About the Library

Find out more about accessing your account, membership, loans and renewals. Learn about what we offer at our three locations. Plus there's information aimed at your specific library needs.

Find out more via our FAQs section for students.

Your Library account, borrowing and renewals

Find out how to access your library account, borrow, return, and reserve items, use the 'Scan it 4 me' service and more.
Library services for disabled students

We are committed to ensuring our library services are accessible for all our users.
Library guide for new students

This very short guide will help you to get a head start in using the Library and finding information to support your studies at UWL.
UWL Library glossary: library terminology explained

UWL Library glossary provides explanations for words and phrases you may come across whilst studying at UWL and using the Library.
Library staff

Committed to your learning experience & developing Library services to meet your rapidly changing needs.
University of West London Archive

Established to catalogue & preserve the Heathrow Archive & maintain the historical records of UWL.
Paul Hamlyn Library events space

This area is available for UWL staff and students to book for specific events such as film showings and SU society events.

Library services by location

Learn about what we offer at our three locations.

Library services at the Ealing site

More about the Paul Hamlyn Library in Ealing.
Library services for students at Paragon

Find out more about library services for students at Paragon
Library services for students in Reading

More about our Library facility at Fountain House in Reading.

Library services for alumni

As an alumni you are entitled to use our libraries for study and can borrow up to four books. You will need an Alumni Card to allow you entry to the campus.

We can not offer you access to our computers, printing or copying services, but you are able to register for a UWL guest wifi account which is valid for 24 hours.

In order to register for library borrowing, please bring your Alumni Card to the library enquiry point where we will then add you to our systems.

For more information see the UWL Alumni page

Library strategies, policies and standards

Library strategies, policies and standards

FAQs for Students

What are the opening hours for the Library?

You can view the opening hours for both libraries on our Opening Hours page.
What is the click and collect service?

If you are coming to campus and want to borrow books but do not want to study in the Library or browse the shelves, then consider using the click and collect service. You are able to reserve up to 3 books at a time and collect them within 24 hours at a time specified by you.
Can I get digital copies of books only available in print?

Where an ebook isn’t available, you can request 5% or one chapter to be digitised and emailed to you from the Library’s print collection using the Scan it 4 me service
Am I able to visit other university libraries?

The Sconul Access scheme provides reciprocal access to HE libraries to eligible UWL students and staff. For more information please see our Sconul Access page for further information.
Am I able to borrow material from other libraries which UWL doesn’t have?

It is possible for you to order journal articles, ebook chapters and other digital material from other libraries using the interlibrary loans service.
How many physical items can I borrow from the Library?

You can borrow up to 15 items from the Library as well as have access to all the digital library.
Can I book a group study room in the Library?

The 1st floor of Paul Hamlyn Library is available for collaborative study. There are Group Study Rooms in both the Paul Hamlyn and Reading Libraries that can be booked by students. You may book a study room at our Reading site and our Ealing site.
Is there a separate space in the Library for postgraduate students?

On the 3rd floor of Paul Hamlyn Library, the Dipna Anand PG Study Room is available. There is no dedicated space at the Berkshire Institute for Health Library in Reading.
Can I access water fountains in the Library?

There are water fountains on the 1st and 3rd floor of Paul Hamlyn Library which you can use to fill up water bottles. The water fountains can be found in the vestibule areas of the toilets on Floors 1 and 3 on the Peter John staircase. At the Berkshire Institute for Health Library in Reading, the water fountains are in the kitchen areas. Please use a water bottle when using the fountains and try not to touch the fountain itself.
Is the Library open to visitors?

The libraries are open to UWL students and staff, alumni, and registered members of the Sconul Access Scheme as well as residents of Ealing and Hounslow.
Can I bring children in to the library?

Supervised children are permitted in public spaces within the University including the libraries and the refectories during regular daytime hours; Monday to Friday 8.30am to 8pm and Saturday to Sunday 8.30am to 6pm. No child or young person under 18 years of age is permitted to remain on university premises outside of these times unless they are taking part in an organised activity. The university reserves the rights to amend these access times without notice for significant operational or child protection reasons.
Please remember that our libraries are a place of study and you may be asked to move if children are causing a disturbance to other library users.