Joining the Library

The University of Edinburgh offers a number of membership and access arrangements including to our Graduates, Members of the Public, and Student and Staff members of other Universities that are part of the SCONUL Access scheme.

 

If you wish to join Edinburgh University library or renew your membership card, email us at library.account@ed.ac.uk, telling us which of the following membership groups is applicable.

Edinburgh University Library is a member of the Society of College, National and University Libraries (SCONUL) Access scheme. Once registered with the scheme, staff and students from any other SCONUL Access institution can have free membership of the Library

The SCONUL Access website provides more details of the scheme and how to join. Please apply through the SCONUL website to receive your approval from your home institution before emailing us to receive information on how to receive your University of Edinburgh library card.

SCONUL Access

 
MembershipEntitlement ID Requirements

Bands A, B and C:

Borrowing

Borrowing of 5 books at any one time (HUB Short Loan and Reserve books not included)

WIFI access through Eduroam

Photocopying

 

Student or staff ID card AND SCONUL Approval email

Band Reference:

Consultation only

 


Consultation of printed material  (no acess to Main Library HUB section)

WIFI access through Eduroam

Photocopying

Student or staff ID card AND SCONUL Approval email

If you forget to bring your library membership card, you are entitled to a single One Day Visitor pass per year to enter.

Apply for access by using the email address below:

library.account@ed.ac.uk

If you have any existing card reference number (starting ‘200..’) , please let us know.

Library staff will reply to you with important information for access within 7 days.

Please wait for our reply before visiting our libraries


University of Edinburgh graduates are entitled to join the library as an External Borrower for free.

MembershipFeeEntitlements ID requirements
BorrowingFree

15 books (HUB Short Loan and Reserve books not included) 

Limited access to eResources

WiFi

Photocopying

Photographic ID plus proof of address dated within 3 months 

Accepted proof of identity

If you forget to bring your library membership card, you are entitled to a single One Day Visitor pass per year to enter.

Please email to apply for access:

library.account@ed.ac.uk

If you have any existing card and wish to renew please let us know, if possible quoting your card number (starting ‘200..’)

Library staff will reply to you with important information for access within 7 days.

Please wait for our reply before visiting our libraries

 


University of Edinburgh Library is open to all members of the public on production of appropriate proof of identity. A Reference card is free of charge an External borrowers card can be provided subject to a fee.

 

MembershipFeeEntitlementsID requirements
ReferenceFree

Consultation of printed material only

Guest WiFi (Visit-Ed)

Photocopying

Photographic ID plus proof of address dated within 3 months.

Accepted proof of identity

External borrowers card

3 months: £30

6 months: £60

12 months: £90

5 books (Not RESERVE)

Guest WIFI (Visit-Ed) 

Photocopying

 

Photographic ID plus proof of address dated within 3 months.

Accepted proof of identity

If you forget to bring your library membership card, you are entitled to a single One Day Visitor pass per year to enter.

Please email to apply for access:

library.account@ed.ac.uk

If you have any existing card and wish to renew please let us know, if possible quoting your card number (starting ‘200..’)

Library staff will reply to you with important information for access within 7 days.

Please wait for our reply before visiting our libraries


There are a number of other categories of membership available for our Libraries.

If you wish to join or renew your existing membership, please email us at  

library.account@ed.ac.uk 

Please state you wish to join as a new member or renew your existing card. Please include in your email your name, category of visitor and existing card reference number starting ‘200..’ if applicable

We will reply to you with important information for access within a maximum of 7 days. Please wait for our reply before visiting our libraries.*

*We may not be able to process your membership if you do not follow these steps.

If you forget to bring your library membership card, you are entitled to a single One Day Visitor pass per year to enter.

 


University of Edinburgh staff, students and academic visitors

Staff and fully matriculated students of the University of Edinburgh have full access and borrowing rights to all of our site Libraries. Some academic visitors may also have full rights at the Library.

Library information for University of Edinburgh staff, students and academic visitors

Privacy Notice for Library Self-Registration

This privacy notice explains what personal information the University holds about those joining as library members. It explains why we hold this information, what we do with it, how long we keep it for and if we share it with third parties.

Privacy Notice for Library Self-Registration

Related Links

Library locations and opening hours

Borrowing, fines and renewals

Card services