 
• you must reapply for library access if your approval has expired
• allow time for your application to be processed - please don't contact staff at your home, chosen library or SCONUL - they are processing a large volume of applications post pandemic
• if you have overdue items or outstanding fines your application won't be authorised.
• take your authorisation email letter, along with your Campus Card to the library you're visiting. Please check on the day via the SCONUL website that the library is still able to participate.

SCONUL Access doesn't usually give access to PCs. However you may be able to access eduroam via a personal device. Access to electronic resources and databases is also usually unavailable - check this beforehand with the library you're visiting.

*If you are a full-time undergraduate you can use SCONUL Reference Access to visit other libraries but you can't borrow items or use PCs.

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If you log in to the eduroam wireless network on your laptop with your Leeds Beckett login you should be automatically connected to the internet when you visit other university libraries in the UK and abroad who participate in the eduroam scheme.