1. 57 member institutions, representing a total of over 160 libraries, ranging from large HE institutions such as the University of London Colleges and London Metropolitan University to smaller ones (Courtauld Institute of Art) and including specialist collections (V&A).



2. Around one million people use the Consortium libraries - over a fifth of whom are from outside Higher Education.



3. 30 million volumes are available on the Consortium libraries' shelves.



4. Between them, Consortium libraries lend over 28 million items each year.



5. Over 35 million visits are made to Consortium libraries each year.



6. 45,000 study places, 25% of which are equipped with PC workstations, are available for use.



7. Benefits offered by Consortium libraries include 24 hour access to a vast range of electronic library and information services, e-journals and e-books, as well as the internet.



8. Consortium libraries spend a massive £44 million on information resources, including printed and electronic books and journals as well as other paper, video and broadcasting resources.



9. Library staff within the Consortium typically answer over 80,000 enquiries a week in term and spend 17,000 hours a year teaching information skills.



10. Information Services know that partnership is essential: Consortium libraries earn almost £6 million from partners outside Higher Education, by donation and by selling merchandise, to supplement funding from Government and student fees.

Source: SCONUL Statistics 2002-2003. (Some adjustments have been made to account for institutions not returning data to SCONUL, by reference to the previous years, and for the institutions not in membership of SCONUL.)