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Oxbridge- library access at other universities.

15 replies

Sadusername3 · 10/04/2019 13:39

There is a reciprocal arrangement, SCONUL which allows students to access libraries at other universities. Oxbridge doesn’t seem to participate. For my own selfish reasons I’d like her to be able to access the library at local universities so she spends more time at home in holidays .
Does anyone know if there’s a way round this?

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GCAcademic · 10/04/2019 13:44

What makes you think that Oxford and Cambridge are not part of SCONUL?

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Bumbl · 10/04/2019 13:45

Some universities (like Manchester) allow students from other unis to use their library during vacation time if they show their home university ID card. This is different from the SCONUL scheme but only during holidays.

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goodbyestranger · 10/04/2019 14:07

What subject is she doing that makes a library essential? My DC always came home even the medic and the law ones they just brought books with them and worked at home even though they all share rooms so not very peaceful. They did always stay up in the vac before their final exams though. One of the history ones used our local library with no problems.

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goodbyestranger · 10/04/2019 14:09

By which I mean local university library. Perhaps she wants to stay up for different reasons? Is she very anxious about work?

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GabrielleNelson · 10/04/2019 14:11

This may not apply to all subjects but a huge amount of material is now available online through university libraries. E-journals, e-books, scans of book chapters if there isn't an e-version sometimes. This is one of the big things that the student fees pay for and in theory it should be accessible from anywhere with an internet connection.

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MarchingFrogs · 10/04/2019 14:12

What makes you think that Oxford and Cambridge are not part of SCONUL?

Haven't tried telling it I'm at Cambridge, but saying that one is academic staff or a PhD level / postgraduate / undergraduate / distance learning student at Oxford elicits the response,
Your home institution does not participate in the scheme for the user type selected.

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Sadusername3 · 10/04/2019 14:23

GCAcademicI double checked on SCONUL website and it says they don’t participate.

I’m a bit surprised that she can’t get what she needs on line, she does seem to read use books published a very long time ago, so maybe not ebooks yet. Also surprised she doesn’t use more journal articles. I’m guessing she reads primary texts.

She prefers to work in library as more productive, despite not sharing room. Tried local library but a bit busy with kids.
goodbye did your dc make a special arrangement with local library?

However prepared to concede she just prefers being there!

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stucknoue · 10/04/2019 14:29

Oxbridge don't participate because they don't want to share their resources. DD attends our local university and her dd2 is going elsewhere, they have no problem with dd2 using the library or gym but it's reciprocal. Doesn't your city/town have a public library with a study room?

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GCAcademic · 10/04/2019 14:36

Ah OK. I thought you were talking about the summer vacation access scheme which is a separate scheme from the year-round access scheme. I think Oxford and Cambridge do participate in the summer vacation access arrangement, if that's any use to her. But it's reference only, no borrowing rights.

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goodbyestranger · 10/04/2019 15:13

OP I meant local university library and I think she got a note from her tutor - very easy.

I didn't mean to say she might prefer it - that came across wrong, apologies - I meant is she fretting about taking time off, in other words being overly anxious, the sort of anxious which may need you or someone else to intervene? I may very well be barking up the wrong tree but the pressure can weigh heavily and the idea of not being able to come home because of library access suggested there might be an issue.

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Sadusername3 · 10/04/2019 15:29

GCAcademic just checked and Oxford on list but not Cambridge for summer vacation scheme.

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GCAcademic · 10/04/2019 16:08

Where are you looking? Cambridge is on the list that's linked from this page:

www.sconul.ac.uk/page/summer-vacation-access

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Sadusername3 · 10/04/2019 17:23

That’s where I was looking but somehow wasn’t seeing.

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Sadusername3 · 10/04/2019 17:33

GCAcademic. I looked on that page but didn’t see it! Thanks.

Goodbye she did come home for a week and I insisted she took it completely off. Definitely a bit of underlying worry about exams , but hopefully in hand. We have had the conversation.

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Sadusername3 · 10/04/2019 17:34

I think she would have stayed longer with library access

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