Group of students sitting on Ealing Townhall steps

Library services:
residents of Ealing & Hounslow

Using the library

If you are a resident of the London Boroughs of Ealing or Hounslow and wish to use the Paul Hamlyn Library, you are welcome to apply for UWL Library visitor membership. Membership is offered under the following terms:

  • You need to be over 18 years of age.
  • We are unable to lend our resources but you are welcome to use our books and journals within the library.
  • We are unable to provide access to university PCs, Macs or to library electronic resources but wi-fi access as a UWL guest is available.
  • At the present time we are unable to offer printing or copying services.
  • We are unable to provide access to our lockers.
  • You need to enter the library during regular Library staffed hours but not during term time overnight opening.
  • You agree to follow the UWL Library customer charter.
  • You agree to follow instructions regarding emergency evacuation at all times.

As we need to support the teaching and research needs of the University’s own students and staff, we are unfortunately unable to extend UWL Library visitor membership to members of the public outside of these two Boroughs.

Please note that we are unable to complete any new registrations for Sconul Access or the local resident scheme from Saturday 21 December 2024 until Monday 6 January 2025 and you will not be able to use the Paul Hamlyn Library during this period unless you are an existing member of these schemes and have your ID card.

Your first visit to the UWL Library

Library reception at St Mary's Campus

If you are a resident of the London Boroughs of Ealing or Hounslow and wish to use the UWL Library you are required to register with us for UWL Library Visitor membership.

You must bring with you a valid form of ID which shows that you are over 18 as well as proof of address.

This initial visit must be from Monday-Friday only between 9am-5pm. You will be refused entry if you arrive outside of these hours for your initial visit.

  • What happens at this first visit?

    • At this first visit, a member of the Library Staff will register you as a Visitor Member.
    • Having registered you are welcome to use the library on that day. However, to access the library in future visits we will need to produce for you a UWL Library ID Card. To produce this we require a passport-style photo from you (please see guidelines below). Once we receive your photo your card will be ready to collect at your next visit (ID Cards may take up to one week to process and produce).
    • Use of the library under this scheme is for the registered resident member only and cards are not transferable.
    • Misuse of the card will result in access being revoked and should you lose it, there will be a charge of £10 for a replacement.

  • What are valid forms of ID?

    Valid forms of ID include:-

    • Passport
    • Drivers licence
    • National ID card
    • Bank or credit card
    • Freedom photo card
    • Forces ID card
    • Police/customs/home office warrant card

Subsequent visits

Returning a library book using self service

Once you have registered as a Library Visitor you are entitled to use our facilities for up to one year during regular library staffed hours as advertised on the library website but not during term time overnight opening. You will only be allowed access under the following terms:

  • You carry the UWL Library Visitor Card issued after your initial visit which you are required to keep with you at all times, and to show to a member of UWL staff upon request.
  • You are required to show your Library Visitor Card to our Security team on each occasion that you enter the building.
  • You will not be allowed entry to the UWL Library after 9:30pm during term time overnight opening even if you have the required permissions.

Conditions of membership

Membership of the UWL Library Local Residents Scheme is currently free and is valid for up to 1 year, with a termination date of 31 July.

  • If you choose to renew your membership, you will need to re-register with us by 31 July each year, or your membership will expire and your card will no longer work.
  • Should you choose to renew then your current card will be reactivated.  However, if you should choose not to renew, you must return your UWL ID card to us as it will no longer be valid.
  • All records are destroyed after 1 August each year unless you renew in which case your details are retained by UWL ID cards until you cease to be a member of this scheme.
  • You must follow the Library Customer Charter and University health and safety guidelines at all times.

  • ID Cards are issued to the registered member and are not transferrable. Misuse of a UWL ID card will result in suspension of membership with continuing access to UWL facilities prohibited.

UWL ID card photograph guidelines

The photograph you send us must meet the guidelines in the list below and must be a true likeness of you. The guidance below will help you send a suitable photograph, and will help avoid the need for us to request another photograph. An appropriate passport-style photo taken on a mobile phone is acceptable. However, if you choose to use a professional photographer please ensure that the photographer is aware of the standards required

student in library

The photograph must be: 

  • In colour, not black and white 
  • Taken within the last month 
  • Free from shadows
  • Taken with your eyes open and clearly visible (with no sunglasses or tinted glasses, and no hair across your eyes)
  • Free from reflection or glare on glasses, and the frames must not cover your eyes (where possible, we recommend that you remove your glasses) 
  • Free from red-eye and with a neutral expression
  • Of you facing forward, looking straight at the camera 
  • Taken of the full head, without any covering, unless it is worn for religious beliefs or medical reasons
  • Taken against a plain white, light grey or plain cream background 

Get in touch

Student reading in library

In-person: Visit the Help Zone, ground floor at our Ealing & Reading sites. Find out the library opening hours.

Email us: library@uwl.ac.uk

Social media: Twitter

Telephone:  Ealing: 020 8231 2405  /  Reading: 020 8209 4434  (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)

Need help? Chat with us.

 

Disclaimer

  • Disclaimer

    The University of West London libraries exist primarily to support the teaching and research needs of the University’s own students and staff. During busy periods, it may be necessary to restrict access to the libraries under this scheme, and we reserve the right to suspend new registrations, and refuse entry where necessary.

    UWL Library Services embraces the ability of everyone to use our materials and spaces freely and without harm. To that end, we do not tolerate any behaviour whose sole purpose is to intimidate or harass any other library user, or our staff. We reserve the right to remove people from the library for violating this policy.

    Julian Roland
    Head of Customer Experience
    UWL Library Services
    April 2018

Find out more