Skip to main content

Other libraries

If an item you need is not held in Birkbeck Library, you may still be able to access it by visiting another library via the SCONUL Access scheme or University of London Access scheme or requesting it via our Interlibrary loan service.

Browse other libraries and archives

You can find out more below about how to access other libraries. It's important to check membership arrangements and instructions before you visit other libraries, as you may need to take additional documents (e.g. Birkbeck ID cards do not have an expiry date, so you may need documents to prove your end-of-course date). 

Online access to material 

Searching other library collections online 

  • You can use the following websites to check library collections across the UK: 

SCONUL Access Scheme 

  • The SCONUL access scheme covers most of the university libraries in the UK and Ireland. At this time, not all universities are participating, so check before you visit! We strongly advise you to join this scheme. 
  • Eligibility: 
    • full-time undergraduate students: you can join SCONUL for reference-only access. 
    • part-time undergraduate studentsfull-time taught postgraduate students, research students and staff: you can join SCONUL to borrow from other libraries in the scheme. 
    • short course and certificate of higher education students: if you are studying 60 credits or more per year, you can join SCONUL. 
    • visiting members of Birkbeck Library, including third-party users, are not eligible to join SCONUL via Birkbeck.
  • How to apply: you need to apply online (please read our application guidelines). 

Senate House Library, University of London 

  • Senate House Library, right next door to Birkbeck in Bloomsbury, is the central library of the University of London, with an extensive collection of items and special archives.
  • Accessing Senate House Library: all academic staff and the students, staff and fellows specified below can use Senate House Library for free, to borrow books and access their online resources.  You need to register online at Senate House Library before you go there.
    • Faculty of Business and Law:
      • Birkbeck Business School: 
        • Professional Doctorate in Occupational Psychology
        • Other Birkbeck Business School’s students do not have free access.
      • Birkbeck Law School:
        • MPhil/PhD researchers
        • All Honorary Visiting Fellows and Professors
        • Undergraduate and other postgraduate students do not have free access.
    • Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences:
      • Birkbeck Centre for Counselling:
        • All research postgraduate and taught master’s students
        • All full-time second- and third-year undergraduates
        • All part-time third, fourth, and subsequent year undergraduates.
      • School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication:
        • All language degrees with International Experience
        • All research postgraduate and taught master’s students  
        • All part-time third, fourth, and subsequent year undergraduates 
        • All full-time second- and third-year undergraduates 
        • All language degrees with International Experience.
      • School of Historical Studies:
        • Graduate Certificate History of Art students
        • Graduate Certificate History of Art and Architecture students
        • BA Archaeology first- and second-year undergraduates 
        • BA Archaeology and History first- and second-year undergraduates 
        • All History, Classics, and Archaeology students
        • All MPhil/PhD researchers
        • All taught Master's students and research postgraduate students
        • All full-time second- and third-year undergraduates
        • All part-time third-, fourth- and subsequent-year undergraduates
        • All Honorary Visiting Fellows and Professors.
      • School of Social Sciences:
        • All research postgraduate and taught master’s students
        • All second-, third- and subsequent year undergraduate students.
    • Faculty of Science:
      • School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences:
        • Students do not have free access.
      • School of Natural Sciences:
        • Students do not have free access.
      • School of Psychological Sciences:
        • All Undergraduate/Postgraduate Diploma/MSc/MRes Psychology students
        • MPhil/PhD researchers.
  • How to join if you are a student whose course appears in this list: You will need to download your Certificate of Birkbeck Student Eligibility (which you can access via My Birkbeck - from MENU at the top of the home page click on 'My Services' and click 'My Senate House Library Access') and send it to  
  • How to join if you are a student whose course is not listedyou can pay to join Senate House Library (£197 for 2023-24): To do this, log in to My Birkbeck; from MENU at the top of the home page click on 'My Services' and click the 'Senate House Library Access: Not Eligible' hyperlink to make a secure payment. After payment, you should see your 'Certificate of Birkbeck Student Eligibility' which you will need to send to  
  • How to join if you are an academic member of staff: you will need to print out an eligibility form and have it signed by your Head of School. You need to register online first before going to Senate House Library.  Send a copy of your Eligibility form to to register or renew your membership. 

Other University of London Libraries in Bloomsbury

Other libraries and archives in London

Libraries and archives in the UK

International libraries