Library services at UCLan

Our library teams support staff, students and researchers through online and physical environments.

We provide first line support, 24-hour access to safe study spaces, skills development and collection management.

Each school has a dedicated subject librarian, with specific resources dedicated to every course we offer. We have invested in digital resources for all our subjects, from art to veterinary medicine.

Our Ask Your Librarian service is available to all students who need support with finding academic information for their subject. We offer online and face-to-face appointments at both our Preston and Burnley campuses. Visitors are welcome to visit our Preston Campus library. You will find details of how to plan your visit on this page.

External membership

From Wednesday 20 March until the end of May visitors will not be permitted in the library. This is due to students preparing for exams.

Outside of exam time, visitors are welcome to use UCLan library (Preston Campus) and to consult library collections, subject to showing the appropriate forms of identification at the reception desk. Please note that visitors are not permitted in the computer areas or study rooms. Please also note that visitors are not permitted to bring children in.

The different types of visitor access and forms of identification are outlined below.

Acceptable forms of ID

Alumni card with passport or driving licence photo-card and proof of address
Open University library card with photo. You will also need a letter on OU notepaper or registration form confirming enrolment
NHS Trust ID badge with photo, plus passport or driving licence photo-card
Public library membership card, plus passport, driving licence photo-card or work ID badge with photo, plus proof of date of birth (if this is not on the photographic ID)
SCONUL access for HE staff and students – please see below

Please note any form of ID documentation has to be the original documents, screenshots or scans will be not accepted.

Acceptable forms of photographic ID:

Passport
Driving licence photo-card
Work ID badge with photo

Acceptable proof of your current address:

Recent bank statement
Utility bill

Please note the use of the library is subject to university rules and regulations and is for educational purposes only. You may be asked to provide contact details for the duration of your visit. Visitor entry into the library for all categories of visitor is available from 9.00 am to 9.00pm, 7 days a week.

Visitors (except Alumni) will not usually be able to access the library from late March until the end of May. This is to allow maximum space for our students during the examination period. We will not be processing new SCONUL applications during this time.

If you require any further details on external membership please contact us on 01772 895355

UCLan Alumni Network members may access the library free of charge and borrow up to four books. However, use of computers and access to e-resources is not available, due to licensing restrictions.

Please visit the Customer Service desk, on the ground floor of the library, to get your free ID card.

Alumni will need to provide additional photographic ID (passport or driving licence) and proof of address (bank statement or utility bill) to be issued with a library card.

Membership is available for students and staff at other Universities and University Colleges. Access is not permitted for 6th Form or Further Education Colleges.

To register, you must bring the following:

SCONUL Access available from 9.00am - 9.00pm
ID card plus current University library card bearing a photo. If the card does not have a photo, a second form of photographic ID is required. Please also bring your email authorisation from your home institution as proof of acceptance. SCONUL users are only permitted access to Preston Campus Library.
Academic Libraries North (ALN, formerly known as NoWAL)
Staff and students from member institutions are entitled to reference-only access via application to SCONUL Access via their home institution.

Reciprocal Access Agreement

The agreement allows any current undergraduate student of the University of Central Lancashire, Lancaster University and the University of Cumbria to join either of the other two university libraries with borrowing rights for just £20 per year. Postgraduate students, staff and undergraduates on distance learning courses can join and borrow free of charge under the SCONUL Access scheme.

If you are a student of Lancaster University or the University of Cumbria please email the library team. You will have access to borrow up to 4 items.

If you are a current UCLan undergraduate student, please visit the website of the university library you wish to join for details on how you register and what access you will be eligible for.

National Health Service Trust (acute, primary care, ambulance) members must bring the following:

NHS Trust ID badge with photo and a passport or driving licence photo-card.

Your saved courses

Library services

External membership

Acceptable forms of ID

Acceptable forms of photographic ID:

Acceptable proof of your current address:

Preston Campus library

Burnley Campus library

Special Collections