Library Membership & Access
DCU Students
All current registered DCU students automatically have full membership to DCU Libraries;
- O'Reilly Library, Glasnevin Campus
- Cregan Library, St. Patrick's Campus
- Woodlock Hall Library, All Hallows Campus.
You need your DCU ID card to enter and leave all libraries.
Graduates of DCU, St Patrick's College, The Church of Ireland College of Education (CICE) The Mater Dei Institute of Education and the Ryan Academy are welcome to apply for Alumni Membership to DCU Library.
Alumni membership
There are two forms of Alumni Membership:
- Access Membership (1 year, free of charge)
- Access & Borrowing Membership (€25 for 6 months, €50 for 12 months)
Alumni membership of the library will apply to all three Library spaces during advertised opening hours. Membership is for personal private research only and is not to be used for commercial or professional purposes.
Complete the online Alumni Membership Application form and submit.
- Please be advised that the application process may take up to 5 working days to complete.
- If approved, you will receive a confirmation email from the Library Help Desk of the library you have chosen to collect your membership card from.
- Applicants must bring a form of photographic ID with them to collect their membership card.
Please Note: failure to complete all sections of the application form as required may result in a delay in the application process.
Alumni Access Only Membership (free) includes:
- In-library use of print collections
- Access to individual study spaces
- Library Help Desk assistance
- Access to the DCU Guest WiFi network
Alumni Access & Borrowing Membership (fee-based) Includes
- Borrowing rights for up to 14 books from the library’s print collections which include:
- Main Lending Collection
- Teaching Collection (limited to 2 books at a time. Games, story sacks, kits and class sets are not available for loan)
- Junior Collection (class sets are not available for loan)
- Library Store (available through request option in Library Search, collection from any library site)
- Special Collections & Archives (available through request option in Library Search, collection from O’Reilly Library only)
- Access to individual study spaces
- Library Help Desk assistance
- Access to the DCU Guest WiFi network
Please Note
- Due to increased DCU cybersecurity measures, access to the library’s electronic resources including eBooks, databases and e-journals is not available
- IT facilities (PC/laptop use, printing, photocopying etc) is not available
- Group Study Room booking is not available
- Alumni members should note that they accept Library Regulations by becoming members and are subject to the same rules as students and staff
- Opening times vary throughout the year and during the summer. Visit the library website dcu.ie/library for current opening times.
Library Link: CONUL Access Scheme (formerly ALCID) is a co-operative access scheme agreed between Irish academic libraries across the Island of Ireland.
DCU Library is a member of the Library Link: CONUL Access Scheme
The scheme supports the research needs of academic staff and postgraduate students by allowing access to the study spaces and print collections of participating libraries, on production of a Library Link card and University ID.
Click here for more information about the Consortium of National and University Libraries
More information and application form on the Library Link: CONUL Access Scheme webpage
SCONUL (Society of College, National and University Libraries) is a reciprocal scheme with both access and borrowing privileges for staff and research postgraduate students of many higher education libraries in Ireland and the UK.
More information on the SCONUL page.
Access to the library for members of the public is currently unavailable due to high demand from DCU students for study spaces within our library facilities.
DCU undergraduate and diploma students may apply for a Letter of Introduction to visit another academic library to consult specific resources such as print books/journals not available within DCU's collections.
How To Apply
The letter can be requested in person from any Help Desk or via email:
Cregan Library: spd.library@dcu.ie
O’Reilly Library: issuedesk@dcu.ie
Woodlock Hall Library: woodlocklibrary@dcu.ie
Note: Before applying please ensure the information of the materials you wish to consult is correct i.e., title, author, published year. Also ensure your library account is in good standing, overdue loans will need to be returned or renewed.
- A Letter is necessary for each visit.
- A Letter does not guarantee access; students are advised to contact the library they intend to visit beforehand to confirm visiting information and opening hours.
- Admission to another academic library is subject to the rules and regulations of the admitting library.
- For accessing items held in ‘store’ ie., TCD Stacks, advanced notification may be necessary.
- No borrowing of materials permitted.
- You must have your DCU ID card with you as well as your letter when visiting another library.
- Access is limited to academic libraries only; public and private institutions are excluded from this access scheme.
- Letters may not be used for general study purposes in another academic library
Undergraduate students from visiting academic libraries, may access DCU Library to consult a specific print book/journal upon production of a Letter of Introduction and a home institution ID card, during the academic year, September - May (inclusive).
Summer study access is available on production of a home institution ID card only.
Note: IT facilities and access to online resources is not available to library visitors. Invalid/expired ID cards will not be accepted and access will be refused.
For membership questions please contact Help Desk staff:
- Cregan & Woodlock Hall Libraries: spd.library@dcu.ie
- O’Reilly Library: issuedesk@dcu.ie
For resource questions contact our Information Services support staff by emailing library@dcu.ie or connect with us via our Library chat service, found on the library website