SCONUL Research Extra

19 May, 2003

SCONUL Research Extra marks new era for library access and borrowing schemes

From 2 June 2003, higher education researchers in the UK and Ireland can take advantage of SCONUL Research Extra, a new cooperative access and borrowing scheme launched by SCONUL: Society of College, National and University Libraries. Academic staff and postgraduate research students in 130 participating institutions will be able to borrow material from participating higher education libraries wherever the need arises. The scheme also supports library staff; minimizing the need for multiple local or regional schemes.

Sir Brian Follett says "The Research Support Libraries Group concluded that increased cooperation between libraries in the higher education system is both feasible and necessary, to provide the best possible service to researchers within the resources available. SCONUL Research Extra provides a fine example of the kind of cooperation we were looking for. I am delighted to see it launched so soon after the publication of our report."

In preparation for the scheme, participating library staff have received

• 15,000 flyers and 10,000 SCONUL Research Extra membership cards (funded by the Research Support Libraries Programme)
• 25,000 promotional bookmarks (sponsored by Youth Ltd and the New Scientist)
• an online management guide to the scheme
• a series of ready-made PowerPoint presentations to promote SCONUL Research Extra within their institution

Researchers can check via the SCONUL website that their home institution is participating in the scheme - and discover which other libraries are participating too. IT facilities / electronic library services are not normally included within the scheme.