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Library Services

Visitor access and membership

You are welcome to apply for access to Queen Mary libraries

Visitor access and membership
  1. Library Services
  2. Using Library Services
  3. Visitor Access and Membership

Visitor access is available for:

  • Alumni of Queen Mary
  • Retired Queen Mary staff
  • Staff or students from a SCONUL Access participating institution with a SCONUL Access confirmation email
  • Staff or researchers from an Access25 participating institution with an Access25 borrowing card
  • Independent researchers or members of the general public who can demonstrate a genuine research need to access physical resources in our collections.

Current Queen Mary students and staff wishing to visit other libraries should see the Using other libraries webpage.

Queen Mary Alumni

All members of the Queen Mary Alumni Association are entitled to library access.

Access times:

  • Mile End Library:
    • Term-time and exam periods: Monday to Friday 6pm to midnight; weekends 8am to midnight
    • Vacation periods: during library opening hours
  • Whitechapel Library: during library opening hours, except between the hours of midnight and 8am
  • We reserve the right to restrict access, for example, during exam periods.

Resources:

  • Reference only access (no borrowing)
  • No access to online resources.

IT facilities:

  • Access to QM Visitor Wi-Fi
  • No access to PCs, laptops or print and scanning services
  • Photocopy cards can be purchased from the Mile End Library or Whitechapel Library Welcome Desks during library-staffed hours.

Application process:

You will need to apply for an Alumni Extra Card from the Alumni Team:

  1. Complete the application form
  2. Email a passport-style photo of yourself as a JPEG attachment to alumni@qmul.ac.uk
  3. Your Alumni Extra Card will be processed and posted out to you
  4. Library Services will be notified of your Alumni Extra Card application and create your library account. If you experience any issues entering the libraries with your Alumni Extra card, please speak to a member of library staff.

For further information, including processing times, please see the Alumni Extra Card webpage.

 

Queen Mary Retired Staff

Retired Queen Mary staff may apply to access the libraries. Please note, the maximum length of membership is 3 years, renewable.

Access times:

  • During library opening hours, except between the hours of midnight and 8am
  • We reserve the right to restrict access, for example, during exam periods.

Resources:

  • Borrow up to 6 books
  • No access to online resources.

IT facilities:

  • Access to QM Visitor Wi-Fi
  • No access to PCs, laptops or print and scanning services
  • Photocopy cards can be purchased from the Mile End Library or Whitechapel Library Welcome Desks during library-staffed hours.

Application process:

  1. Complete the Queen Mary Retired Staff online application form
  2. You will receive an email from Queen Mary Library Services confirming your card is ready. Please collect your card from Mile End Library Welcome Desk during library-staffed hours.

We aim to process applications within 7 working days.

 

SCONUL Access

Students and staff from universities that participate in the SCONUL Access scheme and are eligible for a SCONUL Access confirmation email, can apply for access to our libraries. We accept users from all SCONUL bands:

  • Band A: Staff and postgraduate research students
  • Band B: Part-time, distance learning, and placement students
  • Band C: Postgraduate taught students
  • Band R: Undergraduate students.

Access times:

  • Bands A, B and C:
    • During library opening hours, except between the hours of midnight and 8am
  • Band R:
    • Mile End Library:
      • Term-time and exam periods: Monday to Friday 6pm to midnight; weekends 8am to midnight
      • Vacation periods: during library opening hours
    • Whitechapel Library: 
      • During library opening hours, except between the hours of midnight and 8am
  • We reserve the right to restrict access, for example, during exam periods.

Resources:

  • Bands A, B and C:
    • Borrow up to 6 books
  • Band R:
    • Reference only access (no borrowing)
  • No access to online resources.

IT facilities:

  • Access to Eduroam and QM Visitor Wi-Fi
  • No access to PCs, laptops or print and scanning services
  • Photocopy cards can be purchased from the Mile End Library or Whitechapel Library Welcome Desks during library-staffed hours.

Application process:

  1. Complete the SCONUL Access application form and wait to receive the confirmation email from your home institution library
  2. Complete our membership application form, selecting the SCONUL Access Scheme category
  3. You will receive an email from Queen Mary Library Services confirming your card is ready. Please bring your SCONUL confirmation email and ID from your home institution to collect your card from Mile End Library Welcome Desk during library-staffed hours.

We aim to process applications within 7 working days.

 

Access25

Access25 is the M25 Consortium of Academic Libraries mutual access scheme. Postgraduate research students and staff in the member libraries are eligible to join the scheme. If you are a member of a SCONUL Access participating institution, we recommend that you use the SCONUL Access Scheme instead.

Access times:

  • During library opening hours, except between the hours of midnight and 8am
  • We reserve the right to restrict access, for example, during exam periods.

Resources:

  • Borrow up to 6 books
  • No access to online resources.

IT facilities:

  • Access to QM Visitor Wi-Fi
  • No access to PCs, laptops or print and scanning services
  • Photocopy cards can be purchased from the Mile End Library or Whitechapel Library Welcome Desks during library-staffed hours.

Application process:

  1. Apply for an Access25 borrowing card from your home institution's library service
  2. Complete our membership application form, selecting the Access25 category
  3. You will receive an email from Queen Mary Library Services confirming your card is ready. Please bring your Access25 borrowing card and ID from your home institution to collect your card from Mile End Library Welcome Desk during library-staffed hours.

We aim to process applications within 7 working days.

 

Independent Researchers

Independent researchers, members of the public and visitors from institutions not eligible for the SCONUL Access or Access25 schemes are welcome to apply for Independent Researcher membership. You will need to be able to demonstrate a genuine research need for physical resources in our collections that you are unable to obtain from your local or home institution library.

Please note, the maximum length of membership is 3 months, renewable.

Access times:

  • Mile End Library:
    • Term-time and exam periods: Monday to Friday 6pm to midnight; weekends 8am to midnight
    • Vacation periods: during library opening hours
  • Whitechapel Library: during library opening hours, except between the hours of midnight and 8am
  • We reserve the right to restrict access, for example, during exam periods.

Resources:

  • Reference only access (no borrowing)
  • No access to online resources.

IT facilities:

  • Access to QM Visitor Wi-Fi
  • No access to PCs, laptops or print and scanning services
  • Photocopy cards can be purchased from the Mile End Library or Whitechapel Library Welcome Desks during library-staffed hours.

Application process:

  1. Complete the membership application form, selecting the Independent Researcher category
  2. You will receive an email from Queen Mary Library Services confirming your card is ready. Please bring photo ID when you come to collect your card from Mile End Library Welcome Desk during library-staffed hours.

We aim to process applications within 7 working days.

 

Vacation Admission Procedures

During summer vacations restrictions are relaxed for students enrolled at institutions that participate in the SCONUL Access Scheme. Eligible students will be admitted multiple times during library-staffed hours without the need to apply for membership.

  • Mile End Library summer vacation period: 10 June to 14 September 2025
  • Whitechapel Library summer vacation period: 19 July to 24 August 2025

You will need to arrive at the library during library-staffed hours. On each visit you will be asked to complete a library registration form and show your university ID card at the Welcome Desk. If you are eligible for standard SCONUL Access we recommend that you apply via this route. This will entitle you to a membership card and you will not be required to complete a registration form on each visit.

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