Borrowing rights

Information on what you can borrow, access and important loan periods.

Borrowing rights vary according to your membership type. Understand your responsibilities to borrow and access Library items, online resources and facilities. You agree to the Library conditions of use policy when using your UNSW ID or Library membership card.

Current membership is required to:

  • Borrow items
    • loan conditions and requests for some print collection, storage and multimedia items may vary
    • interlibrary loans (ILL) service - available to current UNSW staff and students
    • laptop loans - available to current UNSW students only
  • Access Library computers and online resources
    • some resources only available to current UNSW staff and students
    • some memberships access online resources only when using Library desktop computers (no remote or home access)
  • Book study spaces - available to current UNSW students only

See your membership type below for further information.

Undergraduates & foundation year
How Many: 
50
How long: 
4 weeks (unless recalled)
Renewals: 
Up to 16 weeks (unless recalled)
Online resources: 
Yes
Requests: 
Yes
Interlibrary loans: 
Yes
High Use Collection: 
Yes - limits apply
Postgraduate students
How Many: 
100
How long: 
6 months (unless recalled)
Renewals: 
Up to 2 years (unless recalled)
Online resources: 
Yes
Requests: 
Yes
Interlibrary loans: 
Yes
High Use Collection: 
Yes - limits apply
UNSW staff (including conjoint staff and Emeritus)
How Many: 
100
How long: 
6 months (unless recalled)
Renewals: 
Up to 2 years (unless recalled)
Online resources: 
Yes
Requests: 
Yes
Interlibrary loans: 
Yes
High Use Collection: 
Yes - limits apply
UNSW affiliated staff and visiting academics

A valid membership is required to access computers and borrow items. For information on how to apply for membership, see visiting or applying for a Library membership.

How Many: 
100
How long: 
6 months (unless recalled)
Renewals: 
Up to 2 years (unless recalled)
Online resources: 
Yes (contact UNSW IT)
Requests: 
Yes
Interlibrary loans: 
Yes
High Use Collection: 
Yes - limits apply
UNSW alumni

A valid membership is required to access computers, online resources and borrow items. For information on how to apply for membership, see visiting or applying for a Library membership.

The Alumni and External Engagement Office offers remote access to a limited number of databases for UNSW Alumni. Library membership is not required for this free service.

Note that the following resources are not available:

  • Online resources from CCH eBooks Collection, Factiva, Gartner, Lexis Advance, LinkedIn Learning, ProQuest eBooks, Westlaw and Australian Standards (SAI Global).
  • Requests for collection items from Library Storage, Paddington Storage and Off Site Storage.
How Many: 
20
How long: 
4 weeks (unless recalled)
Renewals: 
Up to 16 weeks (unless recalled)
Online resources: 
Library computers only
Requests: 
No
Interlibrary loans: 
No
High Use Collection: 
No
NIDA staff

A valid membership is required to access computers and borrow items. For information on how to apply for membership, see visiting or applying for a Library membership.

How Many: 
100
How long: 
6 months (unless recalled)
Renewals: 
Up to 2 years (unless recalled)
Online resources: 
Yes (contact UNSW IT)
Requests: 
Yes
Interlibrary loans: 
Yes
High Use Collection: 
Yes - limits apply
NIDA students

A valid membership is required to access computers, online resources and borrow items. For information on how to apply for membership, see visiting or applying for a Library membership.

Note that the following resources are not available:

  • Online resources from CCH eBooks Collection, Factiva, Gartner, Lexis Advance, LinkedIn Learning, ProQuest eBooks, Westlaw and Australian Standards (SAI Global).
How Many: 
50
How long: 
4 weeks (unless recalled)
Renewals: 
Up to 16 weeks (unless recalled)
Online resources: 
Library computers only
Requests: 
Yes
Interlibrary loans: 
No
High Use Collection: 
No
Borrowers from other universities (ULANZ)

A valid membership is required to access computers, online resources and borrow items. For information on how to apply for membership, see visiting or applying for a Library membership.

Note that the following resources are not available:

  • Online resources from CCH eBooks Collection, Factiva, Gartner, Lexis Advance, LinkedIn Learning, ProQuest eBooks, Westlaw and Australian Standards (SAI Global).
  • Requests for collection items from Library Storage, Paddington Storage and Off Site Storage.
How Many: 
20
How long: 
4 weeks (unless recalled)
Renewals: 
Up to 16 weeks (unless recalled)
Online resources: 
Library computers only
Requests: 
No
Interlibrary loans: 
No
High Use Collection: 
No
Community borrowers

A valid membership is required to access computers, online resources and borrow items. For information on how to apply for membership, see visiting or applying for a Library membership.

Note that the following resources are not available:

  • Online resources from CCH eBooks Collection, Factiva, Gartner, Lexis Advance, LinkedIn Learning, ProQuest eBooks, Westlaw and Australian Standards (SAI Global).
  • Requests for collection items from Library Storage, Paddington Storage and Off Site Storage.
How Many: 
20
How long: 
4 weeks (unless recalled)
Renewals: 
Up to 16 weeks (unless recalled)
Online resources: 
Library computers only
Requests: 
No
Interlibrary loans: 
No
High Use Collection: 
No
Retired UNSW staff

A valid membership is required to access computers, online resources and borrow items. For information on how to apply for membership, see visiting or applying for a Library membership.

Note that the following resources are not available:

  • Online resources from CCH eBooks Collection, Factiva, Gartner, Lexis Advance, LinkedIn Learning, ProQuest eBooks, Westlaw and Australian Standards (SAI Global).
  • Requests for collection items from Library Storage, Paddington Storage and Off Site Storage.
How Many: 
20
How long: 
4 weeks (unless recalled)
Renewals: 
Up to 16 weeks (unless recalled)
Online resources: 
Library computers only
Requests: 
No
Interlibrary loans: 
No
High Use Collection: 
No
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