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Alumni and visitors

Library Reading Room, John Islip Street

Latest information

All UAL libraries and the Archives and Special Collections Centre are closed to visitors (external/alumni/industry or SCONUL) until further notice. If you have an existing booking, we will contact you about the cancellation.

Our libraries are open to UAL alumni, members of the public and people with SCONUL access to other libraries. Learn more about visiting us and accessing our outstanding collections.

UAL alumni

We provide a range of services for our alumni including:

  • Reference access to all our libraries
  • Access to photocopiers (you must comply with copyright legislation)
  • Guest user on-campus access to a limited range of databases and e-journals.
  • Alumni Guide to Free or Open Access, Quality e-Resources
  • Please note: there is no access to other IT facilities.

How to apply

You are eligible to apply for the UAL Alumni Library card if:

  • You have completed a UAL foundation, undergraduate or postgraduate course

When you graduate from UAL you are automatically registered with the Alumni Association and given a unique 6-digit Alumni ID number. If you get the monthly Alumni newsletter, your Alumni ID is on the top right of your email.

If you're not sure, please contact the Alumni Relations team: alumni@arts.ac.uk.

How to visit

SCONUL access: using libraries across universities

SCONUL scheme allows staff and students to access and borrow from other Higher Education institutions in the UK and Ireland.

UAL staff and students

You may be able to join the SCONUL Access Scheme and borrow items or use items for reference at another university library.

Non UAL staff and students

Once you have joined the SCONUL scheme you can access UAL Libraries and borrow items if you are a:

  • member of staff
  • research student
  • part time student
  • distance learning student
  • placement student
  • taught postgraduate student

Full-time undergraduates are allowed reference access, but will not be able to borrow items.

The scheme does not include the use of IT facilities, but Eduroam is available in our Libraries, providing internet access to visitors from other participating institutions. There is also guest user on-campus access to a limited range of databases and e-journals.

How to visit

Please take your institutional ID card and your SCONUL access card or confirmation email to the library you are visiting. If you wish to borrow on your first visit you should call us in advance to make an appointment.

Central Saint Martins Library

Visitor access to Central Saint Martins Library is limited and we cannot guarantee access on any given date. If you wish to visit the Library you should email library.visits@csm.arts.ac.uk at least 48 hours in advance of the day you would like access, stating that you would like access via SCONUL and the date and time you would like to visit.

Once you have agreed the date for your visit, please take your institutional ID card and your SCONUL access card or confirmation email to the library. If you wish to borrow on your first visit, please include this in your email to the library to arrange your visit.

London College of Fashion Library

Visitor access to London College of Fashion Library is limited and we cannot guarantee access on any given date. If you wish to visit the Library you should email lcflibraryvisitors@arts.ac.uk at least 48 hours in advance of the day you would like access, stating that you would like access via SCONUL and the date and time you would like to visit.

Once you have agreed the date for your visit, please take your institutional ID card and your SCONUL access card or confirmation email to the library. If you wish to borrow on your first visit, please include this in your email to the library to arrange your visit.

Visitors (Public)

Members of the public are welcome to access references from all UAL libraries.

You can make an appointment for Chelsea College of Arts, London College of Communication and Wimbledon College of Arts during our main opening hours. Please contact us.

Central Saint Martins (not including overnight opening hours), Camberwell College of Arts and London College of Fashion offer restricted access to their collections, only allocating study places to:

  • alumni
  • SCONUL members
  • industry-based researchers

If you are unable to find resources anywhere other than Central Saint Martins, Camberwell College of Arts or London College of Fashion and would like to visit, please email:

Central Saint Martins -  library.visits@csm.arts.ac.uk

Camberwell - library@camberwell.arts.ac.uk

London College of Fashion - lcflibraryvisitors@arts.ac.uk

There is also guest user on-campus access to a limited range of databases and e-journals.

Copyright information

Use of photocopiers, scanners, slides and videotapes in the Library must be in accordance with the 1988 Copyright and Patent Act and any subsequent Copyright Acts. You are not be able to use University of the Arts London computer facilities or networked resources, including databases.

Access to e-resources

All visitors to UAL libraries, whether alumni, SCONUL users or members of the public, are allowed to register for a temporary guest user network account that enables on-campus access to a limited range of databases and e-journals whose licences permit use by guests or ‘walk-in’ users.

Registration

Visitors will be presented with the Library Guest Access to Electronic Resources – Acceptable Use Policy and Registration Form, which they will be asked to sign and date in the presence of a member of library staff.

To save time when visiting, you are advised to read the acceptable use policy document and print out the registration form in advance.

During the registration process, library guests will be asked to provide an acceptable form of photo ID, such as:

  • Current signed passport
  • National Identity photo card
  • Current UK or EEA photo card driving license
  • SCONUL Access card & Home Institution card

These documents can be accepted as proof of address as long as they include your current address. If not, any of the following can be used as evidence of address, alongside the photo ID above:

  • Current UK or EEA paper driving licence (without photo)
  • Utility bill issued within the last 3 months
  • Local authority council tax bill for the current council tax year
  • Benefit book or original notification letter from Benefits Agency
  • Bank, Building Society or credit union statement of passbook
  • NHS medical card
  • Council or Housing Association rent card or tenancy agreement for the current year

Library guests are permitted to save downloaded content to a USB memory stick, which you are advised to bring with you.

We have been accredited with Customer Service Excellence.