All QUT staff and students are automatically registered as members of the Library. Staff who retire with at least ten years equivalent full time service may apply for Gold Card membership.
Information for Alumni and members of the community about using and joining the Library.
Find out about borrowing conditions, including:
Find out about other borrowing services, including:
- how to request material currently on loan
- how to have material from another campus library delivered for pick up at a branch library of your choice
- how to book audiovisual items
- borrowing a laptop
- all about placing, picking up and cancelling a hold
- borrowing forms (for QUT staff and students only)
What can I borrow and for how long?
You are welcome to borrow any books and other items, except those in special collections such as reference and periodicals, which are marked "Not for Loan".
| Membership category | Maximum number of loans allowed | Standard loan period | 7 day loans including videos and software | Course Reserve | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Undergraduate students (degree students, students enrolled in non-award courses) |
15 items | All standard loans are subject to recall if required by another borrower. You are guaranteed a minimum 8 day loan. | 28 days plus 2 renewals (unless recalled) | 7 days plus 2 Renewals (unless recalled) | 2 Hours use in Library |
| Undergraduate students - external | 15 items | 28 days plus 2 renewals (unless recalled) | 14 days plus 2 Renewals (unless recalled) | not applicable | |
| Postgraduate coursework students (postgraduate and graduate certificate students, postgraduate and graduate diploma students, masters by coursework) | 25 items | 28 days plus 2 renewals (unless recalled) | 7 days plus 2 Renewals (unless recalled) | 2 Hours use in Library | |
| Postgraduate coursework students - external | 25 items | 28 days plus 2 renewals (unless recalled) | 14 days plus 2 Renewals (unless recalled) | not applicable | |
| Staff, Gold Card holders and postgraduate research students (honours students, masters by research, EdD and PhD) | 40 items | 60 days plus 2 renewals (unless recalled) | 7 days plus 2 Renewals (unless recalled) | 2 Hours use in Library | |
Recalled loans
An item you have on loan may be recalled before the original due date if it is requested by another client. You will be notified by email if loan period is reduced.
You must return recalled items by the new due date. Overdue recalled items not returned attract extra 20 penalty points per day.
Renewing your loans
You can renew your loans online via the My Library Profile function on the library catalogue. You are able to renew your overdue books online:
- when the item hasn't been requested by another patron
- when the item is less than 8 days overdue
After this, you can phone or visit the Library Help Desk to arrange a renewal.
Library notices
All library notices (recalls, items ready to be collected, overdues etc) are sent via email to your QUT email account. The overdue alert email notice is sent when your loans are one day overdue. The second and final overdue notice is sent when standard loans are eight (8) days overdue or 7 day loans are four (4) days overdue.
Replacement cost letters will be sent via Australia Post.
Penalties for late return of material
When you do not return an item by the date due, you will begin accumulating penalty points for each day the item is overdue. Penalty points accrue at the following rate:
| Type of loan | Points per day overdue |
|---|---|
| Standard | 1 |
| 7 day | 10 |
| Course reserve | 10 per hour or part thereof |
| Recalled items | 20 |
The Library will send you a 1st overdue 'Alert' notice and then a 2nd/Final overdue notices for items. Your borrowing privileges may also be suspended when:
- standard loans are eight days overdue; or
- seven day loans are four days overdue; or
- recalled items are one day overdue; or
- your penalty points total 200 or more for Undergraduate, Postgraduate coursework students; or
- your penalty points total 500 points for Postgraduate research students; or
- Interlibrary Loans (if applicable) are eight days overdue.
Your borrowing privileges will be reinstated when you return the overdue material unless you have accumulated more than your penalty point limit.
When you have reached your penalty points limit, all borrowing privileges are suspended until you request to have them restored. You must request this in person at the Loans Desk. If the penalty point limit is reached on more than one occasion, a $20 Reinstatement of Borrowing Privileges Fee must be paid. QUT Staff have no penalty point limit and are not required to pay the Reinstatement fee.
When an item becomes six weeks overdue, you will be billed for the replacement cost of the material. If the item replacement cost is paid, your borrowing privileges will be reinstated.
Should non-payment or non-return of material continue, stronger penalties will apply eg. suspension of access to other information facilities or the withholding of a student’s results, academic transcript or award certificate.
Lost or damaged material
Please notify Library staff as soon as possible. You may be charged a replacement fee, which reflects the average book purchase price paid by the Library. If there are genuine extenuating circumstances, let Library staff know and they will try to help in any way
More information
For more information about the rules for using the Library and the borrowing conditions, please read