How to borrow
How to borrow
Take your Library card and the items you want to borrow to the Self Check machine.
If you need assistance, take your books to the Loans Desk.
How many items can I borrow and for how long?
| Borrower type | Number of items | For how long | Times you can renew | Recalls you can have |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate students |
15 | 4 weeks | 4 | 10 |
| Graduate Diploma students |
15 | 4 weeks | 4 | 10 |
| Postgraduate students |
30 | end of semester | 5 | 10 |
| Staff | 30 | end of semester | 5 | 10 |
| OUA students | 15 | 4 weeks | 4 | 10 |
| MIT students | 12 | 4 weeks | 4 | 10 |
| Murdoch College students |
12 | 4 weeks | 4 | 10 |
| Murdoch University Short Course students | 8 | 4 weeks | 1 | 5 |
| Corporate members | 8 | 4 weeks | 1 | 5 |
| Community members |
8 | 4 weeks | 1 | 5 |
| Alumni | 8 | 4 weeks | 1 | 5 |
| Other Australian university students and staff |
15 | 4 weeks | 1 | 5 |
| Training WA students | 2 | 4 weeks | 1 | 2 |
| Other students | 8 | 4 weeks | 1 | 5 |
| Dept of Food & Agriculture WA staff | 8 | 4 weeks | 1 | 5 |
Some items have special borrowing rules. For example, DVDs and videos and Reserve items.
Recalled items
All items borrowed can be recalled if required by someone else. We will email you if an item you have is recalled and you will have 7 days to return it.
Returning your borrowed books
Return your books at any of the campus libraries, except for reserve items, which must be returned to the library where you borrowed them.
How do I request items?
If the item you want is on loan to another person or is located at a different campus, you can request it through the Library Catalogue.
You cannot request items to be picked up at another branch library on the same campus.
To request an item:
- Search the Library Catalogue and display the record for the item you want.
- Select the "Request" button at the top or bottom of the screen.
- Enter your Username and Password.
- Select a Pickup location from the dropdown menu.
- Enter a "Cancel if not filled by" date. If you don't enter a date, your request will expire after 7 months.
- Click on "Submit".
- Click on "Request selected item" (and you may need to select the copy to be recalled).
- The message 'Your request for this item has been sent to the library' should appear on the screen.
- Click on "Logout" to exit.
We will email you when the item is available.
Collect your item from the Hold Shelf in the Reserve section and take it to the self check machine.
Requesting journal articles
If a journal article is only available in print at a campus library that is not your normal library, you can request a copy. Complete the online form to arrange for copies to be sent to you.
How do I renew my loans?
Renew your loans by logging on to My Library.
What do I need to know about Reserve?
Reserve provides access to high demand material recommended by lecturers. Books in the Reserve collection may be borrowed for 2 hours during the day or overnight.
- Only Murdoch students and staff may borrow items from the Reserve collection.
- Two items may be borrowed at a time for two hours during the day.
- You can book items in advance at the Loans Desk for overnight loan.
- 3 day loans are not renewable but can be requested if on loan. They can be checked out at any time when the library is open.
Overnight loans
Most reserve items may be borrowed overnight from the following times.
| Monday - Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday-Sunday |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| South St Campus Library | 6.00pm | 5.00pm | 4.00pm |
| Veterinary Library | 6.00pm | 4.00pm | 4.00pm (Saturday only) |
| Rockingham Campus Library | 6.00pm | 3.00pm | 2.00pm (Saturday only) |
| Peel Campus Library | 2.00pm | 2.00pm | Library Closed |
Returning overnight loans
- You must return reserve items to the library from where you borrowed them.
- You must return items within one hour of the Library next opening. Check the opening hours at each Library.
What happens about overdue books?
Penalty points and fines apply if the item is lost, damaged or not returned.
Penalty points
If an item is overdue, penalty points accrue and are added to your record when the item is returned. Points accrue at the following rates:
| Type of loan | Penalty points |
|---|---|
| 4 week loan | 1 point per day overdue |
| Semester loan | 1 point per day overdue |
| Recalled loans | 10 points per day overdue from the due date |
| 1, 3 and 7 day loans | 10 points per day overdue |
| Reserve Loans | 10 points per hour overdue |
Fines
- If you don't return your loans within 4 weeks of the due date, we will bill you for the cost of replacement.
- If you accrue penalty points over your limit in an academic year, you will not be able to borrow until you pay a fine of $20.00.
- After you pay your fine your points are reset to zero.
- Subsequent fines will reduce the point level at which your rights are suspended.
If you are suspended more than once reinstatement of your borrowing rights is at the discretion of the Director, Library Services.
