The Libraries in membership of CURL recognise their obligations as the major research libraries of the UK and Ireland in the support of research both at a national and international level.

Their combined holdings represent a major resource in the support of research.

The CURL member libraries are committed to:

• Making their holdings available (in the case of full members) through COPAC nationally and internationally
• Providing access to their collections to all bona fide researchers

Access is defined as:

• Access to print collections, special collections and archives and other material for consultation purposes during normal library opening hours
• It may not include access to electronic material and computer networks where the conditions of site licences do not permit this

Access to CURL Libraries

SCONUL Research Extra
This is the largest borrowing scheme for higher education researchers in the UK and Ireland.

This scheme is for:

• academic staff on open or fixed term contracts
• postgraduate research students registered for a PhD, MPhil or similar qualification awarded purely by research from institutions participating in SCONUL Research Extra

Access is also usually possible for researchers who are not members of an academic institution or members of the public who cannot easily find the material they need elsewhere. Each CURL member library operates its own arrangements for this.

CURL libraries welcome visits by academic staff or graduate students from other universities who are undertaking research for which the collections in the library to be visited will be valuable. In some cases prior arrangement is necessary by writing or telephoning, in order that the host library staff may be able to notify you if there is any difficulty about access to the collection you require on the day of your visit.

Some CURL libraries may offer services to external researchers on payment of a fee. Each member library of CURL will publish on its web site details of opening hours, a description of its special collections and archives, requirements for access (eg proof of identity) and details of any charged services.

Researchers intending to apply for access to a CURL library are urged to consult that library's web site before making a visit.

Each Library's online OPAC and COPAC should be available via their home page.

Further information about all of the libraries listed here (collections, opening hours, etc.) may be obtained by following the links listed below.

CURL wishes you every success in the research you are undertaking.

University of Aberdeen Library and Historic Collections
University of Birmingham Information Services
University of Bristol Information Services
British Library
Cambridge University Library
Cardiff University Information Services
Durham University Library
Edinburgh University Library
Glasgow University Library
Imperial College London Library
John Rylands University Library, University of Manchester
King's College London Information Services & Systems
Leeds University Library
University of Liverpool Library
University of London Research Library Services
Library of The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
National Library of Scotland
National Library of Wales
Newcastle University Library
University of Nottingham Information Services
University of Oxford Libraries
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)
The University of Sheffield Library
University of Southampton Libraries
Trinity College Library Dublin
UCL Library Services
V&A Museum
University of Warwick Library
Wellcome Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine

University of Aberdeen Directorate of Information Systems & Services

University of Birmingham Information Services

University of Bristol Information Services

British Library

Cambridge University Library

Cardiff University

Durham University Library

Edinburgh University Library

Glasgow University Library

Imperial College London Library

John Rylands University Library of Manchester

King's College London Information Services & Systems

Leeds University Library

University of Liverpool Library

University of London Research Library Services

Library of The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

National Library of Scotland

National Library of Wales

Newcastle University Library

University of Nottingham Information Services

University of Oxford Libraries

School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)

The University of Sheffield Library

University of Southampton Libraries

Trinity College Library Dublin

UCL Library Services

V&A Museum

University of Warwick Library

Wellcome Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine