Other Libraries

The Library Service participates in several formal schemes that enable University students and staff to access the library facilities of many other institutions.

The principal national schemes are SCONUL Access and SCONUL Vacation Access. See below to obtain more information and determine your eligibility to join. There is also a local scheme called INVICTA Access.

SCONUL Access

SCONUL Access is a reciprocal access scheme which provides free borrowing privileges or reference access to over 170 higher education institution libraries who participate in the scheme.

The following provides an overview of the scheme, however full details are available at the SCONUL Access website.

Who is eligble to join?

See the table below to find out whether you are eligible and to determine your entitlement. Note the ‘Band’ category which you fit into as you will need this to determine which libraries you are able to visit. You can only use member libraries which support your ‘band’ of user.

BAND A
Borrowing entitlement		 Staff and Postgraduate research students
BAND B
Borrowing entitlement
Reference Use only		 Part time, distance learning and placement students.
Full time Undergraduate students
BAND C
Borrowing entitlement		 Full time taught postgraduates

How do I join?

  • Check the SCONUL Access website to find out which libraries you can use under the scheme. Note that reference access for full time undergraduates is offered by member libraries which support Band B.
  • Download a SCONUL Access application form or ask for a form from the Drill Hall Library Counter.
  • Please note that to be eligible to join the scheme you must be in 'good standing' with both the Drill Hall library and your home institution library. You will need to pay any outstanding library fines and charges and must not have infringed the library rules.
  • Take your form to the Drill Hall Library Counter for authorisation.
  • If eligible for the scheme you will receive a SCONUL Access card. The card will state in which user band you belong.

Visiting member libraries

  • Telephone or check the websites of individual participating libraries for their opening hours and other local conditions (for example new tickets may only be issued during office hours or you may need to supply a passport sized photograph etc) before you travel. You can also view the libraries’ catalogue at this address. If you will need specialist help during your visit, please contact the library in advance.
  • Take your SCONUL access card and your home institution (Greenwich, Kent or Canterbury Christ Church) ID/ Library card with you. You will be issued with a library card from the host institution which will have the same expiry date as your SCONUL Access card.
  • Note that you will be subject to the regulations of the Library you are using and will be responsible for any fines or replacement costs incurred. Individual libraries’ requirements and borrowing rights will vary and generally excludes IT access.

SCONUL Vacation Access:

Follow the link to obtain more information and determine your eliibility to join.

Invicta Access Scheme

What is the Invicta Access Scheme?

The INVICTA Access scheme is a local collaborative borrowing scheme between the partner institutions of the Universities at Medway i.e. University of Greenwich, University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University.

Who is eligible to join?

University of Greenwich students and staff who are:

  • Registered at the Medway campus
  • Live in the Canterbury Area

What does the scheme offer?

The scheme gives access and limited borrowing rights at the University of Kent’s Templeman Library and Canterbury Christ Church University Library in addition to providing a book return scheme. For further information see the INVICTA Access scheme information sheet / application form.

How do I join?

INVICTA information sheets/application forms are available from the Drill Hall Library Counter or can be downloaded. Complete the application form and take it to the Drill Hall Library Counter for authorisation. Please note that if you have outstanding library fines on your account your application will be refused. Once authorised, take the application form and your University of Greenwich Student ID card to the library which you have chosen to join. Once there you will need to complete their registration process before being allowed to borrow items. Please note that if you wish to join both the Templeman and Canterbury Christ Church University libraries you will need to complete an application form for each.

Why is this called a collaborative scheme when it is appears to be only open to Greenwich students?

The scheme also offers access to the Drill Hall Library for University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University students and staff who are registered at the Canterbury campuses and live in the Medway area. Application to join the scheme for these students/staff is through their home institution library.

Medway Public Library Service

The Universities at Medway Drill Hall Library works closely with the local Medway Public Library service under a special agreement (memorandum of co operation) to extend the range of cultural and educational opportunities for all those who live, work or study in the area covered by Medway Council.

Where are the Public Libraries?

Details of the 16 public libraries and mobile library service within the Medway Towns and their opening times and facilities can be viewed online. Alternatively, pick up a leaflet from the Drill Hall Library main entrance.

How do I join?

Membership of the Libraries is open to anybody who lives, works or studies even temporarily in Medway or Kent. Membership is free and you can join at any one of the libraries or alternatively at the Medway Archives and Local Studies Centre. You will need to take some identification with you such as a utility bill or passport. View further information on the Medway Council getting started at the library website.

What can the library service offer?

The Library service has an online catalogue which is accessible to everybody so you can easily check whether the Library has the book or journal that you are looking for. There is also the facility to make online reservations and renewals through a personal account once you have become a member.

The Libraries also offer:

  • Medway Business Information Service. This free service is based at Chatham library and is aimed at people at all stages of business development, from starting up a business to expanding it. The service can provide materials such as company directories; statistics; market research reports; legislation - acts of parliament and statutory instruments. The library service subscribes to the following databases: ICC Plum, Cobweb and British Standards on line. For more information view the Medway Council business information website. Some Information leaflets are also available in the Main Entrance of the Drill Hall Library.
  • Information – facts and figures, hobbies, travel, biographies
  • Newspapers and magazines – general interest, professional.
  • PCs – Free computer use with internet access, office software, including database applications and publishing, scanners, CD burning and online books, encyclopaedias and newspapers.

And for your leisure time the libraries can offer a range of fiction, including best sellers, non fiction and, for a small rental charge, sound and vision entertainment including music CDs, videos, DVDs and computer games.

If English is not your first language there are books, DVDs and newspapers available in many languages.

For further information contact:

Chatham Library,
Gun Wharf,
Dock Road,
Chatham,
Kent,
ME4 4TX
Email: chatham.library@medway.gov.uk
Telephone: 01634 337799
Fax: 01634 337800

Medway Archives and Local Studies Centre (MALSC) - This centre houses material on the history, geography and people of the Medway area and includes special collections on Charles Dickens, Chatham Dockyard and Medway’s naval history. For further information click here.

For opening hours, directions and contact details please click here. Please note that bookings are required for some equipment and for access to original archive material.

UK Public Libraries

An A-Z list of UK public libraries including their on line catalogues can be found here.

The following list describes additional libraries you may wish to explore:

  • British Library
  • Library of Congress online catalogue – contains records for all books published in the US. Most books published in European languages are also included c1970 onwards.
  • COPAC - a union catalogue containing records for most of the main university research libraries in the UK and including the British Library catalogue.
  • UK academic catalogues - catalogues at individual academic institutions arranged alphabetically and geographically.

Please also see our Inter-site Loans page for more information.