Membership and admissions

You may use the Library free of charge for reference only.

Borrowing rights are available for an annual fee of £50.
Take your completed graduate membership form (PDF) to any Library reception desk during staffed hours

Membership does not include access to Leeds University computing facilities. However, a small number of Library computers are available, offering access to the internet and restricted access to Library electronic resources.

Find out more at the Resources for graduates page.

Provided you were working for the University when you retired, you can continue your membership with the same borrowing rights.

You have access to e-resources that permit other users from guest PCs within the Library buildings only. No remote access to e-resources is possible, unless you have emeritus or honorary/visiting status.

To register, bring some photo ID to any Library reception desk. You will be given a five-year membership card, renewable every five years.

Please note: Your department, not the Library, determines whether you are engaged in ongoing work for the University.

You are eligible for full access to the Library's facilities including remote access to its e-resources (online journals and databases) for academic purposes only.

To join the Library, you need to have a current record in the central staff database. If you do not already have one, your departmental Human Resources contact will set one up for you. This process generates your Library record, but please be aware that it will take 10 days. In the meantime, we can give you a temporary record if you bring a letter from your head of school (including the end date of your work or contract) and some photo ID.

To enter the Library buildings or borrow items, your University of Leeds staff ID will function as your membership card.  If you do not have a staff card, bring a letter from your head of school (including the end date of your work or contract) and some photo ID to any Library reception desk. We will give you a Library ticket, valid until the end of your work or contract.

To gain remote access to e-resources, you will need an ISS username and password. If you do not have one already, your departmental representative can arrange it for you.

Please note: There are occasional exceptions. Your department, not the Library, determines your eligibility to use Library resources.

You can use Leeds University Library via SCONUL Access.

You can also register for a membership with enhanced borrowing rights. Bring your college ID, a signed letter from the college library, and a completed membership form (PDF) to any Library reception desk during staffed hours.

Membership does not include access to Leeds University computing facilities. However, a small number of Library computers are available, offering access to the internet and restricted access to Library electronic resources.

Borrowing rights differ according to your studies:

Undergraduate students 

Four Standard loan items, plus four 1-day loan items.
No High Demand items or 7-day loan items.
Standard loan = 2 weeks.

Staff and MPhil students 

10 Standard loan items, plus 10 1-day loan items.
No High Demand items or 7-day loan items.
Standard loan = 4 weeks.

Taught Masters students

Eight Standard loan items, plus eight 1-day loan items.
No High Demand items or 7-day loan items.
Standard loan = 4 weeks.

PHD students 

25 Standard loan items.
Standard loan = 3 months.
No High Demand items or 7-day loan items.

SCONUL Access

This is a national reciprocal access scheme to which most UK Higher Education libraries belong. Check the SCONUL Access website to find out if your university is a member.

If your university is a member of the scheme, get a SCONUL Access card/authorisation from your own university library. Bring it with your university ID and a completed membership form (PDF) to any reception desk, during staffed hours, at Leeds University Library.

The following are entitled to borrowing rights at Leeds University Library (four books for four weeks and four 1-day loans, not 7-day or high-demand items):

Academic staff
Postgraduate researcher or taught student (either full- or part-time)
Part-time undergraduate student
Distance-learning student
Placement student 

Full-time undergraduates are entitled to reference membership of Leeds University Library.

Membership does not include access to Leeds University computing facilities. However, a small number of Library computers are available, offering access to the internet and restricted access to Library electronic resources.

If your university library is not a member of SCONUL Access

Staff and researchers

Access for one day will normally be allowed without prior application, on production of your own university ID.

A six-month membership with borrowing rights costs £50.
We do not offer a reference-only membership, except to Open University undergraduates.

Undergraduate and taught postgraduates - vacation access

You may use Leeds University Library for reference purposes during Leeds University vacations only. Please bring your university ID to any Library reception desk.

Overseas students

If you are a student from overseas and have a genuine need to use the University Library you may be granted reference only access for up to four months. Please bring ID and proof of your student status to any library reception desk. (Please note access will not be permitted during May and June)

If you are a full-time further education student aged 16 years and over at school or sixth-form college in the Leeds area you may be able to use the Library.

Bring the completed application form (PDF), signed and stamped by your school/college representative, and some photo ID to any Leeds University Library reception desk. You will be issued with a reference only ticket.

You may use the Library's book collections, periodicals and photocopying facilities. You will not be able to borrow.

Membership does not include access to University of Leeds student computing facilities. However, a small number of Library computers are available for visitors, offering access to the internet and restricted access to some Library electronic resources.

Widening participation

The Library aims to support the University's vision and strategy to Recruit and support high-quality students from all backgrounds.

We work with Faculties and Access and Community Engagement (ACE) to support their activities, including offering tours to under-16s. We support other core schemes such as Reach for Excellence, Access to Leeds and key faculty-led initiatives.

