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Information for visitors

All our libraries welcome non-University visitors but you need to make an appointment in advance. If you are a member of the public, or a student from another university using the SCONUL Access scheme, please read the specific arrangements below.

Partners of current students are also welcome to use the leisure (fiction) collection of Kings Norton Library via partner membership. Please speak to us for more details.

Alumni automatically gain membership of our Alumni Library Online service when they create an account on the Alumni Portal.

Both libraries are open to all University staff and students. Members of the public are welcome to visit during our core hours, Monday to Friday – 9am-6pm

All visits are by appointment only so please contact us to arrange your visit and ensure we will be open. We will organise a visitor permit for you and you will need to call in at our Main Reception when you arrive.

Members of the public are welcome to use the Kings Norton Library for reference purposes and log into the University's Guest WiFi (available in the Library and select areas on campus), although you will not be able to log in to our network or IT facilities.

Please use Library Search to see what we have in print and ensure your visit will be worthwhile.

Kings Norton Library is open to all University staff and students. Students from other universities (using the SCONUL Access scheme) are welcome to visit during our core hours, Monday to Friday – 9am-6pm

All visits are by appointment only so please contact us to arrange your visit and ensure we will be open. We will organise a visitor permit for you and you will need to call in at our Main Reception when you arrive.

The first time you visit us, you will need to come to the Welcome Desk on the first floor and show us a copy of the approval email you were sent confirming your membership of the scheme.

We will give you a membership card. You will need to visit the Welcome Desk and show it to us every time you visit and sign in.

All SCONUL Access members are welcome to use our stock for reference purposes. You will also be eligible to use our service to borrow up to three standard (six week) loan items if you are one of the following:

  • A member of university staff or a research student (Band A);
  • A part-time, distance learning or placement student (Band B);
  • A full-time taught postgraduate (Band C).

Please be aware that our School of Management Library does not have many six week loan items and so your ability to borrow from that collection will be restricted.

Undergraduates from other universities (Band R) are welcome to use our print collection for reference purposes.

Please check your approval email before you travel to confirm your Band category.

Unfortunately SCONUL membership does not entitle you to use our online resources or have general use of the PCs. If, however, your home institution is a member of the Eduroam wireless service, you can access the internet and your own library's online resources via your laptop from our campus. Please ensure you have set up your Eduroam account prior to visiting Cranfield - please discuss this with your home institution if you are unsure.

Rules and regulations for SCONUL Access members (PDF, 48KB)

Cranfield staff and students based at Shrivenham are automatically entitled to use the Barrington Library. Membership and access is also available upon request for:

  • Cranfield University staff and students;
  • JSCSC members;
  • MoD and serving UK service personnel;
  • General public: due to security restrictions, temporary access is judged on an individual basis.

Please search our Barrington Library catalogue to see if our stock is of interest, then contact us to request a visit. Access is governed by regulations issued by the Defence Academy. While DA Guest WiFi is available on-site, access to online library resources for is only available for Cranfield staff and students due to license restrictions.