We’re excited to announce the gradual return of some of our collections and spaces. From Monday 15 June, print collections will gradually start to reopen on a self-service basis. You need your UQ ID card to borrow. Face-to-face service points remain closed for now but we're here to help you online.
Latest updates
We will let you know when other locations and services reopen.
28 October
We are changing some of our borrowing rules, effective 28 October, to ensure that high demand items are returned to the Library and able to be borrowed and returned more equitably:
- High-Use items (24 hour loans). Items will become overdue if not returned on time. We will email you an overdue notice and your account will be blocked from borrowing activities (borrowing, renewing, and requesting) until the item is returned. Please return any overdue items to the Library from which they were borrowed.
- Loan recalls are restarting. When an item you have on loan is requested by another client, we will notify you that your loan has been recalled by email. This notice will advise of any due date changes, with a maximum recall period of 14 days unless the item is due back earlier.
When a recalled item becomes overdue your account will be blocked from borrowing activities until the item is returned. You may return these items to any of our Libraries.
We understand this is a difficult time and that you may not be able to return loans quickly. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns in relation to these changes.
10 September
The UQ/Mater McAuley Library is closing permanently on 11 September 2020.
17 August
The library space and collection at Herston Health Sciences Library are closed until further notice. We are available to support you online. The training room is available 24/7 with your UQ ID card from the corridor outside the Library.
- Contact us for general support
- Contact your librarian about training, consultations, and literature searches
- Services for hospital staff
3 August
AskUs service points at Central Library, JK Murray Library (Gatton) have reopened. See AskUs: We're here to help you online and on-campus for more information.
17 July
The ability to request items (below, on this page) has been restored in Library Search.
13 July
UQ/Mater McAuley Library print collection, study space and AskUs service point reopened.
6 July
Architecture and Music Library print collection and study space, and Herston Health Sciences Library print collection, study space and AskUs service point reopened.
22 June
JK Murray Library (Gatton campus) and PACE Health Sciences Library print collections reopened.
15 June
Central Library, Dorothy Hill Engineering and Sciences Library, and the Walter Harrison Law Library print collections reopened.
Key points
- The print collections at these libraries are open on a self-service basis. You will need your UQ ID card to borrow. Collection hours vary, visit our opening hours for details.
- You can borrow and return items at these locations (read more information about borrowing below)
- The High-Use sections at Central and Dorothy Hill libraries are accessible using your UQ ID card. Touch your card to the reader for entry. Press the button near the door to exit.
- You can study on levels three and four of Central Library, including the postgraduate study space, with physical distancing
- Face-to-face service points remain closed at most libraries for now, but we're here to help you online
Practise physical distancing and healthy hygiene
Please stay home if you are sick. When you visit:
- comply with all signage and instructions in our locations
- observe physical distancing, including only having one person per row of books and keeping a safe distance when queueing at self-checkout machines
- wash your hands regularly.
See Library COVID-19 updates for more information.
Self-service borrowing
- UQ students and staff borrow with your UQ ID card. Some collections are available 24/7.
- Library members borrow with your library card (excluding high-use collections) during building hours.
Collection hours vary, visit our opening hours for details.
How to borrow
- Use your UQ ID or library card to borrow at a self-checkout machine
- Loan receipts will be emailed to your UQ email account
- Contact us if you need help
Returning your loans
You can return your items in person or by post.
In-person
Use the:
- return chute or return shelves at Central Library. See Returning loans in Central Library for details
- automatic return shelves in Dorothy Hill Engineering and Sciences Library or the Walter Harrison Law Library
- return chute at the JK Murray Library at Gatton
- return chute at PACE Health Sciences Library
- external return chute at Architecture and Music Library
- external return chute located at the rear of UQ/Mater McAuley Library (available until 4pm, Wednesday 30 September 2020).
Library members: use the book machine in Central Library during building hours.
By post
Post items to:
UQ Library Processing Room
Building 12, St Lucia campus
The University of Queensland
QLD 4072
Cleaning print materials
Upon return, items will be cleaned and quarantined for 24 hours before they are re-shelved.
Processing times for returns have increased
Items may take additional time to be cleared from your account once they are returned. If items are still listed on your library account three business days after you have returned them, please contact us and we will investigate. You will not incur any library fines and will still be able to borrow while your returns are being processed.
Temporary changes to borrowing rules
Temporary changes to borrowing rules remain in place. This means you aren’t required to return your loans yet. As our operations return to normal, we will contact you if you have items on loan to ask you to return them.
Library fines and item recalls remain suspended for now.
Item requests have been restored
From 17 July you can request items in Library Search:
- Where the item is available it will be delivered to the Requested Items section you select for pickup. We will let you know your item is ready to collect by email.
- Requesting items that are unavailable in Library Search: temporary changes to borrowing rules mean that clients are not required to return their loans to the library yet. If you request an item that is unavailable, it will not be recalled and there may be a long wait for your requested item to be returned. We will email you when it is ready for pickup.
See Request items for more information.
Other library locations and services
Library 24/7 study spaces continue to operate as normal with a lower maximum occupancy for physical distancing. See our opening hours for details. Visit study space availability to find a study space.