Borrowing For Distance Students

Borrowing Limits


Postgraduate students may borrow up to 10 items for 28 days. Please note that the loan period will be calculated from the time we issue the material to you, not from the time you receive the material.
Undergraduate students may borrow up to 10 items for 14 days.
When making a request, please allow at least ten days for processing. We have a small staff who are kept very busy. Unfortunately, we will be unable to fill any last minute requests. When filling in request forms please be sure to mark the not needed after box so we have an idea of how long to search for the information you require.
Please prioritise items on your request list and request more than you actually require in case some are not available.

Accessing books and articles


To borrow books or request articles please use our request form.
Before you request an article, please check if it is available through the databases. Check the name of the journal through Journal Titles A_Z to find out which database publishes articles from the journal.
Request forms can also be faxed or posted to the Distance Education Librarian.

Inter-Library Loan requests


For items not available from the Lake Macquarie Campus Library:
  • Students undertaking 300 level subjects or above may request directly items for Inter-Library loan using this online form.

  • Students undertaking 100 and 200 level subjects may request items for Inter-Library loan only through their respective lecturers

  • Students using the online form are requested to add their student ID number to the First Name field and to change the charge field to Faculty.


    • Renewal of Loans


    Loans may be renewed once as long as the material is not overdue and as long as it is not in high demand.
    Renewal requests can be made by:-
  • phoning during library hours before the due date (02) 4980 2137

  • emailing the library before the due date

  • faxing the library before the due date (02) 4980 2137

  • renew items yourself using My Library Record in Primo before the due date. See instructions below


    • My Library Record


    Go to Primo

  • Click Sign In
    • (Top right of the page)
  • The user ID is av + the student number on your ID card (eg av074621).

  • Your PIN is the day and month of your birthday (eg 2 May = 0205).

  • Click My Library

  • Always click Sign Out after accessing your details to maintain your privacy.


    • To View what you have on loan
  • Click on My Library in the upper menu bar.

  • Click on My Account.

  • Click on Loans to view a list of items you have on loan.


    • To renew your loans. (Overdue items will not be renewed.)
    Click on Renew or Renew All

    To view your loan history
    Click on Loans History to view a record of the items you have borrowed previously.

    To request an item which is currently on loan
  • Search and find the item in the Library Catalogue.

  • Click on Availability.

  • Sign In as outlined above (If you have already signed in to access other details, this step is not necessary.)

  • Click on Hold and fill in the details

  • Click Request


    • View the Tutorial (Takes only 90 seconds)

    Overdue Loans


    Overdue items will accrue fines. Each item more than 14 days overdue incurs a $22 fine. Because postal delays may occur, the date the item is posted will be used to determine whether an item is overdue.
    Students will be sent a bill for the replacement costs of items not returned to the library plus an additional $22.00 handling fee.
    Please note: No further requests will be filled while any items are overdue or any fines unpaid.
    As payment for fines the library will accept:
  • personal cheques or money orders made out to Avondale College Library

  • credit card payment.

    • To pay by credit card, please return (by post)a completed Library Remittance Form.

    Mailout of Loans


    The library will pay the outward postage for three mail-outs per student, per unit; the cost of the return postage is the responsibility of the student. Please think carefully when sending your requests. If the number of mail-outs (not the number of items requested) exceeds three per unit, you will be asked to pay the cost of postage both ways.
    To minimise damage, please return all loaned material in padded bags.

    Holds


    If requested, the library will place a hold on a book which you would like to borrow but which is already on loan. On its return to the library the book would then be issued and sent to you.
    OR
    To request an item which is currently on loan
  • Search and find the item in Primo

  • Click on Availability.

  • Sign In as outlined above (If you have already signed in to access other details, this step is not necessary)

  • Click on Hold and fill in the details

  • Click Request

    • View the Tutorial (Takes only 90 seconds)

    Recalls


    It may be necessary on occasions for the library to request that you return a book before it would normally be due back. When this happens fines will be applied to books that are sent more than 14 days after the recall date.

    Reciprocal Borrowing Arrangements


    Avondale College Library belongs to UNILINC libraries, a consortium of Australian libraries found mainly in New South Wales. As a student at Avondale you are entitled to borrow - in person - from other UNILINC libraries without paying a registration fee.

    For a list of UNILINC Libraries click on Change Catalogue on the Unilinc screen.

    UNILINC Conditions


    SCHEME OPERATION
  • The User is to agree to abide by the rules of host libraries.

  • The identification card used in the home library will normally provide access to borrowing privileges in host libraries.

  • Some libraries may require that the user produce a letter from the home library recommending that the user be granted borrowing privileges. This letter can be used in any participating library and should therefore be retained by the user.

  • Items borrowed must be returned to the host library.


    • RESPONSIBILITY OF RECIPROCAL BORROWER
  • The reciprocal borrower must be a registered borrower of the home library.

  • The reciprocal borrower must agree to honour the regulations of the host institution/s, return publications by the due date or upon request of the host library, pay any charges for late returns, lost or damaged items, and notify the home and host institutions at which she/he is enrolled as a borrower of any change of address.

  • Failure to honour these responsibilities may result in the borrower being suspended from borrowing from both the home and host libraries.

  • Borrowers must agree to reimburse the home institution for any debts discharged by the home institution on the borrowers' behalf.


    • Borrowing from non UNILINC Libraries



    Upon request Avondale College Library will provide you with a letter of introduction to other educational institutions within your area. This may enable you to register to borrow from them at student rates but it carries no promise that they will even allow you to borrow. Libraries have varying policies in this area.

    If you would like to suggest an item for purchase use this online form