Information for Library Visitors

Visitors' Borrowing Schemes, Online Resources and Wi-Fi

General information for visitors

Visitors are welcome at Swansea University Libraries! You can find information about how to access our libraries, and how to join one of our Borrowing Schemes, in the Borrowing Schemes and Library Access for External Visitors section below.
Visitors to our libraries are asked to respect the library building, resources, and its staff and users. Consideration is to be given to those using study spaces for academic and research purposes.
Visitors to the library are to take care of personal belongings and not to leave them unattended in the library. Swansea University Libraries are not responsible for any loss, theft, or damage to personal belongings.
In line with Swansea University’s Children on University Premises Policy, visitors under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a supervising adult at all times.
Our full Swansea University Library External Visitors Policy is available here: Swansea University Library External Visitors Policy

Access to our Library Buildings

Whilst our libraries are primarily for current Swansea University staff and students, we enable external visitor access to Singleton Park, Bay, St David's Park and the South Wales Miners’ libraries. There are limitations to access which are outlined below.

We ask that you plan your visit in advance. Visitors should check the relevant webpage for the Library or Archives site they wish to visit before travelling, for the most up-to-date information about opening hours, restricted access periods and access.
External visitors may visit Singleton Park Library and Bay Library during MyUni Library Information Desk open hours, except during Library Restricted Access periods.
The South Wales Miners' Library is open to external visitors during its opening hours. No appointment is necessary for general visits, but researchers wishing to access the SWML's special collections in the reading room are asked to book a research appointment.
St David’s Park Library is open to external visitors during staffed hours. Library materials from St David's Park Library cannot be borrowed by external visitors but may be used in the library on a Reference Only basis.
Visitors to the Richard Burton Archives must make an appointment prior to their visit.

Restricted access periods

During key university periods, such as exams and assessment periods, access to Swansea University Library buildings and borrowing of library materials is limited to Swansea University students and staff, and SCONUL Access members only.
Please see our Library Opening Hours and Locations pages, or the Library Restricted Access Dates section below, for information about scheduled Restricted Access dates.
During restricted access periods, researchers may still visit the South Wales Miners' Library and Richard Burton Archives by appointment.
External borrowers with loans due during a restricted access period may visit the library in order to return items.
External library visitors who have any urgent enquiries during restricted access periods may contact the library via phone or email.
Outside of Restricted Access Periods, visitors may visit our libraries during staffed, information desk open hours only.

Library Restricted Access Dates for External Visitors

Access to Swansea University library buildings will be limited to Swansea University students and staff, and SCONUL Access members only, during the following periods:

Monday 6th May - Friday 7th June 2024

During Restricted Access periods, researchers may still visit the South Wales Miners' Library and Richard Burton Archives by appointment, and external borrowers with loans due during the restricted access period may visit the library during staffed hours in order to return items.

Outside of Restricted Access periods, visitors may visit our libraries during staffed, information desk open hours only. Please check our Library Locations and Opening Hours pages for the library you wish to visit, for details of staffed information desk open hours.

Borrowing Schemes and Library Access for External Visitors

Visitors can borrow library items by becoming members of the Libraries Together Passport scheme (for members of the public), or the SCONUL Access scheme (for staff and students of other participating universities). Visitors who are not members of the Libraries Together or SCONUL Access schemes are welcome to use library study spaces and to consult library materials on a reference-only basis, but will not be eligible to borrow library materials until they have registered with the appropriate borrowing scheme.

You can find more information about how to join the Libraries Together or SCONUL Access schemes, and how to access our libraries as a visitor, below:

General public: The Libraries Together Passport scheme allows any current member of Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Powys and Pembrokeshire public library services to have free borrowing access at Swansea University and other regional Further Education and Higher Education libraries. Please visit your nearest public library branch to register if you are not already a member there. Once registered with the public library, ask for a Libraries Together passport form. Staff at the public library will need to stamp your completed Libraries Together passport form, which you can then bring with you to any Swansea University Library (along with your public library card) to register with us as an external borrower. Please have your stamped Libraries Together passport ready to present when entering the building. Please note that the Libraries Together Passport scheme does not allow for borrowing access at St David's Park Library, but external visitors are welcome to use the library and materials on a reference-only basis.
SCONUL Access members: Swansea University is a member of the reciprocal SCONUL Access scheme, allowing members from other participating universities borrowing access at Swansea University Libraries. Please contact your own institution for details of how to register as a SCONUL Access member. After your SCONUL Access application is approved by your home institution, you should receive a confirmation letter/email from SCONUL which you can bring with you to a Swansea University Library branch (along with your home institution ID card), to register with us as an external borrower. Please have your home institution ID card ready to present when entering the building. Please note that the SCONUL Access scheme does not allow for borrowing access at St David's Park Library, but external visitors are welcome to use the library and materials on a reference-only basis.
University students and staff/researchers from other institutions can access Library study space and use the collection on a reference only basis. Please bring your home institution ID card with you to present when entering the building. For borrowing access, you will need to register as a SCONUL Access member as detailed above.
School and college students aged 16 or over can use our libraries to support their studies, via the Libraries Together Passport scheme as detailed above. Gower College students can obtain a Libraries Together Passport from the college library or from the public library. School students aged 16 or over can obtain a Libraries Together Passport from the public library.
Alumni can access the library through the Libraries Together Passport scheme for the general public, as detailed above.
Refugees and Asylum Seekers are very welcome to use our libraries through the Libraries Together Passport scheme, as detailed above.