For UNSW staff and students, your UNSW ID card is your library card to borrow items, access 24/7 study space and use other Library items and facilities.
For all other clients, there are various membership options available to consider before you apply for a library card. Consider which option provides the access to borrow Library items and access online resources that you need.
As a Library member, you agree to the conditions of borrowing and understand your responsibilities when using your UNSW Library card.
Rights
Borrowing rights vary according to your membership type. Find out what you can borrow from UNSW Library.
Requesting items in Off Site Storage and for Scan and deliver are temporarily suspended.
Requests are available to UNSW staff and students including NIDA UNSW Library members. You can request an item that is on loan to someone else, in Library Storage, in Paddington Storage, in Off Site Storage or at another UNSW campus library.
Staff, postgraduate and honours students can also request an item not held in the collections at UNSW Library (Sydney) and Academy Library (Canberra). For more information see Interlibrary loans.
Note:
- Items currently on the shelf cannot be requested for collection at the same Library location or campus.
- Items out on loan can be requested for collection at the same Library location or another campus.
- Items in Library Storage or Paddington Storage can be requested for collection at the same Library or another campus.
- Requests are not available for clients with ULANZ, Alumni or community membership.
UNSW Library may cancel your request(s) if:
- you have placed a hold on more than one copy of the same item (only one copy of the item will be supplied to you)
- you currently have the item on loan and have requested another copy of the same item
- you have lost your borrowing privileges due to overdue items or incurred fines
If you have any questions about your request, contact us by submitting an Ask a question form.
How do I request a Library item?
- Sign in to myLibrary and search the Library collection
- Select the item record and navigate to the Get It section
- Select Request then select the Pickup Location
- Select REQUEST to confirm
- You can check the status of your request in myLibrary at any time
How do I request an article for Scan and deliver?
- Sign in to myLibrary and search the Library collection to find the journal title
- Select the item record and navigate to the Get It section
- Identify the volume and issue for the article and select Scan and deliver an article from this issue
- If you do not see the volume/issue you require but the year of journal is held, select Scan and deliver an article from an issue not listed below
- Complete the form with all the details of the article
- Read the copyright declaration and tick the box to agree
- Select REQUEST to confirm
- You can check the status of your request in myLibrary at any time
When will my requested item be available for collection?
- Scan and deliver article requests are processed weekly - allow up to 7 days for delivery to your UNSW email address, as a high resolution, colour, OCR'd PDF document
- If the item is currently on loan or if there are multiple requests on an item, you will be placed in a queue - items with multiple requests have a loan period of 3 days
- You will be notified by email when the item is ready to be collected
- Collect the item from the UNSW Library location you nominated in your request:
- Main, Law and Paddington Library - from the Reservation shelf in the High Use Collection (HUC) room
- Main Library In Library Use Only items - ask Help Zone staff
- UNSW Canberra, Academy Library - ask Service Desk staff
- You will need to collect the item within the hold period before it is returned to the shelf or is placed on hold for the next client in the queue
- Standard loan items - 5 days
- High demand items - 2 days
Loans can be renewed for up to 16 weeks, unless they are recalled. For UNSW staff members and postgraduate students, loans can be renewed for up to 24 months, unless recalled.
An item can be renewed if:
- it has not been requested by another client
- you have no outstanding fines
An item cannot be renewed if:
- it is overdue (you will need to return the item to restore borrowing privileges)
- you have other overdue item(s) on loan
- the ILL book strap indicates item is not renewable (see Interlibrary loans)
Note: If you return overdue items outside of staffed hours, you may not be able to borrow again until the next working day
UNSW Library items can be renewed via:
- logging in to myLibrary or
- contact us
Automatic Loan Renewal
If you are an undergraduate student, postgraduate student or UNSW staff, your loans will be automatically renewed 7 days before their due date provided they meet automatic loan renewal criteria.
Your loans will not qualify for automatic renewal if:
- Your loan is an interlibrary loan, UNSW thesis, DVD, equipment, short loan or valuable item
- Your loan has been recalled, is overdue, has a lost or claimed returned status
- Your loan has reached the maximum loan renewal duration
- You have blocks on your account or Library fines over $19
- Your Library account will expire soon
The due date of an item on loan to you may change if the item is requested by someone else. You will receive a notification that the due date has changed. You will be asked to return the item to the Library within 7 days. For specific information related to items not from UNSW see Interlibrary loans.
Loan periods change to three days when an item is requested by more than one client. Fines apply for late return of recalled items. Check myLibrary regularly for changes to due dates.
Notifications for UNSW students and staff are sent to your official UNSW email account. Notifications for non-UNSW clients are sent to the email address nominated on your application form.
Returning items
Remember to return items before the due date, your account expires or you are graduating
Return Interlibrary loans and Standard loan items, including requested and recalled items, through the return chutes at any of the Library locations or by post. There may be a delay before items are removed from your record. No fines will be incurred during this delay.
Return the following items at the originating Library where you borrowed them from:
- High demand course items (7 day loans) via return chutes.
- High Use Collection (HUC) items must be returned during opening hours. Use the self-check machine and place on the adjacent trolley or table in the High Use Collection room.
- Loan laptops must be returned to the same self-service loan lockers.
- Accessories, valuable items and anatomical models must be returned to the Help Zone during staff hours.
Return chutes
| Library | Return location - During opening hours |
| Main Library, Kensington | Inside the Main Library entrance An additional after hours return chute at the back of the Library near Tutorial rooms 176A & 176B |
| Law Library, Kensington | Help Zone An additional after hours return chute at the back of the Library, Union Road |
| UNSW Paddington Library, Paddington | Help Zone |
| Library | Return location - External / After hours |
| Main Library, Kensington | Back of the Library near Tutorial rooms 176A & 176B |
| Law Library, Kensington | Back of the Library, Union Road |
| UNSW Paddington Library, Paddington | Near Gate 1 on Greens Road |
External chutes are available 24hrs a day.
Returning by post
You may also return items by post to the address below. Ensure you allow enough time for delivery to the Library by your due date.
Book Return
UNSW Library
Sydney NSW 2052 Australia