Borrowing rules
The borrowing of Library resources is governed by the Library Code of Practice Policy.
Access to physical items closed
From 3pm, 26 March our physical collections are temporarily closed until further notice. This includes special collections at Fryer Library. Online resources are available through Library Search as normal.
- You cannot borrow from the Library collection at this time.
- Items do not need to be returned until the collections reopen in the future.
Temporary changes to borrowing rules are in place for loans, requests and recalled items, and overdue items in response to COVID-19 (coronavirus). These changes are expected to last for several months. See the amended Library rules below.
What you can borrow/access and for how long
Temporary adjustments to borrowing privileges, effective 19 March 2020:
- Loan period: does not apply from 19 March. General loans will be auto renewed. Overdue fines will not accrue on any loans.
- Number of auto-renewals (unless recalled): does not apply from 19 March. General loans will be auto renewed. Loan recalls have been suspended.
- Number of requests (concurrent): requested items are available for pick-up for at least 10 days (up from 5). If you request an item that is currently on loan, we cannot guarantee when that item will be returned to the library.
| 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
You are responsible for all items you borrow from the UQ Library:
We recognise you may not be able to come to campus to return your loans. Where you have library loans at home for an extended period:
- take care of the items and do not lose them.
- return them to the Library when regular operations and rules resume
- contact us if you have any questions or concerns in relation to your loans.
- 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.
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).
| 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 | Notice not issued | The day the item is due | 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
Fines for overdue loans after 19 March 2020 will not be accrued and your account will not be blocked due to overdue loans.
Contact us if your account was blocked due to overdue loans or fines incurred before 19 March.
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.