This means that as a Loughborough staff member or student living in the region, you can access all three university libraries for free, benefitting from access to a wider variety of books and publications, study spaces, and public Wi-Fi (where available).

All of the university libraries hold large print collections that local people will be able to access and borrow from, and there are specialist collections covering a wide range of academic subjects that align with each university’s teaching and research areas.

For example, along with Loughborough’s wide-ranging print collections, the University of Leicester has collections specialising in regional and local history, a very large collection of Sue Townsend’s published works, and an extensive English literature collection. They also have a Represent collection, being developed in partnership with students, to include more works by under-represented voices. At De Montfort University, the library holds collections relating to DMU and local history, the history of photography, sports history - especially winter sports - and chess, arts and illustration, plus fashion and costume history.

You will be able to borrow up to 10 items from any of the university libraries and will be able to use the open study spaces, although there may be restrictions on access at busy times, such as the winter and summer assessment periods.

Helen Young, Deputy Director of Library Services at Loughborough University said: “We have appreciated this opportunity to work collaboratively with colleagues at our local universities and councils to improve access to knowledge and learning in the region. Loughborough has been welcoming members of the public into our Library for many years, as it has always been important to us that our space and resources have been accessible to the local community. There is a wealth of print material in our collections that will be of interest to others, and this scheme will ensure that they can now borrow this for free.”

In June 2022, a new Universities Partnership was launched locally. It is a commitment between De Montfort University, Loughborough University, the University of Leicester and the city and counties of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to work together for the benefit of local people and for local prosperity.

Paul Angrave from the Universities Partnership said: “The three universities are working hard with local councils to bring benefits to local communities and this is another example of that commitment.

“Universities are fantastic assets to their regions and by opening their library doors to local people, we are not only welcoming them onto our campuses – we are providing a wonderful additional service.

“The educational resources we are making available will benefit our locality and reflect our collective ambition to inspire and provide additional learning opportunities for local people.”

The libraries are now open to public users. For anyone who isn’t online, local public libraries can provide support with the application process. Valid photo ID and proof of address are required to join.

Find out more information about the scheme and how to apply.