Joining the Library
All of our libraries are available not only to our staff and students but other members of the community can also join including SCONUL, schools students and teachers, NHS and more.
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Find out about how COVID-19 (Coronavirus) has affected access to our buildings and services - read more at Re-opening of libraries.
Members of staff who have a permanent or fixed term contract will be issued with a smartcard and are automatically eligible to join the library.
Registered students of Newcastle University are issued with their smartcard on registration and this is valid for the length of their course.
Guest and visiting members of staff may be eligible for borrowing or consultation facilities dependent upon the length of their visit.
Retired members of staff are eligible for borrowing facilities on verification of retired status.
Graduates of Newcastle University and King's College Durham may join the library for an annual fee of £20. This includes borrowing facilities in all three libraries, access to Special Collections and use of some databases.
If you don't require borrowing facilities we can issue you with a consultation smartcard.
Borrowing
Newcastle University Library is a member of the SCONUL Access Scheme. SCONUL Access is a reciprocal scheme which allows many university library users to access other academic libraries in the UK and Ireland. If your home institution is a member of this scheme, you are eligible to join Newcastle University Library free of charge. Please see the SCONUL Access Scheme for more information on how to apply.
Consultation
Staff and students of Northumbria, Durham, Sunderland and Teesside University have reference access throughout the year at Newcastle University Library during Library Help Desk opening hours on production of a valid home university ID card.
Reference access for staff and students from other UK and Irish institutions is through the SCONUL Access scheme. Please note that full time undergraduate students only qualify for reference access under the SCONUL Access Scheme. You will need to bring your SCONUL email and home university smartcard for all visits.
Students from international universities (excluding Ireland) please see occasional visitors section below.
The University has an agreement with the NHS to allow its staff who are employed within the North East and North Cumbria to become members of the Library. You will need to bring verification of your status as a current NHS employee in the region to be issued with a Smartcard.
Sixth form access
The University Library offers reference facilities to sixth form schools and sixth form colleges in the North East of England. Students can access the library's wide range of information resources as well as use the library's study spaces. Access is available during Library Help Desk opening hours except for University exam and revision periods.
Sixth form access application form
Teachers and school librarians
Free borrowing facilities are available to teaching staff and librarians from local schools participating in the Education Outreach programme. Teachers whose schools and colleges are part of the Partners Scheme are entitled to borrowing rights free of charge.
Members of professional and learned institutions in the North East, which accredit courses at Newcastle University, may join the Library and have borrowing facilities free of charge on production of a letter from the secretary of the society or institute.
The Library is happy to accept applications from individuals outside the University, for either borrowing or reference access. Those who require access must be able to demonstrate a particular need, and include reasons why they would like to use the Library's resources. As study space is limited, we are unable to offer access to people simply seeking a quiet place to study.
Please note that in accordance with publishers' licences, access to many electronic journals and databases is restricted to members with a Newcastle University login and password, and the Inter Library Loans service is not available to external members.
We are currently unable to accept applications due to COVID-19. Find out more - Re-opening of libraries.
The primary role of Newcastle University Library is to support the teaching and learning of the University. However, occasional visitors are welcome to consult our collections if materials are not readily available elsewhere.
Unless your visit is part of an open day or open event, individual walk-in visitors' to the Philip Robinson or Walton Library must have pre-arranged a visitors pass by contacting us via Library Help or calling the Philip Robinson Library or Walton Library at least two days prior to your planned visit.
Access is available during Library Help Desk opening hours except for University exam and revision periods.
If you wish to use the University Library on more than one occasion, membership of the University Library will be required. Please see Individual membership section above