Academic visitors: joining the Library

The Library provides membership as an Academic Visitor for: 

• Visitors to University Schools and Departments who are undertaking research in collaboration with members of the University.
• Those with the following visiting and honorary titles: 
  - Visiting Professor
  - Visiting Research Fellow
  - Visiting Fellow
  - Honorary Fellow
  - Professor Emeritus
  - Visiting Member of the Academic Staff
  - Recognized Teacher of the University 
  - Visiting Faculty Staff (at the Greenlands site of the Henley Business School) 
• Sessional Lecturers in between fixed term contracts 
• Reading University Students Union (RUSU) officers and employees
• Suspended students living locally (not those suspended for reasons of debt)
• Students re-taking final examinations or completing dissertations 
• Carers for disabled students

This category of membership is not available for students who have registered for a course with the University but whose course has not started yet. Membership may be possible as an External Borrower (contact us for details).

To join

• Download the Academic visitor application form (PDF) - printed application forms are also available from the Ground Floor Information Desk, or from school secretaries.
• Your completed form must be signed by your Head of Department (as sponsor).
• Bring the completed form to the Ground Floor Information Desk 09:00 - 17:00, Monday to Thursday, or 10:00 - 17:00 on Friday. If you cannot make it to the Library during the above hours, alternative arrangements can be made - please see the instructions at the top of the application form (Word document).

How many items can I borrow?

Once you have registered with the Library you will be able to borrow 10 items. Standard loan items will be issued for three weeks.

If someone places a hold on a book you have out you will be sent a recall notice, by email or post, asking for return within seven days of the notice date.

You will also be able to use the Inter-library loans service to get books and articles from other libraries.

Fines are charged for the late return of some items.

Access to e-resources

You can apply to access electronic resources, which use the Athens-authentication service, at the time of registration with the Library or at any time after.

For more information see Athens information for academic visitors.

Back to Joining the Library