SCONUL Research Extra borrowing scheme

On 2 June 2003, UCL Library Services joins a new reciprocal borrowing scheme: SCONUL Research Extra (SRX). SCONUL is the Society of College, National and Research Libraries and the scheme will allow academic staff and research postgraduates from participating institutions to borrow books from each other's libraries.

SCONUL's membership includes virtually every HE institution in Britain and Ireland, the vast majority of which will be participating in the scheme. Effectively therefore, it means that UCL academic staff and research postgraduates will now be able to borrow books from most academic libraries in the UK and Ireland. A full list of the 125 libraries involved is available.

UCL members wishing to take advantage of the scheme must first obtain a special SRX card from Library Services before travelling. These can be picked up from any Issue Desk or Enquiry Desk. Cards will be issued to any member of academic staff with a current UCL staff photocard, and students registered for a PhD, MPhil or similar qualification awarded purely by research.

Although SRX effectively supersedes the M25 Access scheme (since most M25 members are also participating in SRX), the M25 scheme will continue to run for the time being and UCL members who have already collected M25 cards will still be able to use them. UCL M.Res and taught-course students, while not able to borrow books under SRX, may use other libraries during the holidays under the SCONUL Vacation Access Scheme.

Further information about SRX, as well as other resources available to UCL staff and students, is available.