Library Services for External Readers
Who can use the Library?

Members of the public
Members of the public over the age of 18 may use the Library free of charge for reference. Please sign in at Reception near the entrance on arrival.
You can buy an external borrowing ticket for £50 per year from the Issue Desk of the Pilkington Library. These tickets enable you to borrow up to four long loans at a time for up to four weeks each.
Loughborough Graduates
Graduates of the University may apply for an Alumni User Card. These cards enable you to borrow up to eight long/week loans at a time. Please see our Alumni Page for further details.
Retired staff
Retired members of University staff and permanent staff in the Students Union may apply in writing to the University Librarian for an external borrowing ticket, which is usually provided free of charge. These tickets enable you to borrow up to four long loans at a time for up to four weeks each.
Loughborough College/RNIB College staff
Teachers at Loughborough College or the RNIB College can request a staff borrowing ticket without charge on production of an employer's letter of introduction.
Academic staff, researchers, full time postgraduate, part-time/distance learning or placement students from other institutions
Members of academic staff or research students (i.e. a PhD or MPhil student), full time postgraduates, part-time, distance learning or placement students (undergraduates and taught postgraduates) at a college or university that is a member of the SCONUL Access Scheme can obtain a free external borrowing ticket. Please present a SCONUL Access card stamped by your library and a valid ID card to the Issue Desk so that the external ticket can be created. These tickets enable you to borrow up to four long loans at a time for up to four weeks each.
Schools, companies and accredited tenants of the Technology Centre
Schools may also apply for an external borrowing ticket for £50 + VAT per year.
Companies may apply for an external borrowing ticket for £100 + VAT per year. Additional tickets can be obtained for £50 + VAT per year.
Accredited tenants of the Technology Centre and other companies clearly associated with the University may obtain external borrowing tickets for £50 + VAT per year.

What can we offer?
- The Library catalogue, which holds information about Library stock and is freely available via the web.
- Loans from other libraries subject to payment of a fee.
- European Documentation including legislation, directives, statistics, reports and Commission documents. Contact details for the European Documentation Librarian are available at the end of this page.
- The University Archives which contains written and photographic material relating to the University and its predecessor colleges. It is housed in a separate collection within the Library. The Archivist is normally available on Thursdays and Fridays but it is advisable to make an appointment before visiting the Archives. Contact details are available at the end of this page.
- The David Lewis Collection, a small collection of rare books and serials not available on the open shelves. These can be traced via the Library Catalogue. To arrange to see them, please contact the collection's custodian, Carol Seagrove. Details are given at the end of this page.
- Café 641 serves drinks and light refreshments.
- The Library shop, Paper 767, sells stationery, IT consumables and other items during term.
Access to pcs/printers/photocopiers
The Library has a limited number of walk-in user accounts available, valid until midnight on the date of issue, to allow people visiting the Library access to a computer and printer or use the photocopiers. The accounts allow access to various common applications (e.g. Internet explorer) and to a limited amount of online material. Please note that due to licensing restrictions some resources are not available to walk-in users.
To apply for one of the walk-in user accounts, visitors will need to bring some form of official picture identification (e.g. passport, photo drivers' license) to the main Enquiry Desk on the entrance level during staffed hours. Staff will check whether a password is available and a form will need to be completed and signed for each application.
N.B.
- Walk-in users agree to be bound by the University's Acceptable Use Policy when applying for walk-in access
- The Library reserves the right to withdraw the service at peak times
- Users wishing to print/photocopy need to buy credit for their account from the main Enquiry Desk on the entrance level prior to printing/copying. Credit will not be refunded if not used.
Please note:
Library Regulations apply to all Library users. You will not be able to borrow from some collections and your loans may be recalled if reserved by another reader. You will incur fines if your loans are returned late.
If you wish to bring a car on to the campus you need to get a visitor's parking permit from the gatehouse at one of the two main entrances.
Contact Details:
- Customer Services Manager
- 01509 222353
- University Archives
- 01509 222359
- European Documentation Centre
- 01509 222374
- David Lewis Collection Custodian
- 01509 222348