Borrowing and requesting

Students

With flexible and extended borrowing and delivery conditions, and access to the collections of libraries both in Australia and worldwide, we can help you gain access to the information you need, when you need it.

Borrowing 

All the information you need to know about borrowing books and items from our collections is here.

Use your University ID card or library issued card to borrow books and other items. You can borrow the item yourself using any of the self-check machines located at each library.

When you borrow an item you can choose to have a loan receipt emailed to you. To see what you have out on loan, login to MyLibrary.

The number of items you can borrow depends on your membership type. You can find out how many items you can borrow on the membership page.

Except for the High Use Collections, laptops and iPads, all standard loans are automatically renewed if they are not returned within the initial 12 week time period.  Keep an eye on your inbox to see your new due date. If, however, a request is placed on an item you have borrowed, then your loan time will reduce. The library will keep in touch to let you know when items are due for return, or you can keep track through your MyLibrary account. 

Adelaide University staff and students can borrow according to the following loan periods:

Item typeStandard loan period*
Main collection, books and journals 12 weeks  with up to 5 renewals
Laptops1 day and 7 days 
iPads7 days and 12 weeks
High Use Collection3 hours or overnight, 3 days, and 7 days 

*All items (with the exception of High Use Collection items, iPads and laptops) will automatically renew unless requested by another library member.

Library users who are not Adelaide University staff or students will have different borrowing privileges. Please see the membership page for more information.

Return chutes are located at each of our libraries. Most return chutes can be found at the entrance with exception of the following:  

  • Barr Smith Library (level 3) 
  • Brookman Building Library (on the right-hand side, inside the Library) 
  • Jeffrey Smart Library (Level 1, to the left-hand side from the main entrance) 
  • Law Library (in the lobby of the Ligertwood Building)  

Laptops and iPads must be returned at the self-service unit at the campus they were borrowed from. 

Contact Ask Library if you need help returning an item. 

The Adelaide University library does not charge overdue fines. However, a replacement fee will be charged for substantial pieces of equipment if the item is not returned.  

If you withhold, lose or damage a laptop, iPad or associated accessories you will need to pay a replacement fee of up to $1500.  

If there are extenuating circumstances preventing you from returning any items, please contact Ask Library. 

Adelaide University students and staff have a reciprocal borrowing agreement that enables borrowing print items in person from other universities, including Flinders University under the University Libraries of Australia and New Zealand (ULANZ) scheme.  

All other users including student affiliates not covered by the ULANZ borrowing scheme, should contact the institution you wish to borrow from directly.

Requesting

The Library’s requesting service is available to Adelaide University students and staff, alumni and community borrowers.

Request library books and other items, and pick them up from your preferred library location. Special Collections items may be available for In Library Use Only. Laptops, iPads and high use items cannot be requested. Requesting is available:

  • When an item is located at a different campus to your pickup location
  • When an item is on loan to another user
  • When an item is held in the Library’s offsite storage facility

Students eligible for the Off Campus Library Service can have items mailed to their home address.

Students with a disability may be eligible to request items at all locations.

Staff and postgraduate students can access the Interlibrary Loan Service for items not held within the collection.

Once you have found an item in the Library collection:

  1. Sign in to the catalogue

    • AU staff and students: use your University username and password

    • Alumni and others: use your email address

  2. Select the Request link

  3. Select your Pickup Location

    • If you are eligible for postal delivery services, select the location Off Campus Library Service and the item will be mailed to you

  4. Select the Request button to place your request

Items should be available between 3-5 business days, unless the item is on loan. When the item is ready for collection:

  • You will receive an email notification.
  • Your item will be available for collection from the request shelf and will be held for 7 days.
  • Borrow using your nominated card at the self-check machine.

Loans can be returned via the return chutes at any campus Library.

You can keep track of and cancel requests through MyLibrary. 

If the item you wish to request is available at the selected pickup campus, you are expected to retrieve it yourself and won’t be able to place the request.

Requests may be cancelled for a range of reasons, including that the item:

  • Was not collected before the hold request expired; requests are only held for 7 days.
  • Was not available by the hold expiry date of your original request.
  • Is missing from the collection. 

Library users who are not Adelaide University staff or students will have different borrowing privileges. Please see the membership page for more information.

