External student services
External and OUA students have access to the same Library services and collections as on campus students.
All OUA students and some external students are eligible to use the external library delivery service.
Eligibility for external library delivery service
You can use the external library delivery service if:
- you are enrolled in external mode for all units,
- you are borrowing items for study purposes, and
- you live more than 30 aerial kilometres from Murdoch University's South Street Campus.
You can also use the external library delivery service if:
- you have a disability and are registered through Equity for extended library services
- you are enrolled in Murdoch University’s Elite Athletes Program, or
- you are an Open Universities Australia (OUA) student enrolled in units at Murdoch.
Check if you are eligible
Borrowing
If you are eligible to use the external library delivery service we will send books to you.
If you are eligible for external library delivery services and come into the Library and borrow books, you may request business reply post mail labels to use when returning your books to the Library.
If you are not eligible to use the external library delivery service, you will need to come to the Library to borrow material.
Find out more about borrowing
Getting a Library card
If you come into the library to borrow books, you must have your Murdoch University student card.
You can get a card at the IT Service Desk at the South Street Campus Library, or the Helpdesk at Rockingham or Peel Campus Libraries.
If you live more than 30 aerial kilometres from the South Street Campus, you can request a card using the Student ID / Library Card application form. (DOC, 25kb)
Delivery and return of material
We usually send Items to you by mail. Parcels and letters to the north-west of Western Australia or to other states are sent by express post or by courier.
Use the Business Reply Post address label included with each parcel of books to return items to the Library.
If there is a quicker method of delivering material to you or it is difficult to return books on time (especially recalled items) due to mailing delays, please let us know.
Overdue and recalled items
Overdue and recall notices will be send to your email address.
Remember to check your email regularly as recalled items must be returned immediately.
You can also use My Library to check for overdue items, renew items and place holds.
Requesting books
Use the library catalogue to request books, except if the book is a Reserve item.
- Go to the Library Catalogue and search for the book by title or author
- Display the record for the book you want, and click on the Request button
- Enter your Murdoch University Username and Password.
- Choose the pickup location – Eligible External & OUA Requests
- Click on Submit
You should then see a message confirming your request.
Please note: if you have overdue loans you will not be able to request books.
Requesting a book from Reserve
Use the Reserve request form to request books located in Reserve.
- Go to Reserve and electronic course materials and search for your unit code.
- Display the record for the book you want.
- Copy the details of the book into the Reserve request form and submit the form.
You can borrow Reserve books for two weeks.
If we are not able to send you a Reserve book, we will email you a copy of the contents page, and you can select 1 chapter (or up to 10%) of the book to be scanned and emailed to you. The limited amount is a provision of The Copyright Act s.49.
Tracking your requests
- Go to My Library and enter your Murdoch University Username and Password
- Click on Requests button. Your current requests will be listed.
- Look at the ‘Status’ box:
- Check Shelf: we are collecting and processing the item
- In Transit: the item is coming from another campus library
- If a date is displayed: the item is currently out on loan and will be returned on that date: your request has been queued.
When your requested item is available, it will display in your checked out items and no longer appear under requests. Don’t forget to allow time for postal delivery.
Requesting a book that Murdoch doesn’t have
If the book you want is not held at Murdoch University Library you may request it from another library using BONUS+ or the Document Delivery Service.
Bonus+
Use BONUS+ to request books from other participating BONUS+ libraries.
- Search the Murdoch University Library catalogue
- If the book you want is not available, click on the BONUS+ button to search for it in the BONUS+ catalogue.
- Select Request This Item.
- Select Murdoch University.
- Enter your Murdoch University Username and Password
- Choose the Pickup Location: Eligible External Requests
- Click Submit
Your books will be delivered in the same way as books requested from Murdoch University Library. Check the BONUS+ webpage for more information about using BONUS+.
Document delivery
You can request books using our document delivery service if:
- you are an external graduate research student, or
- you are enrolled in Murdoch University’s Elite Athletes Program, or
- we have been advised by the Equity Office that you are eligible for the service.
Find out more about the document delivery service
Requesting copies of journal articles and book chapters
Before making a request:
- Check your unit code in Reserve and electronic course materials to see if the item you want is listed. It may already be available in digital format for you to download.
- Check Findit to see if your journal article is available online.
If you are not sure about searching for online journal articles, please use our Ask A Librarian service.
If you still cannot find the chapter or article you want, or if we only have it in print format, we will scan and email a copy to you in PDF.
Submit your request on the document request form.
Please note:
The Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) (s.49) states that you may request the copying of:
- no more than 1 chapter (or 10%) of any one book.
- only one article from any one issue of a journal. You may request more than one article from an issue if they are all required for the same topic of study or research.
What if you don't have access to the internet?
If you do not have access to the Internet you can request books and articles using our printed forms. Contact external Library services to request photocopy and subject request forms.
Using other libraries
You can apply for reciprocal borrowing privileges at a library closer to where you live or work.
Academic libraries in Western Australia
University of WA, Curtin University, Edith Cowan University
- Apply online.
- Take your Murdoch University student card with you to the library of choice.
University of Notre Dame and TrainingWA Libraries
- Take your Murdoch University student card AND proof that you are currently enrolled at Murdoch (for example, a printout of enrolment for current year) to your library of choice.
See Reciprocal Borrowing - Western Australian University Libraries (PDF, 317 kb) for more information.
Australian and overseas academic libraries
You can apply for membership of any of the libraries in the University Library Australia is a national borrowing scheme.
Apply directly to these libraries. You will need photo ID and proof of your current Murdoch enrolment.
For all other libraries, please use the application form to apply for a letter of introduction.
Reciprocal borrowing and access to resources and facilities is a privilege that is granted at the discretion of the host library and some of their electronic resources may not be available to you due to licensing issues.
Any misuse of privileges granted to you may result in your borrowing rights being revoked.
