Joining the Library

Undergraduate and postgraduate students

New and returning students can use the library the day after they enrol, as long as they have a valid student ID card. Your student ID card is also your library card. Students must have their cards with them at all times, as library and Media loans are not permitted without it.

Loan entitlement: Full and part-time undergraduate students: 25. Plus a maximum of 5 items from Merthyr Tydfil College Library.

Full and part-time taught postgraduate students: 25. Plus a maximum of 5 items from Merthyr Tydfil College Library

Staff
Support and academic staff are required to complete a library membership form. We would also encourage all new academic staff to contact their faculty librarian who can outline specific services available to them.

Loan entitlement: 25. Plus borrow a maximum of 10 items from Merthyr Tydfil College Library.

Research students
Ph.D. and M.Phil. students must use their student ID cards as their Library card and their student number and USW password for their login to FINDit. The Library will amend your privileges to that of a researcher.

Loan entitlement: Postgraduate research students: 25. Plus borrow a maximum of 10 items from Merthyr Tydfil College Library

External membership of the library 

Members of the public may use the USW Libraries for reference purposes, and they may join USW Library as community members.

Electronic databases are not available for use by external members due to licence restrictions.

There are two categories of external membership, details of which are listed below.

Anyone wishing to take out external membership must complete this application form.

You will be contacted when your library card is available for collection.

Alumni and Community Membership

Alumni and members of the local community aged 18 years or over can join USW Library for free. This would entitle you to borrow 2 items from the Library. Membership does not include access to electronic resources or access to USW wi-fi. Please complete the Library membership form.

Note: There is no external membership loan entitlement at Merthyr Tydfil College Library.

Staff and students of other universities

Any student or member of staff from another institution having University status, may enter the building during opening hours on any day during term or vacation. It will be possible to use the Library for reference purposes, but borrowing or use of electronic resources is not permitted.

Cooperative schemes however, are available which may enable borrowing from our collections.

  1. SCONUL Access. Please refer to your own institution for further information about this scheme.
  2. Reciprocal borrowing scheme with Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan University, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.