Return chutes are located at each of our libraries. Most return chutes can be found at the entrance with exception of the following:

  • Barr Smith Library (level 3)
  • Brookman Building Library (on the right-hand side, inside the Library)
  • Jeffrey Smart Library (Level 1, to the left-hand side from the main entrance)
  • Law Library (in the lobby of the Ligertwood Building)

Requesting an interlibrary loan

You can access books, journal articles, and other items not held in the University Library collections through the interlibrary loans service, from Australia and overseas.

The interlibrary loans service is available for the purpose of research or study at no cost to: 

  • Adelaide University staff
  • Adelaide University postgraduate students
  • Other approved users by arrangement with Ask Library

Begin by searching the Library. If the item you are looking for is already held, you can access it online or borrow a physical item. If you have any queries on how to access Library-held resources, please contact Ask Library.

If the item is not held by the Library, widen your search using the Search beyond our collections option from the drop-down list next to the search box. If you find a result, select Get it for me from other libraries.

Scroll down to the Get it from other libraries section of the item page, log in if required, and then choose the appropriate button to request a physical loan or a digital copy.

Review the displayed form to fill in any other information required, and then submit.

If you can’t find what you are looking for using the method above, you can submit a request by manually filling in details of the item on this form. Please ensure you provide as much detail as possible, including ISSN or ISBN identifiers, as it may be required to locate a supplier.

Renewals are not automatic as the supplying library needs to be contacted to request a new loan period. Not all libraries approve renewals and loans are subject to the lending policies of the supplying library. To renew your interlibrary loans, please contact Ask Library.

Please allow approximately 14 working days for delivery of your interlibrary loans. This can vary depending on shipping, availability and the location of the item.

Loans coming from overseas may have a longer turn-around time.

Once the Library receives your interlibrary loan we will notify you via email. It will then be available to collect from the Requests Pickup shelf at your nominated location. Copies of journal articles and book chapters will be sent to you as an email attachment or as an email containing a download link.

Interlibrary loans can be returned via the return chutes located at each of our libraries. Most return chutes can be found at the entrance with exception of the following:

  • Barr Smith Library (level 3)
  • Brookman Building Library (on the right-hand side, inside the Library)
  • Jeffrey Smart Library (Level 1, to the left-hand side from the main entrance)
  • Law Library (in the lobby of the Ligertwood Building) 

When returning your item, please ensure the interlibrary loan sleeve is attached to the item.

Please contact Ask Library if assistance is needed in returning an item.

Supplying loans to other libraries

Adelaide University can supply a loan or copy of most print titles from its collections to other libraries registered through Trove Partners Resource Sharing and overseas libraries.

Adelaide University provides interlibrary loan and document delivery services to libraries worldwide. Individuals who are not part of the university community should request access to materials through their local, academic or corporate library. 

The Library may be able to send a PDF copy of a thesis from its collection, provided it's not under an embargo. 

You can find more information about our lending policies and associated costs in the Australian Interlibrary Resource Sharing (ILRS) Directory.

All charges are in Australian dollars.

Australia
Overseas
  • Loan: AUD$55.00 or 5 International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) vouchers.
  • Copies: AUD$23.00 or 2.5 IFLA vouchers (50+ pages, add $8.00 per 50 pages).
Lost or Damaged Items
  • $150.00 per item. Replacement copies may be accepted in some circumstances.
Payment methods

We accept payment by credit card or International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) voucher.

Off Campus Library Service

The Off Campus Library Service (OCLS) assists Adelaide University students and staff who are unable to visit one of our libraries in person. The service includes free postal delivery or electronic mail delivery of library resources and documents.

  • Adelaide University students who are currently enrolled and who meet one of the following criteria:
    • Enrolled in external mode or online for all of their courses in the current study period
    • Live outside of the Adelaide metropolitan area
    • Have a disability (including an Access Plan)
    • Are an elite performing artist or athlete
    • Attend a regional campus
    • Are incarcerated
  • Students on placement outside the Adelaide metropolitan area may also be eligible.
  • Adelaide University staff who work in rural or remote locations outside of the Adelaide metropolitan area
  • Open Universities Australia (OUA) students enrolled in Adelaide University courses in the current study period

In most cases, you will not need to register to use the service, and there is no charge for using the service.

Users of the OCLS have access to the following:

    • Borrow items for 12 weeks (automatic renewals, unless a hold has been placed
    • Postgraduate students: unlimited loans
    • Undergraduate students: up to 50 items
    • Staff: unlimited loans
  • Online journals 
  • Databases
  •  Support with finding information and using the Library via Ask Library 
  • Postal delivery or electronic delivery of print collection items 
  • Interlibrary loans (postgraduate students and staff only)

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