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 (eg 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
- In the first instance, it's always worth checking to see if the item you need is freely available on the internet via the Open Access Button.
Searching other library collections online
- You can use the following websites to check library collections across the UK:
- Archives Hub: to search archive and manuscript collections in UK higher education institutions
- Library Hub Discover: to search the combined catalogues of the UK's major research libraries previously known as COPAC.
- MASC25: to check special collections in London
- Search25: to check the library catalogues of nearly 60 institutions within the M25 Consortium of Academic Libraries
- Union List of Serials: to check the journal holdings of nearly 60 institutions within the M25 Consortium of Academic Libraries
SCONUL Access Scheme
- In line with Government guidelines, and following the closure of library buildings, the SCONUL Access scheme will be suspended until further notice. [Updated: 25/03/20.]
- The SCONUL access scheme covers most of the university libraries in the UK and Ireland. We strongly advise you to join this scheme.
- Eligibility:
- full-time undergraduate students: you can join SCONUL for reference-only access.
- part-time undergraduate students, full-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.
- School of Arts:
- BA Modern Languages with International Experience
- Graduate Certificate History of Art students
- all History, Classics and Archaeology students
- all MPhil/PhD researchers
- all taught Master's students
- all part-time third-, fourth- and subsequent-year undergraduates
- all full-time second- and third-year undergraduates
- all Honorary Visiting Fellows and Professors.
- School of Law:
- all postgraduate research and taught Master's students
- MPhil/PhD researchers
- all Honorary Visiting Fellows and Professors.
- School of Science: only students in the Department of Psychological Sciences can access Senate House:
- BA Psychology for Education students
- BSc Psychology students
- MA/MSc Cognition and Computation students
- MA/MSc Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychology students
- MA/MSc Developmental Sciences students
- MA/MSc Educational Neuroscience students
- MRes Functional Neuroimaging students
- MSc/MA Health and Clinical Psychological Sciences
- MSc Psychological Research Methods students
- Postgraduate Diploma/MSc/MRes Psychology students
- MPhil/PhD researchers.
- School of Social Sciences, History and Philosophy:
- BA Archaeology first- and second-year undergraduates
- BA Archaeology and History first- and second-year undergraduates
- all taught Master's 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.
- Self-registration during Senate House Library closure and access to eresources:
- You can use the temporary self-registration system for eresource access. [Last updated: 24/03/20]
- This will enable you to register for eresources access on a four monthly rolling membership without the need for staff intervention.
- It does require validation, so:
- For Birkbeck staff, you need to send a copy of your Eligibility form (see below) to the Senate House Library Membership before being granted access.
- For Birkbeck students, you need to send a copy of your Certificate of Birkbeck Student Eligibility (see below) to the Senate House Library Membership before being granted access.
- How to join if you are a student whose course appears in this list: go to Senate House Library with your Birkbeck ID card and your Certificate of Birkbeck Student Eligibility (which you can access via My Birkbeck - go to 'Manage', and select the dropdown option of 'My Senate House Access') - you can take a hard copy or show it on your mobile device.
- How to join if you are a distance-learning student whose course appears in this list: follow the instructions above and email your Certificate of Birkbeck Student Eligibility (which you can access via My Birkbeck - go to 'Manage', and select the dropdown option of 'My Senate House Access') to Senate House Library membership.
- How to join if you are a student whose course is not listed: you can pay to join Senate House Library (£122 for 2019-20).
- To do this, log in to My Birkbeck, go to 'Manage', and select the dropdown option of 'My Senate House Access' and click the 'Senate House Library Access: Not Eligible' hyperlink to make a secure payment. After payment, you should see 'Senate House Library Access: Eligible' in My Birkbeck - click this hyperlink to see your 'Certificate of Birkbeck Student Eligibility'. You need to show this certificate (either printed or on a mobile device) at the Senate House Library, along with your Birkbeck ID card.
- 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 a director of operations or assistant director of operations. Take the form with your Birkbeck ID card to the Senate House Library to register or renew your membership.
- How to join if you are a Professional Services member of staff: you can pay to join Senate House Library (£122 for 2019-20).
- To do this, take your application form to the Birkbeck Library issue desk on the ground floor, where you can pay the membership fee, and then take your form and your Birkbeck ID card to Senate House Library.
- If access to Senate House Library is necessary for your work, your department may pay your membership fee. An authorised signatory will need to sign your completed application form and you will need to provide a cost-code. Take your application form to the Birkbeck Library issue desk on the ground floor and then take your form and your Birkbeck ID card to Senate House Library.
University of East London (UEL)
- If you are a student enrolled on a course in Stratford, you can use the UEL Library.
- Other Birkbeck students and staff can use UEL Library via the SCONUL Access Scheme.
- All Birkbeck students can access the University Square Stratford (USS) building, including the Weston Learning Centre.
Other University of London Libraries in Bloomsbury
- Consult your academic subject resources guide to identify which libraries are most relevant to your studies.
- The University of London Access Agreement allows Birkbeck students to access other University of London libraries for reference and allows Birkbeck research students and academic staff to borrow from some institutions. (Please note: Senate House Library is excluded from this agreement.) Students may need to take a Certificate of Enrolment, which you can print from your My Birkbeck profile.
- Other University of London libraries include:
- Institute of Education (IoE) Library
- London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) Library: national collection for social sciences.
- School of Advanced Study (SAS): the SAS comprises:
- Institute of Advanced Legal Studies
- Institute of Classical Studies
- Institute of Commonwealth Studies
- Institute of Germanic Studies
- Institute of Historical Research
- Institute for the Study of the Americas
- Warburg Institute.
- Each institute has different access arrangements, so please check online before you visit.
- School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) library: you need to join the SCONUL Access Scheme before visiting SOAS Library. If you are not eligible to join SCONUL, you will need to complete a Confirmation of Status form and take it to Birkbeck Library for authorisation.
- University College London (UCL) library: Birkbeck undergraduate and postgraduate students can register to use UCL Library between 9.30am and 5pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 5pm on Friday. Please get your Programme Enrolment Certificate printed via the My Birkbeck Centre before visiting. Academic staff and MPhil/PhD students are advised to join the SCONUL Access Scheme before visiting UCL Library.
Other libraries and archives in London
- Check each library website for information on accessing collections.
Libraries and archives in the UK
International libraries
- Biblioteca Nacional (National Library of Spain)
- Bibliothèque Nationale (National Library of France)
- Deutsche Bibliothek(National Library of Germany)
- The European Library offers access to the combined digital and hard-copy resources - books, magazines and journals - of the 43 national libraries of Europe.
- Library of Congress (US)
- Libraries.org via Library Technology a directory of libraries throughout the world
- LibWeb Links to over 6,000 libraries from 115 countries