If you are studying at Birmingham Newman University, you will become a member of the Library automatically when you are enrolled on your course. Your membership will continue as long as you remain enrolled.
If you are studying with a partnership institution, you may not be eligible for membership of Birmingham Newman University Library, or you may have only limited access to our collections.
You can start using the Library to read and prepare for the start of your course once your place is confirmed. You’re welcome to use all of our printed resources, books and journals in the Library and to study here during staffed hours – all free of charge – but you won’t be able to use our online resources, e-books and e-journals until you’ve enrolled as a student.
If you want to borrow books from the Library to take home (up to 6 items at a time), you can get a 3-month External Membership for £10.00.
We know that starting a course at university is daunting, so we’re happy to help you find resources or to find your way around the Library – simply explain that you’re starting a course at Birmingham Newman soon and ask us for any help you need. We’ll help you find any items that have been recommended by your lecturers, or offer advice on purchasing any textbooks or readers that you’ve been advised to buy. You’re welcome to use the different spaces within the Library in the way that suits you best: we have over 400 study spaces across our Silent, Quiet and Learning Zones.
Please contact us if you would like any further information before the start of your course.
Yes! You can join the Library for up to a year, and renew annually if you wish.
Sorry – you won’t have access to our:
Applications are subject to approval and there are some Terms and Conditions you will need to follow.
You need to complete our external membership form. It will prompt you to attach a passport-sized photo which will then be emailed to us. We will contact you to arrange a suitable time to collect your Library card, pay for your membership and bring your proof of ID.
If you are unable to submit your photo online, please contact us to arrange a face-to-face visit to complete your application. When you visit us face-to-face, we should be able to issue your Library card immediately, providing payment is made and proof of ID is shown.
Once you’ve joined the Library, you can visit at any time during Library opening hours.
We offer discounted rates for alumni and former Birmingham Newman staff:
All colleagues who are employed by Birmingham Newman University, including Academic, Professional and Support staff will become members of the Library when your email and single sign-on accounts are set up by IT services. Please be aware that it can take a little time for the Library systems to update, so you may not be able to access your Library account and our e-resources immediately.
When you leave Birmingham Newman, your Library account will expire and you will need to bring back any borrowed items as soon as possible.
After your account expires, you will not be able to borrow items or access our e-resources unless you re-join as an external member. However, you will still be liable for any fines and charges on your account – this is part of the terms and conditions in our Library User Policy that you agreed to when you borrowed the items from us.
Yes! You can join the Library for up to a year, and renew annually if you wish.
Sorry – you won’t have access to our:
Applications are subject to approval and there are some Terms and Conditions you will need to follow.
You need to complete our external membership form. It will prompt you to attach a passport-sized photo which will then be emailed to us. We will contact you to arrange a suitable time to collect your Library card, pay for your membership and bring your proof of ID.
If you are unable to submit your photo online, please contact us to arrange a face-to-face visit to complete your application. When you visit us face-to-face, we should be able to issue your Library card immediately, providing payment is made and proof of ID is shown.
Once you’ve joined the Library, you can visit at any time during Library opening hours.
We offer discounted rates for alumni and former Birmingham Newman staff:
Students and staff from other Universities may be able to become a member of Birmingham Newman University Library through the SCONUL Access scheme.
If your institution is not a member of SCONUL, you will usually need to join as an external member. If you are unsure which membership type is right for you, please contact us.
September 2023: This scheme is currently not accepting new Library users. Please check back for updates at a later date.
If you are aged 17 or 18 and in the final year of your studies, and you either live locally or attend a school local to Birmingham Newman University, you may be able to join the Library on a reference only basis.
Reference only access means you are allowed to use our Library as a place to study or revise, and you will be able to use the printed books and journals on our shelves, but not borrow them. You won't have access to our online collections and you will also not be able to book group study spaces or borrow laptops.
This scheme is available only at the discretion of Birmingham Newman University Library. To join, you will need a letter of recommendation, signed by a senior member of staff at your school on official headed letter paper that names you individually.
The scheme is only avaiable at certain times of the year, or on certain days, and we may close the scheme if the needs of the University and our registered students requires it.
You will need to agree to our terms and conditions to use the scheme, and we reserve the right to remove your access at any time without needing to give a reason.
You can still join Birmingham Newman University Library, even if you have no connection to us, by using our external membership scheme.
Join the Library for up to a year, and renew annually if you wish.
borrow up to 6 items at any given time
speak to Library staff if you require access to the Public Wi-Fi
Sorry – you will not have access to our:
open access computers or Birmingham Newman network facilities
Applications are subject to approval and there are some Terms and Conditions you’ll need to follow.
You need to complete our external membership form. It will prompt you to attach a passport-sized photo which will then be emailed to us. We will contact you to arrange a suitable time to collect your Library card, pay for your membership and bring your proof of ID.
If you are unable to submit your photo online, please contact us to arrange a face-to-face visit to complete your application. When you visit us face-to-face, we should be able to issue your Library card immediately, providing payment is made and proof of ID is shown.
Once you have joined the Library and have an ID card, you can visit at any time during Library opening hours, which you can always find at the bottom of the Library homepage.
The fees are:
Last reviewed: 14 August 2023
