Borrowing from Swinburne library

Find out what you can borrow, loan periods and limits, renewals and fines.
 

Item Loan period Item limit Renewal Fines (A$)
Books 2 weeks 30 Yes $0.75 per day
Journals 2 weeks 10 Yes $0.75 per day
Short term loans 2–7 days 30 Yes $0.75 per day
Reserve 4 hours 4 No $1.50 per hour
DVDs 2 weeks 10 Yes $0.75 per day
Laptops and equipment 4 hours –7 days 1 No $1.50 per hour

How to borrow 

  • You must have your Swinburne ID card to borrow
  • Students can borrow a maximum of 30 items
  • Staff and higher degree research students are eligible for up to 28 day loans
  • To borrow books, go to a self-service kiosk or the library service desk
  • Go to the service desk to borrow laptops, assistive and other equipment.
Find a book on the shelves

Find a book on the shelves

Using library search, you can find the book you're after. 

How to renew

  • All items, except those in high demand, those requested by other users or where the maximum borrowing time has been reached, are automatically renewed before the due date
  • Log into My Account (login required) to renew your loans, check your current loans, requests and fines
  • You still have the option to renew loans in person at any campus library or by phone during opening hours on 1300 794 628. You can also contact the library to renew your loans
  • Renewals will be for the standard loan period
  • There are no renewals for equipment or 4-hour loans
  • You will not be able to renew if you have overdues, $10 or more in fines, or someone has placed a hold on your item.
     

How to return

  • You must return your items only through the designated return chutes, inside or outside the library
  • For after-hours returns use the outside return chutes
  • Return items via post to: Swinburne Library, PO Box 218, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia 3122.

How to request a book

Request a book

Request a book

Find out how to request a book that is out on loan or at another campus.

Borrow by mail

If you are a Swinburne Online student, Open Universities Online (OUA) student or a remote off-campus student (living 20km or further from campus), you can borrow items from the library by mail. This service is available within Australia only.

Note: Initial loans are one week longer than standard to allow for postal services.

How to borrow by mail

You can request most books and audio-visual material. You cannot request reserve collection, high-use items or journals.

Place a request
Collection Number of items Loan period
Books 30 14 days
Audiovisual 30 7 days

Borrow from Swinburne

Swinburne Online students may borrow from any campus library in person. To borrow by mail use the place a request form.


Borrowing from other libraries

Swinburne Online students may borrow from other tertiary libraries in Victoria and interstate. To find out how to register see borrowing from other libraries.


Return

Use the Reply Paid sticker to return items by post (for use within Australia only).

Lending services 
Swinburne Library 
Swinburne University of Technology 
PO Box 218 
Hawthorn VIC 3122 
Australia

Borrow from Swinburne

Open Universities Australia (OUA) students may use the library during opening hours. To borrow in person, bring photo ID and your OUA student card or Swinburne letter of offer. To borrow by mail use the place a request form.


Borrow from other libraries

OUA students are not eligible for the CAVAL Reciprocal Borrowing Program. However, you can visit and use any tertiary library. You may wish to inquire about registering as a community borrower, which generally incurs a fee.


Return

You must pay for return postage. Return by post to:

Lending services 
Swinburne Library 
Swinburne University of Technology 
PO Box 218 
Hawthorn VIC 3122 
Australia

Borrow from Swinburne

Students registered as remote, who do not attend classes on campus and live more than 20km from a Swinburne campus, may borrow by mail. Other students who have a special reason for not visiting a campus may also apply to use this service.

To borrow by mail, use the place a request form.


Borrow from other libraries

Remote off-campus students may borrow from other tertiary libraries in Victoria and interstate. To find out how to register see borrowing from other libraries. <link to anchor tag #otherlibraries>


Return

You must pay for return postage. Return by post to:

Lending services 
Swinburne Library 
Swinburne University of Technology 
PO Box 218 
Hawthorn VIC 3122 
Australia

For all loan enquiries, contact us on library@swinburne.edu.au.

Equipment for loan

Staff and students can borrow a range of equipment from the library.

Laptops are available for short-term loan (students only) from the library equipment desk. Each laptop is loaned with a carry case and a power cable.

If you require a laptop for long-term use, check scholarships related to IT equipment. You could also consider the hardware purchase option.
 

Conditions of use

  • You can borrow a laptop up to one week at a time.
  • Loans may be renewed (in person only) if demand allows.
  • You must present your current student ID card (via the Swin App or physical) to borrow.
  • You can borrow one laptop at a time.
  • If you have just returned a laptop, during peak usage times there may be a 30-minute wait before you can borrow another.
  • Laptops must be returned in person to the library service desk and handed to library staff.
  • You must abide by the People, Culture and Integrity Policy and the Library code of conduct.


Fines and lost laptops

  • You must return laptops on time. Overdue fines accrue at $1.50 per hour or part thereof.
  • You are responsible for the safety of the laptop.
  • You will be charged full replacement cost for any loss or damage plus any additional administration charges.
  • Lost or damaged equipment cannot be replaced with your own personal equipment.
  • Overdue, lost or damaged items, or the failure to return equipment, may result in the suspension of all equipment loans for a period determined at the discretion of library staff.


