Using other libraries

At times, you may wish to access and borrow resources from other libraries. There are a number of reciprocal schemes with local and national libraries available to staff and students should you wish to do so. Details of these can be found below.

We have reciprocal agreements with both Dundee and St Andrews university libraries allowing Abertay staff and students to use study space facilities and borrow up to 6 books.

There may be restrictions on borrowing high demand material and you will have limited access to their e-resources.  Should you wish to search their collections in advance of your visit, you can do so online:

• Dundee University Library
• St Andrews University Library

To join, apply through SCONUL Access, ensuring you do not have any outstanding fines or overdue books with us. Once your Sconul application has been authorised, you will receive a Sconul Access Approved email - take this and your Abertay student card with you when joining any library. 

You must agree to abide by the regulations of the Library you are joining, which will be different from our own. Abertay acts as guarantor for our staff and students - if you fail to return books to their home library the debt will be transferred to us, and subsequently to your library account. If unresolved, this could affect your access to the library here and may include referral to a debt collection agency.

SCONUL Access is a reciprocal service supported by most UK Higher Education institutions allowing you to use, and possibly borrow from, other University libraries.

Institutions allow different levels of access and may restrict membership for some categories of user, so you need to check the details for the library you wish to join in advance.

Generally speaking, borrowing rights are given to:

• Placement students
• Distance learning or part time students
• Postgraduate students
• Researchers
• Staff 

And reference access to:

• Full time undergraduate students (although Dundee and St Andrews universities will allow all Abertay staff and students to borrow, once authorised - see above) 

You can apply to use the scheme online at https://access.sconul.ac.uk/sconul-access. You will need to state what type of course you are on ie full time undergraduate, placement, part time postgraduate etc.; that you are a student at Abertay; and you will need to select an institution that you would like to use. You need only apply once even if you wish to use multiple libraries. Your application will be forwarded to us for approval and you should receive a response within 2 working days. Users with any outstanding library debt (overdue books or fines) cannot be authorised for the scheme.

The University of Abertay library acts as guarantor for our staff and students. If you fail to return books borrowed under the SCONUL Access agreement the debt will be transferred to us, and subsequently to your library account. If unresolved, this could affect your access to the library here and may include referral to a debt collection agency.

We have reciprocal agreements with the institutions listed below and you may also join Dundee community libraries or the NHS library at Kings Cross.

• Dundee and Angus College
• UHI: Perth College
• NHS Tayside libraries

Take your Student Card to the library that you wish to join and complete their membership application form ensuring all outstanding debts with Abertay Library are cleared first. Different libraries offer different services, so please check details before you join.

Membership of Dundee Central Library is free to anyone living or studying in Dundee.

The library is located in the Wellgate and full details of its opening hours can be found online. You can use your University of Abertay student card to join the Library. Just show this to the library staff and there is no need to fill in any additional forms.