UK Libraries Plus: two years of progress.

In 1999, The Coalition of Modern Universities in the United Kingdom met and launched a consortial agreement to allow access among member libraries for students of participating institutions. The author describes the set up of the UK Libraries Plus scheme along with the growth that the group has experienced in its first two years. Initially 60 libraries signed up for participation and that number in the first two years almost doubled to 107 institutions. Students and users of libraries can apply through their home library for access to up to three member libraries. There are documents governing the scheme and it is designed to mutually benefit everyone involved in the agreement. In evaluating the success of the group, many students deemed that accessing libraries close to their home or work was "vital to their studies." The group is designed to allow institutions in the UK to work together in supporting lifelong learning and enhances the quality of the learning experience.