Borrowing
Use your Federation University ID card to borrow and access materials from the Federation Library.
If you're not a current Federation University student or staff member, visit our membership page to see if you can join the library to access our collections.
You can request an item that is currently on loan or is from another campus, including the Ballarat off-site store.
You can request items via the Federation Library catalogue, using the 'Request' button at the top of the entry for the item you require.
- Search QuickSearch or the Library catalogue.
- Select the item you want and click on the title to access the full record for the item.
- Click on the 'Request' button at the top of the page.
- Enter your username and password.
- From the drop-down list, select your campus as your 'Pickup Location' or select 'Postal Delivery'. For postal delivery, make sure you include your address in the notes.
- Press 'Submit'.
If you have selected to pick up your items on campus, you will be emailed a collection notice when your item is ready for collection.
Request journal articles from other campuses
Undergraduate students can request copies of journal articles held in print at campus libraries to be emailed to them. Request a journal article or book chapter >
Postgraduates can use the Document Delivery service.
You can return your library items by:
- placing them in the designated book return chutes at any campus library
- posting them to any campus library.
Your items will be automatically renewed up to 20 times as long as no holds have been placed on your items and you have no long overdue items.
Exceptions to automatic renewals include laptops, tablets, and other equipment.
You can check the status of your loans anytime via your My Library login or the MyLibrary! app.
Borrowed items become overdue if they are not returned by closing time on the due date. You will be sent overdue notices by email.
If you think you have damaged or lost an item you borrowed, please contact us as soon as possible.
You are responsible for the replacement cost, plus a processing fee, for any item deemed overdue, lost or damaged. You are invoiced for an item once it's six weeks overdue.
If you believe the item has been returned or was stolen, you can complete a statutory declaration (doc, 94kb) in order to be considered for exemption. We will accept a statutory declaration only as a last resort.
For more information about overdue and lost resources, see the Library terms of use (pdf, 160kb).
View your account
Your MyLibrary account displays helpful information including how many items you have checked out, how to renew, and how to opt in to your reading history.
What can you borrow and for how long?
Borrowing limits vary depending on your membership type. Check your membership type below.
Some general limits apply to all borrowers:
- The Equipment and Realia collections can only be borrowed in person by Federation University students and staff.
- The Textbook collection can only be borrowed by Federation University students and staff.
- The Blainey, Creedy, Journal, Law, Reference and Research collections are not available for loan.
- Copyright regulations restrict non-Federation University borrowers from borrowing off-air video and audio recordings from within the Multimedia collection.
| Loan max | Automatic renewals | General collections | Recreation reading collection |
|---|---|---|---|
100 items | 20 | 14 days | 42 days |
Students studying online and off-campus have an extended borrowing period to allow for postage of items.
Loan max | Automatic renewals | General collections | Recreation reading collection | Multimedia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
100 items | 20 | 42 days | 42 days | 14 days |
Loan max | Automatic renewals | General collections | Recreation reading collection | Multimedia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
100 items | 20 | 42 days | 42 days | 14 days |
There are three schemes that allow staff and students from other Australian tertiary institutions to borrow from the Federation University Library free of change. The schemes are:
- CAVAL Reciprocal Borrowing Program (Victorian institutions)
- University Libraries of Australia and New Zealand (ULANZ) (Australia and New Zealand institutions)
- TAFE National Reciprocal Borrowing Scheme (TAFE NRBS)
Students enrolled via Open Universities Australia are not eligible for borrowing. To borrow from our collection you will need to apply for a community borrower membership.
Loan max | Automatic renewals | General collections | Recreation reading collection |
|---|---|---|---|
10 items | 3 | 14 days | 14 days (2 weeks) |
Loan max | Automatic renewals | General collections | Recreation reading collection |
|---|---|---|---|
50 items | 3 | 42 days | 14 days (2 weeks) |
Loan max | Automatic renewals | General collections | Recreation reading collection |
|---|---|---|---|
10 items | 3 | 14 days | 14 days (2 weeks) |
VCE Students
Loan max | Automatic renewals | General collections | Recreation reading collection |
|---|---|---|---|
10 items | 3 | 14 days | 14 days (2 weeks) |
VCE Staff
Loan max | Automatic renewals | General collections | Recreation reading collection |
|---|---|---|---|
10 items | 3 | 14 days | 14 days (2 weeks) |
| Loan max | Automatic renewals | General collections | Recreation reading collection |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 3 |
14 days (2 weeks) | 14 days (2 weeks) |
Your alumni library membership grants you access to selected EBSCOhost databases and a range of physical resources held at our libraries.
A user ID and password will be provided when your Federation Alumni Library membership has been processed.
Australian partner institute students
| Loan max | Automatic renewals | General collections | Recreation reading collection |
|---|---|---|---|
100 items | 20 | 14 days | 42 days |
Australian partner institute students cannot borrow items from the Textbook, Realia or Multimedia collections.
Request items
You can request books held in Main, Quarto, Recreation Reading, or TRC collections at any of the Federation Library campuses. You will need a Federation student card in order to request hard copy books. If you do not have a Federation student card, please contact your partner-provider institution.
Overseas partner institute students
Overseas partner institute students have access to electronic resources through the Library, including databases, electronic journals, and ebooks. Search for electronic resources by keyword in QuickSearch, or browse our A-Z of library databases.
Books and other physical materials cannot be borrowed by students outside Australia.
Australian partner institute staff
Loan max | Automatic renewals | General collections | Recreation reading collection | Multimedia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
100 items | 20 | 42 days | 42 days | 14 days |
Australian partner institute staff cannot borrow items from the Textbook, Realia or Multimedia collections.
Overseas partner institute staff
Overseas partner institute staff have access to electronic resources through the Library, including databases, electronic journals, and ebooks. Search for electronic resources by keyword in QuickSearch, or browse our A-Z of library databases.
Books and other physical materials cannot be borrowed by staff outside Australia.