Contact us for further information or if you wish to arrange a visit. Please note risk assessments must be in place prior to any activities or visits.

Partner schools

All schools are welcome on supervised group visits and we offer reference membership to full-time school and college students aged 16+.

In addition, groups from partner schools are eligible for two hours per year of generic skills sessions, including an introduction to the Library. Teachers can also arrange to visit us separately.

List of partner schools:

Challenge College
Batley Girls High School
Hemsworth Arts and Community College
Corpus Christi College
Thornton Grammar
Sowerby Bridge
Minsthorpe Community College
Wakefield City High School
Lawnswood High School
Oakbank School
Allerton Grange High School
Spen Valley Sports College

Online tutorials

The Library Guide introduces the wide range of resources and support we offer.

Other online tutorials created to help students develop some of the core skills for successful study, such as exams skills, reading skills and web searching, are also available for you to use.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHT) staff, including doctors and dentists in training, dental nursing students and dental nurses working at the Leeds Dental Institute, may join the Library.

To register, bring your LTHT staff ID or a letter of introduction from Paul Twiddy to any Library reception desk.

Paul Twiddy, Library and Information Services Manager
NHS Staff Libraries
Old Nurses Home
The General Infirmary at Leeds
Great George Street
Leeds
LS1 3EX 

Tel: 0113 39 26590
Email: paul.twiddy@leedsth.nhs.uk

Membership entitles you to use, and borrow from, all the University library sites. You also have access to e-resources that permit "other users" from guest PCs within the Library buildings, and may use the document supply service and attend relevant workshops.

NHS staff with honorary University staff contracts

You are entitled to full access to the Library's facilities including remote access to its e-resources (online journals and databases).

See the "honorary staff" entry above for more information.

Other health staff

Private sector health staff or NHS staff not employed by Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust may, for a fee, join as an external member. If you are a University of Leeds graduate, you can join as a graduate member.

Visit the NHS subject page for resources information.

You are an employee of the University, which entitles you to use the Library in your own right.

You are eligible for full access to the Library's facilities including remote access to its e-resources (online journals and databases) for academic purposes only. You may use the document supply service and attend Skills@Library workshops.

Your staff ID card is also your Library membership card.
Never borrow items for the student you are supporting on this card.

You can only register with the Library once. If you are also a student at the University you must choose either staff or student access.
Ask at any enquiry desk or email librarydisabilitysupport@leeds.ac.uk for advice.

If you are privately employed as a personal assistant, you and your employer need to come to the Library and register you for reference-only access.

Contact us for an induction and/or tour of any of the library buildings.

The Holden Library is the working library for clergy. The extensive collection includes books on all matters of religion from 1522 to the present. Holden members can also borrow items from other parts of the University Library.

The following are eligible to join the Library:

• Clergy licensed in the Anglican dioceses of Ripon and Leeds
• Clergy of the Roman Catholic diocese of Leeds
• Ministers of the Methodist Church (Leeds District and West Yorkshire District)
• Ministers of any other Christian diocese/denomination which applies for membership and contributes the annual subscription
• Candidates for ordination in any of the above-mentioned denominations
• Lay workers in any of the above-mentioned denominations which have paid the higher institutional subscription; the lay worker's name should be submitted to the Librarian for Theology and Religious Studies together with a letter of introduction from their minister.

To register, come to the reception desk of the Brotherton Library during staffed hours.  Bring some photo ID, a letter on headed paper from a recognised member of clergy (such as your minister or bishop) stating your position in the church, and a completed membership form (PDF).

The borrowing entitlement for clerical members is six books for four weeks and four 1-day loans. You may not borrow from the 7-day or High Demand collections.

You also have access to e-resources that permit other users from guest PCs within the library buildings.

We operate a corporate membership service called LUCID.

For an annual fee you can access a wide range of resources, including some electronic journals and databases, at all Library sites, and use our "quick answer" service for your information queries.

In addition, we offer a bespoke information and research service at competitive rates, for both members and non-members.

To arrange an introductory visit, please contact lucid@library.leeds.ac.uk

If you are not included in any of the above categories, you can still join the Library. You will need to have an information or study need that can both be met by our facilities and which merits ongoing access.

A six-month membership with borrowing rights costs £50.

Please take a completed membership form (PDF) with proof of ID and address to any library reception desk during staffed hours.

External users are entitled to borrow four books for four weeks (not 7-day or high-demand items) and may use the Library's reference collections, periodicals and photocopying facilities.

Membership does not include access to Leeds University student computing facilities. However, a small number of Library computers are available for visitors, offering access to the internet and restricted access to some Library electronic resources.

You may be able to use the library as a day visitor as a one off if you have an information or study need that can only be met by using our resources.  

Contact us for more information.