Borrowing rules
The borrowing of library resources is governed by the Library Code of Practice Policy.
Updates to borrowing rules
Our borrowing rules are gradually returning to normal. Please see the following summary of recent changes directly below and our full borrowing rules on this page.
Changes effective Wednesday 27 January 2021.
- General loans will continue to auto-renew unless they are recalled, you have A$20 or greater in library fines, or your account has been blocked or has expired.
Items that cannot be renewed will become overdue if they are not returned by their due date. We ask you to return your loans on time and contact us about overdue items if you are unable to return them.
- Fines for overdue loans and lost items have been reinstated. If you have overdue items, your account will also be blocked from borrowing activities (borrowing, renewing and requesting) until the items are returned. See overdue items for more information.
- Email reminders: we will recommence emailing reminder, overdue and lost notification emails to you as per Library notices (below, on this page).
- Loan recalls: 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.
- Processing of returns may take longer than usual. If a returned item has not been removed from your account within three working days, please contact us and we will investigate.
What you can borrow/access and for how long
Temporary change: your general loans will auto-renew unless they are recalled, you have A$20 or greater in library fines, or your account has been blocked or has expired.
| Membership type | No. of items | Loan period | No. of auto-renewals (unless recalled) |
No. of Requests (concurrent) |
No. of Document Delivery (per semester) | Access to eResources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduates | Unlimited general items, with a maximum of 5 High-Use (24 hour) loans | 28 days | 3 | 50 | 20 | Full |
| Coursework postgraduates | Unlimited general items, with a maximum of 5 High-Use (24 hour) loans | 28 days | 3 | 50 | 20 | Full |
| Remote Undergraduates and Remote Coursework postgraduates | Unlimited general items with a maximum of 5 High-Use (24 hour) loans | 28 days | 3 | 100 | 20 | Full |
| Research postgraduate, UQ staff | Unlimited general items with a maximum of 5 High-Use (24 hour) loans | 84 days | 3 | Unlimited | 100 | Full |
|
Hospital staff |
Unlimited general items with a maximum of 5 High-Use (24 hour) loans |
84 days |
3 |
Unlimited | 100 | Library computers |
| UQ ICTE | Unlimited general items with a maximum of 5 High-Use (24 hour) loans | 28 days | 3 | 50 | N/A | Full |
| UQ Alumni | Unlimited general items | 28 days | 3 | 20 | N/A | Alumni & Library computers |
| Rural Clinical School Hospital Staff (non-UQ) | Unlimited general items | 28 days | 3 | 20 | N/A | Library computers |
| Unlimited general items | 28 days | 3 |
20 | N/A | Library computers | |
| Fryer Visitor | Unlimited Fryer Library items | To end of day | N/A | 20 | N/A | Library computers |
Television recordings are only available to UQ students and staff.
External and remote students have some modified borrowing privileges.
Your responsibilities
We understand this is a difficult time and that you may not be able to return loans quickly. We ask that you:
- contact us if you have any questions or concerns in relation to your loans
- return items to the Library that you no longer require or when they are due back
- take care of the items and do not lose them.
You are responsible for all items you borrow from the UQ Library:
- check your email regularly for reminders and overdue notices from the library
- return your loans by the due date
- items must be returned in the same condition in which they are borrowed
- contact library staff if you are unable to return items by the due date
- return items if you plan to be away for an extended period
- return high-use items at the Library where they were borrowed
- items borrowed from Toowoomba, Rockhampton, Hervey Bay and Bundaberg libraries must be returned to the library from which they were borrowed
Failure to comply with the conditions of borrowing may invoke penalties under the Library Code of Practice.
Borrow with your UQ ID card
Your UQ ID card is your Library Card. Present your UQ ID card/library card (for community members) when borrowing. You should not share your card. See the Student Identification Cards Policy.
New Community and Reciprocal library members will receive their Library membership card in the mail.
Update your membership details
How to update your Library membership details.
Library notices
The Library sends out a number of courtesy reminders and overdue notices about items on loan.
All notices are sent to your email account (for UQ staff and students they will be sent to your UQ email account).
From 27 January 2021, all email notices have resumed including reminder and overdue notices and lost notification emails.
| Loan category | Courtesy Notice | Reminder Notice | Overdue Notice | Lost notification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General, including Semester | 5 days before due date (if the item cannot be automatically renewed) | The day the item is due | 7 days after due date | 14 days after due date |
| 7 days | Notice not issued | The day the item is due | 7 days after due date | 14 days after due date |
| 3 days | Notice not issued | The day the item is due | 7 days after due date | 14 days after due date |
| 24 hour | 1 hour before the item is due | The day the item is due | 1 hour after the item is due and 7 days after due date | 14 days after due date |
| End of day | Notice not issued | Notice not issued | 7 days after due date | 14 days after due date |
| Recalled | Notice issued as required | The day the item is due | 7 days after due date | 14 days after due date |
Overdue fines and penalties
From 27 January 2021, fines for overdue and lost loans have been reinstated. Additionally, your account will be blocked from borrowing activities if you have overdue loans. The block will be removed once the items are returned and checked in.
Overdue fines apply for late loans. Your borrowing privileges will be suspended if you have:
- an overdue loan
- overdue fines equal to or exceeding $20.
See how to pay your fine and return all overdue items to restore your borrowing privileges.
mySI-net block for very overdue items
A block on your mySI-net record will be applied for very overdue items. This block may:
- prevent you from enrolling
- prevent you from signing up to classes
- it may also prevent you from obtaining an academic transcript
The block will be removed once all overdue items are returned.