Borrowing

Current students

Current students use their student ID card as a library card. Visit the Student ID card web page for more information on obtaining a card.

Interstate students

If you are a Flinders student studying interstate you can apply to borrow in person at a nearby participating university through the University Libraries of Australia and New Zealand (ULANZ) reciprocal borrowing scheme. Visit the ULANZ web page for more information. Conditions may apply. See home institution’s website for information regarding COVID-19 restrictions.

Students from other universities

Flinders University, the University of Adelaide and University of South Australia libraries also participate in a reciprocal borrowing scheme. As a Flinders student you can present your student ID card at the other two university’s libraries to borrow from their collections. Conditions may apply. See the library website of the relevant institution for information regarding COVID-19 restrictions.

As a student from the University of Adelaide or University of South Australia, you will need to present a current student ID or proof of enrolment to borrow from Flinders University libraries. Conditions apply – visit the COVID-19 and the Library page for more information.

High school students

Year 11 and 12 students can also register to borrow from the Flinders University libraries.

Alumni

Flinders University alumni can access the Alumni eLibrary and borrow physical library items.

Staff

Flinders University staff also use their staff ID card at the library and must have a current record on the University's Workday system before they will be able to borrow.

Community

Members of the public can apply to be community borrowers at Flinders University libraries.

The Library uses automatic renewals to extend your loans. Items are lent for an initial period (7 or 28 days). After the initial borrowing period, items are automatically renewed for a further 7 or 28 days unless:

• it is requested by another person. You will be notified by email, and the item must be returned by the end of the current renewal period.
• it is recalled by the Library (usually exceptional circumstances)
• you have reached the maximum loan period.

Requesting

Current Flinders University staff and students can place a request on:

• Items on loan to another person and when there is no other copy of the title available on the shelf. Once requested the person who has the item on loan will have to return the item by the next due date. The item will no longer be eligible for automatic renewals.
• Items at URRSA for pickup at another location. (There is no walk-in access at URRSA.)
• Items not available in our collection – Staff and postgraduate students may request items not held in our collection via the Document Delivery Service. Undergraduate students are not eligible for Document Delivery but are able to borrow in person from selected libraries under our Reciprocal Borrowing Scheme.

Note: You cannot place requests for items in Special Collections.
 

Collecting

You can collect your item from the Flinders Library Branch of your choice. Select your pick up location when you make your request. Eligible SendIt patrons can select Personal Delivery when making their request to have items delivered to either a home or other off campus location.

When you request an item as soon as it is returned and transferred to your pickup location, you will be advised via email that it is ready for you to collect from the hold shelf.

Flinders Library items on the hold shelf are kept on hold for 4 days. If items are not collected within 4 days they are either made available to the next requesting patron or returned to the shelves.

• Items may be returned at any branch of the Flinders library through the return chutes near the Library entrances.
• The returns chute outside the entrance of the Central Library is available 24 hours a day.
• There is also a returns box in the Concierge area at Tonsley and Victoria Square.
• Reciprocal borrowers (Flinders students and staff) must return items borrowed from University of South Australia or University of Adelaide libraries to the university from which they were borrowed.

The Library sends notices to help you manage your requests and loans. Notices for Flinders staff and students are sent to Flinders University email accounts.

Up-to-date information on borrowing and requesting activities can be found by logging into My account. It is your responsibility to return on time regardless of receipt of an email notification.

Recall notice

A recall notice is sent to inform you that a request has been placed on an item that is on loan to you.

Courtesy reminder notice

Courtesy reminder notices will be sent 1 day before the date an item is due back in the Library. 

Overdue notice

Overdue notices are sent once an item’s due date has passed. To avoid blocks on your account or lost item fees return your items by the due date.

Request notice

This indicates that items requested are available for collection. You can also opt to receive request notifications via SMS. Please login to My account and select Personal Settings to activate SMS alerts. 

Loan summary notice

This summarises the information in My account. The Library sends these at key times during the academic year.

Managing overdue loans

Flinders Library does not apply fines or fees for overdue loans. However, your borrowing may be affected if you return materials after the due date.

Flinders Library does not apply fines or fees for overdue loans. However, your borrowing may be affected if you return materials after the due date.

Blocks on your account

A block on your library account prevents you from borrowing, renewing or requesting library materials. A block may be applied when:

• You have 10 items overdue
• You have overdue items that are declared “lost” (30 days overdue)
  
• You have overdue items that are requested
  
• You have a sanction for an outstanding debt applied by the Student System

Information about blocks will display when you sign into My Account.

Non returned, lost or damaged items

The replacement cost must be paid for these items. Please attend to any notices for lost books received from the library as soon as possible. Check your library record regularly to ensure all loaned items have been returned.

Scholars remain in bad financial standing with the University until all fees are cleared. Where such fees are outstanding you may be blocked from enrolling and graduating until the issue has been resolved.

Please note that the library cannot accept any other copies as a replacement for lost items.

For any queries concerning lost or damaged items contact the Library.

Payment for lost books

Item replacement fees can be paid online at https://pay.flinders.edu.au/ItemReplacementFee.

Payments can be made 24/7 however any associated sanctions are cleared during standard business hours. Therefore, please allow between 1-2 business days for the sanction to be lifted against student accounts.

Please note that once payment has been made for lost items no refunds are available.

A reciprocal borrowing scheme exists between the libraries of the three South Australian universities. To participate in this scheme you need to present your current Flinders University ID card at either the University of Adelaide or University of South Australia library. If you wish to borrow from the University of Adelaide, you will be issued with a University of Adelaide library card.

Users of this service may borrow up to 20 standard loans at a time from each participating library. Borrowers are responsible for complying with all rules of the Library from which they are borrowing, this includes any charges for lost books. University of Adelaide and UniSA both charge a processing fee for lost books, even if the book is returned. Suspensions for overdue books or outstanding fees at any South Australian University library will block borrowing from all. Items should always be returned to the Library from which they were borrowed. More information about borrowing from the University of Adelaide or the University of South Australia.

University Libraries of Australia and New Zealand (ULANZ)

If you are a Flinders student studying interstate or in New Zealand you can apply for reciprocal borrowing rights at a University near you. Each University has a different reciprocal rights policy and you should contact the University you are interested in to find out if you are eligible. You will need to provide proof of identification, including your current Flinders University enrolment, to gain borrowing rights. See the University Library Australia and New Zealand  web site for more information.

Students enrolled in Open Universities are not eligible to use the scheme.

Flinders Library also offers SendIt - Off campus library service which will deliver materials to external students.