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External Patrons and Visitors: External Patrons

Everything you need to know about the Library if you are not a BGU student or staff member.

Introduction

This page is relevant to anyone who joins BGU Library under one of the following categories of membership:

  • Ex-students of BGU (Alumni) £50 deposit payable
  • Members of the public who have paid an annual £50 fee to join the Library and borrow library materials 
  • Ex-members of BGU staff
  • Current students of BGU's partner colleges/organisations
  • Members of the SCONUL Access scheme (Band A, Band B and Band C)
  • Ordained members of the Clergy
  • Tenants of BGFutures (£50 deposit payable for length of tenure)
  • Members of the SCONUL Access scheme (Band R) can join and use the Library on a reference basis.

Accessing the Library

The Library is located in the Cornerstone Building, in the south-west corner of the campus next to the University Chapel and the pedestrian walkway from Newport.

The building entrance is locked in the evenings and at weekends, during which time access is restricted to current BGU students and staff only. The access control gates at the library entrance are operated with a BGU ID card. 

With the above in mind you should normally be able to gain access to the Library during Service Desk opening hours: https://libguides.bishopg.ac.uk/opening.

NB. If you gain access to the Library you may remain in the building until closing, but if you leave after the building entrance is locked you will be unable to re-enter without a BGU ID card. 

The Library is normally closed over the long Easter weekend and between Christmas and New Year.

Computers and wi-fi

External patrons are welcome to bring laptops and mobile devices into the Library but are not permitted to use university computers. Free guest wi-fi is available campus-wide; please ask at the Library Service Desk for details.

Printing and photocopying facilities are not available to External Patrons or Visitors who have made an appointment to view the Lincolnshire Collection.

SCONUL Access members may be able to use their own device to connect to wi-fi via Eduroam, a service used by UK universities to provide reciprocal wi-fi access.  If you visit from an institution that also uses Eduroam you can connect to our wi-fi network with the same login you use at your home institution. Some devices pick up the Eduroam signal automatically, whilst others may need to be configured to accept it.

An IT Helpdesk is available during office hours should you require assistance.  They can be contacted on 01522 583666 or at helpdesk@bishopg.ac.uk.

Man browsing shelves
The Teaching Resources Collection
Fibre optic cable
The Social Study Suite
The Service Desk

Resources and borrowing

The library is home to over 140,000 physical resources including books, journals and audio-visual materials.  Use WorldCat to search library collections. External patrons may borrow up to 8 items at a time. Read more on our Borrowing pages. 

External membership does not include access to the inter-library loan service, postal loan service, scanning service, electronic resources, room bookings or More Books scheme.

Rules and regulations

Lidded drinks are permitted in the Library but food and open drink containers are not. There is a water fountain and a drinks machine in the building foyer.  All library users are expected to make and take phone calls in the building foyer or stairwells and to treat library staff, their fellow library users, and the building with respect. 

Study facilities

There are a variety of study areas on both floors of the Library including areas for group, quiet and silent study.  Only current BGU students may book the Library's seminar rooms and silent study booths.