Save and print your work

  • Always save your work to an external storage device.
  • Delete any of your personal files from the laptop.
  • Need help with Wi-fi, IT, wireless printing and other library services? Get in touch with our Library Rovers.

Assistive equipment is designed to improve the use and experience for people with disabilities, and is available from the library for Swinburne students or staff living with a disability.

Find out more about borrowing assistive equipment.

Note: Due to COVIDSafe measures, equipment available for loan will be limited to laptops and calculators. 

You can borrow equipment including audio visual equipment, microphones and cameras from the library.

  • Book equipment in advance via email or at the service desk at any campus library.
  • Some equipment requires a loan authorisation from your teacher before borrowing (ask library staff for more information).
  • The standard loan period is usually 1 week (depending on the equipment type). 
  • Fines apply for the late return of equipment and are charged at an hourly rate.
  • Renewals of equipment are not permitted.
  • Overdue, lost or damaged items, or the failure to return equipment, may result in the suspension of all equipment loans for a period determined at the discretion of library staff.

Fines

Loan type Fine (A$)
7 days or more $0.75 per day
2 days or less $1.50 per day
4 hours $1.50 per hour
Equipment $1.50 per hour
  • You cannot borrow or renew items if you have any overdue loans or unpaid fines.
  • Fines for equipment accrue to the replacement cost of the item.
  • Fines for subject materials accrue to a maximum of $50 per item.
  • Fines for all other overdue items accrue to a maximum of $20 per item.
  • Equipment borrowing rights will be suspended for repeated or excessive overdue items.
  • The fine for any recalled items not returned by the due date is $1.50 per day.
  • Students otherwise eligible for inter-library loans, but who have exceeded the $80 fine limit in the previous 12 months, will have their requests refused.
  • Any item that is not returned within six weeks of the due date, or by the end of the academic year in which it was borrowed, whichever occurs sooner, will be considered as lost. The borrower will then be liable for the cost of its replacement plus an administration fee of $20.
  • If lost book charges are not paid within 15 days of issuing an invoice the library will commence formal debt collection action without further notice. The initial debt will be increased by the amount of all collection costs incurred by the library.
  • GST does not apply to overdue fines or payments for repair of damaged items but does apply to charges for lost items.
  • Renew items on or before the due date online or by phone (1300 794 628).
  • Check your account regularly.
  • Don't lend your card to anyone and don't borrow for others. You are responsible for all fines for items borrowed on your account.
  • Report lost ID cards to the library immediately.
  • Update your personal details by logging in to Current Students (log in required).

You can pay fines by phone, in person or by mail:

  • By phone — you can make Visa or Mastercard payments only by calling 1300 794 628.
  • In person — you can pay by EFTPOS, credit card or cheque at any of the campus libraries.
  • Part payments are available if you have outstanding charges of $30 or more.
  • The payment plan is recorded on your account.
  • A minimum of 10% of the total accrued charges must be paid fortnightly and a receipt will be issued.
  • You are allowed to continue borrowing.
  • Borrowing and part payment rights will be suspended if instalments are not paid or new fines are accrued in this period.
  • Outstanding charges must be paid in full by the end of the current semester.
  • We will check the shelves for six weeks. You may still borrow during this time.
  • If the item is not found we will invoice you for the replacement cost plus a $20 administration fee per item.
  • If you replace the item with a new or good second-hand copy, we will reduce the administration charge.
  • You cannot borrow or renew until outstanding charges are paid or the item is replaced.
  • If you find and return the item before we order a new copy, we will refund the replacement cost but not the administration fee. 

It is Swinburne policy that assessment results are withheld and students are ineligible to apply for any award from the University while any library item is overdue or fines are outstanding.

Please contact the library immediately if you have any concerns about overdue items or notices you have received.

Borrow from other libraries

Find out if you are eligible to borrow from other academic libraries or request an inter-library loan.

Search Australian libraries

Search Trove


Pick up your loan item in person

CAVAL membership

CAVAL membership allows you to borrow from other Victorian academic libraries.

Visit CAVAL


ULANZ membership

Borrow in person from participating Australian and New Zealand university libraries. Apply in person to the library you wish to borrow from.

Visit ULANZ

Eligibility for CAVAL and ULANZ membership

Most Swinburne students and staff, except Online Universities Australia (OUA) students, are eligible for CAVAL and ULANZ.

Enrolment at individual institutions is subject to the eligibility conditions applicable at each host library. Ask the library staff if you are unsure about your eligibility.

Registering for CAVAL

You must register in the CAVAL Reciprocal Borrowing Program to participate. Register at the Swinburne library service desk or by visiting a member library. Present a current Swinburne ID card or letter that confirms your current enrolment, a photo ID and proof of contact details to register. You will receive a CAVAL card valid until 28 February the following year. You must renew your CAVAL registration each year.

For more information, head to Library memberships.

Request a loan item

If you can't find the item you need at Swinburne or another CAVAL library, you may be eligible to request an inter-library loan.

Learn more about inter-library loans

Need more information about borrowing?

Ask us a question or leave us feedback by emailing library@swinburne.edu.au or calling 1300 794 628. Alternatively, complete this form so our team members can get in touch with you. 

Contact us