UWS Library Service welcomes visitors who would like to work or study in one of our campus libraries. Access is available for members of the public to Ayr, Lanarkshire and Paisley campus libraries from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday.

We offer guest wi-fi, study space, power for devices, and access to print books and journals to read in the library.

There is no visitor access to online resources, PCs or printers in the library – a current UWS student or staff login is needed for these services.

Find out more about the work spaces and facilities available in our campus libraries,

Visitors are welcome to read our print books and journals within the library for free.

If you would like to borrow books from the library you will need to join as an external member.

Special lending arrangements are available to staff from local authority schools and NHS hospitals in the areas where our Scottish campuses are based. Please ask library staff at your school or hospital to contact e-resources@uws.ac.uk for further details of how to set this up.

Appointments to view items from our Special Collections and Archives can be arranged by contacting specialcollections@uws.ac.uk

Online resources are not normally available to library visitors due to licensing restrictions.

Students and Staff from other Universities

UWS is part of the national SCONUL Access scheme allowing students and staff members from UK universities who are members of the scheme to access other university libraries.

Apply online or contact the library at your own university to request SCONUL Access.

External Membership

Members of the public may join UWS library as an external member for an annual fee of £40. This allows you to borrow up to five items at a time from our print book collection. This service is free to UWS alumni.

Members of the community studying a short course at UWS can join the library for a reduced fee of £25 per year. In addition to borrowing up to 5 print books at a time, this membership route also allows you to request up to 10 articles from library online collections to support your course of study.

External members do not usually get access to our online resources due to licensing restrictions.

To find out more about external membership or to submit your application form, call in to any UWS Library info point, or e-mail library@uws.ac.uk. 

UWS offers a range of learning opportunities to the wider community, including short courses through our CPD centre. For more information on courses available please click here. Information on funding support is available here.

Individuals studying a short course have the option of joining the library as an external member at a reduced fee.

UWS Library services run events, exhibitions and activities during the year and many of these are open for the public to attend.

Events are advertised locally - or ask at any UWS Library info point for information about upcoming events.

If you would like to attend a library exhibition or event and have any access requirements please visit Accessibility and Well-Being for more details or contact library@uws.ac.uk.