SCONUL (Society of College, National and University Libraries) is the professional association for academic and research libraries in the UK and Ireland.

SCONUL provides leadership and support to its community through advocacy, policy development, sharing knowledge and good practice and direct services to members.

SCONUL was founded in 1950 as the Standing Conference of National and University Libraries. In 1994, when British polytechnics became universities, it merged with COPOL, the Council of Polytechnic Librarians, and in 2001 it extended its membership to libraries of Colleges of Higher Education and changed to its current name.

SCONUL states its aims as:

For the benefit of our libraries and their users we aim:

SCONUL's activities include advocacy for the higher education library community, training and sharing best practice, making arrangements for reciprocal access to libraries, and the collection of statistics.

SCONUL groups are made up by representatives from the member institutions. Groups include the Content Strategy Group, Organisational Development Strategy Group, Technology and Markets Strategy Group, Horizon's Strategy Group.

SCONUL members include libraries in higher education institutions (not only universities but also higher education colleges and specialist schools and conservatoires); the British Library and the National Libraries of Ireland, Scotland and Wales; and libraries in national museums and other specialist institutions, irrespective of size and mission.