Customer Services: Accessing Lanchester Library as a visitor

If you are not a currently enrolled student or member of staff of Coventry University but would like to access Lanchester library, there are several options available to you.

Details of our different guest memberships are shown in the tabs above.

General notes for visitors (all membership schemes):

• You will not be able to use library PCs for personal work as these require student/staff log in.
• You may bring your own device and access the library's Guest Wifi. Details of how to log on as a guest can be obtained from the IT Services helpdesk in the library.
• The library catalogue can be accessed on various standalone units around the library. Staff can direct you to these. You will not be able to access any electronic resources listed on the library catalogue.
• There are a limited number of databases which can be accessed by non students/staff - please enquire at the reception desk.
• You will not be able to scan any section of texts as this requires student/staff log in. Photocopying cards are available to purchase at the reception desk.

Coventry University is a member of the SCONUL Access reciprocal scheme. This scheme allows students and staff from member universities to visit (and, in certain cases, borrow) books from libraries at other UK higher education institutions who are also part of the scheme.

You can register online at the SCONUL website. The website lists HE institutions currently taking part in the scheme.

To apply, simply enter your student/ staff status type (undergraduate etc.) and select the university whose library you would like to visit. Once you submit your application it is then reviewed by your home institution and, if approved, they will send you an email.

To join Lanchester library as a SCONUL member, please bring your approval email, together with your ID card for your home university, to the library reception desk. We will ask you to complete an application form and then we will create a membership card for you. This card will operate the entrance gates, giving you access to the library at any time it is open.

Former students and staff members of Coventry University can join the library as an Alumni Member.

Alumni membership costs £30 per year. Members have reference access plus borrowing rights.

To apply, please bring some photographic ID and proof of address to the library reception desk and ask for an application form.

Members of the public can visit Lanchester library on 3 separate occasions with no charge. Please bring some photographic ID and proof of address to the library reception desk and ask for a day pass.

If you would like to visit more regularly, we offer an annual visitor pass which costs £5. Again, photographic ID and proof of address is required. We will ask you to complete an application form and then create a membership card for you which will give you access to the library any time it is open.

Public membership is for reference access only.

If borrowing entitlement is required, members of the public can join Lanchester library as an Associate Member.

This membership costs £60 per year. Members are given a card which allows them access to the library any time it is open and lets them borrow up to 5 items at any one time.

To apply, please bring some photographic ID and proof of address to the library reception desk and ask for an application form.

Coventry University has links with a number of local schools and colleges. Sixth form students at these partner institutions can apply for a FREE Phoenix Partnership access card which lets them visit Lanchester library for reference and study purposes.

College students or sixth form pupils who wish to visit the library for reference and study purposes on a regular basis can apply for a free Schools & Colleges access card.

To apply for a card the student must see their sixth-form/college head as the procedure is initiated via college/school staff who complete the student’s details on our secure online portal.

Once we receive the student’s details from staff we will email the student to invite them to the library welcome desk (8am-7pm). The student must bring their school/college ID and we will create a university library access card for them.

Access to the library for school/college students is from 8am to 7pm.

Students must acknowledge they have read our regulations when applying for access.

The University Library takes the storage and retention of student data seriously.  Please see our privacy notice and data retention policy regarding how we process and retain students’ information.

For more information please see the Schools website 

For further information on how to register your school please contact gill.evans@coventry.ac.uk or sukhbinder.bharaj@coventry.ac.uk