Introduction to Library Services
Tuesday, 16 March, 2021 - 13:00
Learn about the online library, how to find help and support, and how to access key services to help with your studies or work at the OU.
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In line with Government Covid-19 guidelines and restricted access to library buildings, SCONUL has suspended the SCONUL Access scheme until further notice.
At this time, OU students and staff are unable to apply to visit other university libraries via the SCONUL access scheme. The OU Library building is currently closed for all visitors.
Further information is available from the SCONUL Access website.
UK based OU students and staff, who sometimes need to borrow books, use collections for reference, or find a quiet place to work or study at other academic libraries near where they live, can take advantage of the following options.
The Open University is a member of the SCONUL Access scheme. SCONUL Access allows UK based OU students and staff to use and borrow books from other participating university libraries, or visit them for a quiet place to study. Most of the university libraries in the UK (and some in Ireland) are participating in the scheme.
Who is eligible to apply:
When your membership expires, as long as you fulfill the criteria above, you can re-apply.
You can apply for or renew SCONUL Access at any time during your module, provided you are fully registered. Your application may not start being processed until two months before your module start date if you apply in advance. It may take up to 21 working days to process your application, so do apply early enough to accommodate this.
As soon as your Sconul Access is approved, an Open University Library card will be posted out to you, if you haven’t been issued one already.
Make sure you select ‘Distance Learning Student’ at the beginning of the SCONUL Access application form.
Where you are asked for the ‘Library or ID Card number’ on the SCONUL Access application form, please type in:
You can find and complete the application form at the SCONUL Access website.
For more information about how to join the SCONUL Access scheme, watch 'A Guide to Your SCONUL Application' video.
NOTE : Please be aware that should you be under the age of 16, you would need your Parent/Guardian's consent to join the Sconul Access scheme.
The online application form will have specific tick boxes for this information.
Do you need space to study? Somewhere quiet to do your work? Would you like to borrow
books from your local university library? The Open University has signed up to SCONUL
Access to help you with all these things.
SCONUL Access is a national scheme in the UK which allows students and staff from over
200 member universities to use each other’s libraries.
As long as you’re currently registered on a module worth 30 credits or more, you are eligible
– and each time you sign up for another module after that, we can simply renew your
membership.
Here’s how to apply:
Go to the OU Library website and click on “SCONUL Access Scheme”
Scroll down and click on the link to the SCONUL Access website
Choose “Distance Learning Student” from the list in Step #1
Choose “Open University” from the list in Step #2 and click “Find”
You only need to apply once, so choose your preferred member library from the list
and then click “Apply for access”
On the application form, fill in your name and email address
If you’ve never had a Library card before, put your OU Personal Identifier in this box
– otherwise put in your existing Library barcode number
Tick the two boxes below and then Submit.
So, what happens next? We’ll process your application – this can take up to 21 working
days. Once that’s done we will send the two items you’ll need to take to your chosen library:
#1 – the official SCONUL Access acceptance email, and
#2 – if you’ve not had one before, we will post your Open University Library card.
The card should arrive a few days after you receive your acceptance email.
Don’t forget, once you have your email and card you can use them to join as many SCONUL
Access member libraries as you wish!
You should check with the library you want to use before your first visit, in case they’d like
you to provide anything else for registration – for example photo ID.
Any questions? Just contact the Library Helpdesk.
SCONUL Access: bringing libraries closer to you.
The Open University (OU) offers eduroam (education roaming), a free service which provides Wi-Fi Internet Access when you visit other academic libraries near where you live. More information on how to connect to eduroam can be found on the page Connecting to eduroam (requires login).
Participating libraries sometimes choose to offer specific services that are not automatically included in the SCONUL Access membership, such as access to computer facilities or online library resources. To avoid disappointment, remember to contact your chosen Library ahead of your visit to confirm their registration requirements and to check what services are offered for your Sconul Access band.
To find out more about how you need to plan your visit at your chosen library and what you may expect, please see the frequently asked questions about the Access Scheme.
The Open University Library is a member of the Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL). Most SCURL libraries can be accessed by joining SCONUL Access.
Academic staff and Postgraduate Research students can join SCURL Research Extra to gain access to specialist libraries that are not members of the SCONUL Access scheme. To join this scheme, complete the SCURL Research Extra application form (Doc) and email or post it to the Open University Library.
Open University students and staff are entitled to apply for a pass for the British Library's St. Pancras reading rooms in London or Boston Spa, Yorkshire.
The Library building at Walton Hall is open to all for reference and study purposes. For information about using the Wi-Fi and computers, see the Library at Walton Hall page. To see if you are entitled to any other services such as borrowing books, check the Borrowing at the Walton Hall Library page.
Check the opening hours of the Library building and Customer Services before you visit.
Here are some options you may wish to explore:
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Tuesday, 16 March, 2021 - 13:00
Learn about the online library, how to find help and support, and how to access key services to help with your studies or work at the OU.