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New students' guide to the library

New to Federation University? This guide outlines the library's services and resources

Borrowing

If you want to grab something from the shelf at your campus library, there are a few things you need to know first.

  • Record the entire call number. If you only have the first part, then you might not find the item.
  • Determine what collection it's in and where this item might be.
    • What it might be - Multimedia, Realia or the Teaching Resource Collection (TRC)?
      • Realia and the TRC might be in a different part or level of your campus library
    • Where it might be - which campus library and is it Main or Quarto?
  • The Library uses the Dewey Decimal system to arrange books by subject, but all you need to know that Dewey is a numerical system to assign a unique number to an item which allows someone to find it on a shelf.
    • Some call numbers are super-short, with as few as 3 digits, while others are intimidatingly long and in excess of 17 digits and characters. 
    • DON'T get put off by a long number - break it into manageable chunks by starting off with the first three numbers.
    • Once you start getting into the letter range of the call number you're getting close and might find the book more easily by looking for the title or author name on the spine of the book.
  • The end of each shelf has a small sign with the call number range for each side of the shelf, for Main and Quarto books.
  • The library shelving system is arranged in a way that if you follow an ascending range of numbers along a shelf, you will do a U-turn at the end of that shelf and turn to the beginning of the next shelf behind you.
  • Ask for help if you can't find an item. Library staff can check
    • Return trolleys
    • To-be-shelved area
    • Lending system to see if someone borrowed it while you were looking

infographic describing how to find a physical item in the library

Students can 'place a hold' or request an item (print book or multi-media)

  • that is from another Federation University library campus
    • The Federation University Library will send the item/s between campus libraries free of charge
  • that is currently on loan
    • Some books such as textbooks are in high demand and rarely get returned during a semester, so if you need access to the book you must 'place a hold' on the book to be in line to borrow it.

When the item is available at your campus library, a notification is sent to your student email account to let you know it has arrived, or you can check your MyLibrary! app. 

Ask at your campus library where the Hold Shelf is situated.

When you have finished with the item, return it to your campus library and the library staff will take care of the rest.

Conditions of borrowing

  • If the book is listed as AVAILABLE and from another campus library, you will receive it within 3-5 working days after placing your Hold. Check your Federation email account for notification. 
  • If a book is ON LOAN, you can follow the above process to be placed in queue for when the book is available.
  • Please note that Federation Reference, Multimedia, Reserve or Special Collection items are limited to on-campus lending.    

Loan periods, renewals and late returns

Do you reside outside of Australia?

  • Print or media items will not be posted overseas
  • Any items requested via BONUS+ will not be posted overseas
  • You can request a copy of the table of contents of books to check whether you would like a chapter delivered to you.

The BONUS+ initiative allows Federation University students to borrow books free-of-charge from other participating university libraries, without the need to travel.

  1. Start searching BONUS+ on the Library homepage by clicking on the green BONUS+ tab and entering keywords or a book title.

    screen capture of BONUS+ tab on the library homepage
     
  2.  When you identify a book in the list of results, click on the title to see the full view and then click on "REQUEST THIS ITEM"

    screen capture of BONUS+ record indicating where to request item

    It can be useful to click on the link above to see which participating library has that item, and if it is currently available for loan
     
  3. Select "Federation University" from the drop down list on the next page and then enter
    • Your name as it appears on your Student ID card
    • The barcode number that appears on your Student ID card
    • Choose a pickup location from the drop down list
    • Click on the 'submit' button to send the request
      screen capture of BONUS+ fields to enter student name and barcode number to request item
       
  4. When the book arrives at your campus a notification will be sent to your student email.
    • Students should allow up to 7 working days for a book to become available for loan at your campus
    • When finished with the book, return it to your campus library, and the library staff will take care of the rest.

Find out more about BONUS+ here.

CAVAL reciprocal borrowing program (Victoria)

CAVAL reciprocal borrowing program is a free Victorian borrowing program allowing students and staff of participating libraries to borrow material from other Victorian academic and TAFE libraries.

You can easily register at any CAVAL member library when you go there or ask at your own University or TAFE Library. You will be given a CAVAL card which is valid until the last date shown on your institution's ID card or the 28th February of the following year.

If you already have a CAVAL card and wish to enrol at a library after the date shown has passed, you must have your CAVAL card re-authorised. This can be done at any member library, and provided you are still in good standing, your card will be re-authorised.

Please note that you will be required to present proof of your current enrolment. You may do this as often as is necessary throughout the year.

CAVAL Reciprocal Borrowing program FAQs (pdf, 180kb)

Find out about other reciprocal borrowing schemes from this page.

Electronic delivery of print material

Undergraduate students

You can request electronic copies of journal articles and book chapters which are only available in print. Contact the Library for further assistance.

Postgraduate students

Use the Document Delivery service to request web delivery of journal articles and book chapters only available in print or not held by Federation University.  For information on other library services for postgraduates see the Library Staff and postgraduates page.

How do I ... ?

image for decoration purposes

Click on each drop down for an explanation

Borrowing guidelines for Federation TAFE and undergraduate students -  

100 item borrowing limit

14 day (2 week) borrowing period

eligible items will auto-renew up to 20 times (items such as laptops and other equipment are not eligible)

For more information go to

Students and staff are able to opt in to using the Reading History , which keeps a record of every item borrowed from the Federation University Library, from the time you turn on the Reading History .

Students and staff can view and renew their currently borrowed items through MyLibrary login on the library homepage, or through the MyLibrary! app that can be downloaded and installed on an Apple or Android device.

To login use your standard Federation username and password that is used to access Moodle, email or MyStudent Centre

Hard-copies of journals cannot be borrowed but the relevant article/s may be photocopied in the library

However, students can request electronic copies of journal articles or book chapters of books in eReadings or closed access collections .

Read more about how to make requests and any conditions of making a request at the following link.

The Library has access to an extensive collection of electronic journals through databases we subscribe to. These journals are available by searching:

Staff and students can submit a request for the library to purchase books.

Find out more information from here.

 

Use this link to suggest a title for purchase

  • You will be prompted to login with your username and password\
  • Then fill out this form

Remember, you can always ask for help from a librarian using the chat pop-out at the side of this guide

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