Information about the services we offer to paid external members of the library can be found below. Please see our information for visitors for full details of all of the access options we offer to members of the public.
Access
All users are admitted to our libraries on the understanding that they will abide by the Library Regulations. Libraries and Learning Resources reserves the right to withdraw membership if an individual breaches these regulations.
Please note: reference members cannot access the Main Library during the first six weeks of the summer term due to increased demand for study spaces by our students who are studying for their exams.
Print and electronic resources
You can browse FindIt@Bham (our catalogue and discovery service) as a guest from home or from campus without being a member of the library. Guest access allows you to search the University's print and electronic collections. Access to the University's subscription electronic resources is not available to external users, but there are a wide range of open access resources available to everyone.
If you need access to specific print resources, please check that these are available before you apply for membership.
Membership does not give you access to printing or photocopying facilities. However, scanning facilities are available at the Main Library and at the Shakespeare Institute Library. You can save scanned copies to a USB stick.
Fees
We offer either borrowing or reference membership. Alumni of the University may apply for 12 months free reference access within the first year after graduation. Concessionary rates for alumni apply after the first year. Other members may apply for a year or six months membership.
Please note, all reference members are unable to access the Main Library during the first 6 weeks of the summer term due to increased demand for study spaces by University of Birmingham student who are studying for their exams.
University of Birmingham alumni
12 months
- Borrowing: £37.50
- Reference: £25.00
Other members
12 months
- Borrowing: £75.00
- Reference: £50.00
Six months
- Borrowing: £50.00
- Reference: £37.50
- Non-renewable and recommended for a short-term need
All prices are inclusive of VAT.
You can apply online using our application form.
Library card
You will need to bring your University of Birmingham library card with you whenever you visit the library. Most of our libraries have a card operated access control system. You should contact us to notify us if you lose your card so that we can prevent anyone else using it. We charge a replacement charge of £10 for lost cards.
Borrowing items
Most books are available to be borrowed for one week and will renew automatically on the library system each night, if not required by another borrower. You can check your library account via the External Borrowers link and Library Account option on FindIt@Bham. You will need to set your password the first time you use it by selecting 'Forgotten your password'.
Items that are required by other library users will stop renewing and you will receive an email requesting you return it within a week, followed by reminder emails up until the due date. It is important that you return a recalled item by the due date given in the messages requesting its return.
Fines will be charged on all items which have not been returned or renewed by the date they are due. See our information about borrowing books and journals.
Site libraries
Your membership fee also provides you with some access to our more specialised site libraries.