Visitor access

Access to the Lanchester Library is available to those not currently members of the university, through the following schemes. Please note all schemes exclude access to electronic resources or group study rooms.

Library staff have the right to refuse entry to anyone who cannot provide acceptable means of identification, does not have a valid reason for using the Library, or for any other reason whether in possession of a valid ID card or not.

All visitors under these access schemes must comply with the Lanchester Library rules and regulations which are set out in Appendix 3 of the University General Regulations. Any request for membership will be taken as acceptance of those regulations.

Alumni Access – Friends of Coventry University (FOCUS)

CU Alumni is an association for all graduates and former students who have studied at Coventry University. Former students who require library access and borrowing rights are entitled to join the library. FOCUS members will have access to the library for a year for reference and study purposes and will be allowed to borrow up to 5 items at any one time. The Document Supply Service is also available for a charge of £7.50 per item.

For Wi-Fi access please ask at the Welcome Desk for the Digital Services phone number. Please note at busy times Digital Services may not be able to grant this immediately.

Lanchester Library: College Student and Sixth-Form Pupil Access

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 (9am-6pm Monday to Friday). The student must bring their school/college ID and a signed copy of the library regulations to acknowledge they have read and understood them, we will then create a university library access card for them. Please note at busy times there may be a delay in providing access.

Access to the library for school/college students is from 8am to 9pm daily and restricted to 1st October until 31st July in each academic year. The deadline for applications to use the library must be received before 30th April.

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 hayley.chevell@coventry.ac.uk or sukhbinder.bharaj@coventry.ac.uk.

For Wi-Fi access please ask at the Library Welcome Desk and staff will raise an online request to ensure Wi-Fi access for the duration of the card. Please note at busy times there may be a delay in providing Wi-Fi access.

Group visits

If you are a teacher and wish to arrange a visit to the library with a group of college or sixth form students, please contact Hayley Chevell.

Staff and students from other Higher Education institutions

Coventry University is a member of the SCONUL Access scheme. This scheme allows staff and students from other Higher Education institutions access to the library. Once your application has been processed by your home institution via the SCONUL website, you will receive an approval email with further details on how to take part in the scheme. A printed copy of your SCONUL access email and your home institution ID card should be presented to a member of staff at the ground floor library reception desk (anytime between 8am – Midnight) in order to receive your Lanchester Library access card.

To access the Wi-Fi at Coventry as a SCONUL user please make sure you have activated EDUROAM by downloading the installer. When installing please select your home institution. If you have any difficulties with EDUROAM please contact the IT helpdesk of your home institution.

If your institution does not participate in EDUROAM, please ask at the Library Welcome Desk.

For a limited number of students that are registered at a Higher Education institution that is not a member of the SCONUL Access scheme requiring regular use of the Lanchester Library for reference and study purposes will need to provide course details and specific details of their reasons for access. Applications will be assessed case by case. The annual cost of a reference pass is £10. This pass can be requested anytime between 8am – Midnight at the library welcome desk on the ground floor. Photographic identification and proof of address will be required (for example: passport or driving license and a recent utility bill or bank statement).