Library

Accessing and Borrowing Library Resources

Loans and Requests
At CQUniversity we have a digital-first library collection that contains a broad range resources including ebooks, ejournals, videos, newspaper content and more that is available online where and when you need access. We have small print collections located at selected campuses. These physical items can be borrowed in person, or via request.

Accessing Library Items

All current students, staff and researchers (Research Higher Degree students and Research staff) can access the CQUniversity Library online collection using Library Search.

  1. Go to Library Search from the Library's home page.
  2. Search for the item.
  3. Make sure you are logged in.
  4. Select the item record.
  5. If it is a digital item there will be a View Online section, click any of the database links to access the item.
  6. If it is a physical item there will be a Location section
    • If you are at the listed location, you can grab the item off the shelf and check it out.
    • If it is at another campus select Request, complete and submit the form and you will be contacted when the item becomes available to pick up or has been posted. For items being posted the library covers this cost and provides a prepaid label for return.

If you can't find what you are looking for see the Accessing items not in the CQUniversity library section below.

To learn more about Library search, including how to filter digital or physical items, see our Library Search Help page.

Borrowing Physical Items

You can borrow books using the self-check automated machine in each Library. You will need a student ID card to borrow.

All Library users are responsible for the items they borrow. To ensure equitable use of Library items, you should return items by the due date shown in My Library Card. Library items will automatically renew (the due date will be extended) if they are not class set items or requested by another borrower, and there are no blocks on your Library account. All notices and communications from the Library will be sent to your university email address. You are responsible for checking email and returning items by the due date.

If you are an undergraduate student in good standing, you can borrow:

  • Unlimited items from the general collection for 21-day loan
  • Unlimited items from the short-term loan (textbook) collection for 7-day loan
  • Unlimited items from the distance collection (if you are an online student or borrowing is not available on your campus) for 14-day loan (includes 7 days for time in transit)
  • Journals for 21 days

If you are a VET student in good standing, you can borrow:

  • Unlimited items from the general collection for 21-day loan
  • Journals for 21 days
  • From a class set

If you are a postgraduate student in good standing, you can borrow:

  • Unlimited items from the general collection for 21-day loan
  • Unlimited items from the short-term loan (textbook) collection for 7-day loan
  • Unlimited items from the distance collection (if you are an online student or borrowing is not available on your campus) for 14-day loan (includes 7 days for time in transit)
  • Journals for 21 days
     

If you are a researcher in good standing, you can borrow:

  • Unlimited items from the general collection
  • Print journals for 21 days

You can also have:

  • Unlimited renewals from the general collection (if the item is not requested)
  • One hold per title for items currently on loan

If you are a staff member in good standing, you can borrow:

  • Unlimited items from the general collection
  • Print journals for 21 days

You can also have:

  • Unlimited renewals from the general collection (if the item is not requested)
  • One hold per title for items currently on loan

Staff are advised to contact their College/School to acquire their desk copies of textbooks or class set texts.
 

Accessing Items not in the Library

You can try searching in BrowZine or with LibKey Nomad to find an accessible version. Please find more information about this on Using BrowZine and LibKey Nomad page. 

If you are searching for an article that the library does not hold and are a full-time or part-time academic staff member who contributes to the research output of CQUniversity, or a student enrolled in a higher degree research program, PhD, EdD, Doctor of Business, Masters by Research or Professional Doctorate, you are eligible to access to submit a Document Delivery Form to the library. Please refer to FAQ “What is Document Delivery and how do I access it?” for more information.

If you are enrolled in undergraduate, honours, and coursework master's programs you can always contact the library to assist you in finding an alternative by emailing tasac@cqu.edu.au. 

Document Delivery is a Library service that provides researchers with access to resources, such as books and journal articles, that are not in the CQUniversity Library collections.

Items are supplied from within Australia where possible, or if necessary, from overseas. Some items are supplied as inter-library loans, while others are supplied as copies you can keep.

Use the Document Delivery Request Form to request a copy of an article/book chapter/conference paper OR to borrow material from another University library. Please submit one form per item and include full citation details e.g. 

  • For books: Full names of authors/editors, publication year, book title, and publisher name and location 
  • For journal articles: Full names of authors, publication year, article title, journal title, and volume, issue and page numbers. 

The completed form is automatically sent to the library. 

Most Document Delivery requests are filled within 5-10 days. Speed of delivery is affected by the location of the supplying library and whether or not the item is on loan. Some difficult-to-locate items may take several weeks.

CQUniversity is a member of University Libraries Australia and New Zealand (ULANZ) Borrowing Scheme. You can apply for reciprocal membership of other ULANZ member libraries, enabling you to borrow from them in person. There may be a membership fee. For details, check the library website of the university you are interested in borrowing from.

Students from other universities can borrow up to 10 items from the general collection for 21 days. However, you are restricted from borrowing from the Short Loan, Distance and Class Set Collections

Frequently Asked Questions

If the link to an electronic resource is broken in Library Search, please contact the library with the item details.

Loans will be renewed automatically unless the item is requested by another borrower or you are blocked from borrowing.

Library users with overdue items will be blocked from borrowing further items or renewing items. The Library will notify borrowers when they must return these items (or replace them with a copy of the same or a later edition) to avoid charges. If the items are not returned or replaced by this date, the borrower will be required to:

  • Pay a replacement charge of $150.00 (incl. GST)

Borrowing privileges will be reinstated once all overdue items have been returned and any appropriate charges have been paid.
 

The Library may declare an item lost if the item is four weeks overdue. Should an item be lost, long overdue, or damaged, the borrower is required to replace the item (the Library will accept a copy of the same or a later edition) OR pay a replacement charge of $150.00 (incl. GST). The replacement fee for laptops and multimedia equipment will be the current market price.