UK Libraries Plus: a vital lifeline. Report on the survey of the UK Libraries Plus scheme July 2000 funded by SCONUL for the work of the Task Force on Distance Learning

Article included in a Special issue devoted to the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of SCONUL (Standing Conference of National and University Libraries). UK Libraries Plus (UKLP) is a reciprocal borrowing and access scheme covering 91 UK higher education institution (HEI) libraries, allowing part time students, distance learners and full time students on placement limited borrowing rights at up to three libraries in addition to their home HEI. Staff and other full-time students can apply for reference only access and are given a card valid at any of the 91 libraries. Reports results of a questionnaire survey undertaken to determine the characteristics of registered users of the UKLP scheme. Findings indicated that the typical UKLP user is a 38-year-old postgraduate student, studying an MSc in social sciences or an MBA, who values the service for book loans and for easy access from their home. They regard the scheme as vital for their studies, they learned about the scheme through library induction or a tutor and they would like to be able to borrow more books than current quotas allow.

Reproduced with permission.