British Library Fast Track Scheme

22 July, 2003

SCONUL sets students on fast track to British Library

SCONUL (Society of College, National and University Libraries) has launched a fast track admissions process with the British Library for final year undergraduates and taught postgraduates studying at any of SCONUL's 164 member institutions across the UK and Ireland.

The new referral scheme offers those students whose university library cannot provide the resources they need to complete their course with a simplified process for admission to the British Library. For those students who have demonstrated their need to use the British Library, application forms will be authorised in advance by their higher education library and their admission will then be fast tracked.

Mary Heaney, Director of Learning Centres at the University of Wolverhampton says "As a university librarian, I'm pleased to see SCONUL implementing practical, win-win initiatives like this - it's a positive move for the sector generally. Within my own institution, it will certainly support staff in delivering time-saving benefits to our taught students."

Patricia Chapman, Head of Reader and Visitor Services at the British Library says, "The British Library is intent on continually improving access to its collections and facilities. This new scheme, developed in partnership with SCONUL, will ensure a quicker and smoother process for admission to the Library for final year degree and post-graduate students, who need access to the Library's world-class research collection."

The existing, regional-level fast track scheme (for members of the M25 Consortium of Academic Libraries) merges with the SCONUL fast track scheme at the end of July 2003.