Senate House Library, University of London
If you are within travelling distance of London, as a distance learning student of the University of London you will be entitled to join the Senate House Library for free. You can make use of the quiet spaces and specialist collections of this iconic library, but please remember that it is the Online Library which holds your core textbooks.
UK University Libraries
If you are a University of London student based in the UK, you can access the libraries of many other UK universities through the SCONUL scheme. You can apply here. In Step 2, choose 'University of London, Distance Learners' (under 'L'). When you are asked to give your 'Library or ID Card number', please enter your 9 digit student number (SRN).
Once you have applied through SCONUL and your application has been approved, you will receive an email confirmation. This will explain how you can use your SCONUL membership to access other UK libraries so please read it carefully.
Libraries outside of the UK
Your local university library may allow you to access their space and collections as a University of London student. The Online Library can provide a ‘Letter of Introduction’ which confirms that you are a registered student at the University of London. You can show this letter to the staff at the library you wish to visit, although access will be at their discretion. To ask for a Letter of Introduction, please email us with your 9-digit student number.
For details of libraries who have offered their facilities to University of London distance learning students in the past please see the Libraries PDF. You may also want to contact your nearest British Council Office to see if it has a library or can recommend any alternatives.
Directory of Libraries
Libraries in London
UK-Wide Library Resources
- Cambridge University Libraries
- Find your Local Library
- Libraries in Great Britain and Ireland
- Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru | National Library of Wales
- National Library of Scotland
- Oxford Libraries including the Bodleian
- RLUK- Research Libraries in the UK and Ireland
Libraries Beyond the UK
Australia
Canada
Europe
- Catalogue collectif de France
- CONUL consortium of Ireland's main research libraries
- Karlsruhe Virtual Catalogue
- La Bibliotheque Nationale de France
- Libraries in Europe
New Zealand
United States of America
- Library of Congress
- Library of Congress Online Catalogues
- University of California Libraries
- New York Public Library
Global
- Africa Research Central | A clearing house of African primary resources. Available in English and French.
- Libdex: the Library Index | A searchable directory of library homepages and online catalogues across the globe, covering 18,000 libraries.
- Repositories of Primary Sources | A listing of over 5000 websites describing holdings of manuscripts, archives, rare books, historical photographs, and other primary sources
- WorldCat | the world's largest network of library content and services. Find resources in Libraries near you.
- Worldwide Library resources