Your borrowing conditions depend on who you are and where you are located. All USC students may request items from the USC Sunshine Coast General Collection.
Am I able to borrow from the library?
| Undergraduate students | Honours, Postgraduate and HDR students |
Staff | Alumni | External borrowers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Collection | 20 items for 14 days * Maximum renewal period 42 days |
40 items for 28 days * Maximum renewal period 84 days |
40 items for 28 days * Maximum renewal period 84 days |
5 items for 7 days (excluding DVDs) Maximum renewal period 21 days |
5 items for 7 days (excluding DVDs) Maximum renewal period 21 days |
| Reserve Collection | 5 items for 2hrs | 5 items for 2hrs | 20 items for 2hrs | No | No |
| 3-Day Loan | 5 items for 3 days Maximum renewal period 9 days |
5 items for 3 days Maximum renewal period 9 days |
5 items for 3 days Maximum renewal period 9 days |
No | No |
| 1-Day Loan | 3 items for 1 day Maximum renewal period 3 days |
3 items for 1 day Maximum renewal period 3 days |
3 items for 1 day Maximum renewal period 3 days |
No | No |
| Curriculum Collection | Education Students 3 items for 14 days* Maximum renewal period 42 days |
Education Students 3 items for 28 days* Maximum renewal period 84 days |
Education Academics 20 items for 28 days* Maximum renewal period 84 days |
No | No |
| Databases | Yes | Yes | Yes | Selected Databases | On-campus at USC Sunshine Coast, USC Fraser Coast and USC Caboolture libraries |
| ILL & Doc Del | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Printing | Yes | Yes | No | Yes - Create a Guest Account with MyPrint | Yes - Create a Guest Account with MyPrint |
* A shorter loan period of seven days apply to items with multiple requests.
Renew
You may renew an item providing it is not billed, there are no holds on it, and you do not have any outstanding fees. Penalties apply for overdue items.
Material can be renewed:
- online from My Library Account
- using the self checkout unit
- at your campus library
Overdue notices, fines and recalls
Loans not returned or renewed by the due date are considered overdue. If you have overdue loans you may not borrow. Fines are calculated at check in.
Fines:
- Fines do not apply for overdue items on loan to USC staff and students
- $1 per item per day will apply for requested items
- $1 per item per day will apply for items on loan to non-USC clients. Maximum fine $20 per item
- replacement costs of $110, plus applicable fines, will apply for non-returned or damaged items
You are responsible for ensuring your loans are returned by the due date. As a courtesy, library notices for USC students will be sent to their USC email account for overdue items. External borrowers will receive a courtesy reminder to their nominated email address. The Library is not responsible for non-receipt.
- for General Collection items a review notice is sent 2 days before an item becomes overdue
- no review notices are sent for items with a 1-day or 3-day loan period
Pay fees at USC Sunshine Coast using Eftpos – no cash or part payments accepted. Borrowers at USC Fraser Coast, USC Caboolture, USC SouthBank, USC Gympie, or the Sunshine Coast Health Institute can pay fees by contacting the Library Help Desk at USC Sunshine Coast on +61 7 5430 2804.
Contact Tel: +61 7 5430 2804 or email LibraryHelp@usc.edu.au to enquire about an overdue notice, missing items or to explain extenuating circumstances.
All loans are subject to recall. An item may be recalled at any time if it is required urgently for the Reserve Collection or for teaching. A fine of A$20 will apply if an item is not returned within 7 days of the date it is recalled.
Place hold
USC students and staff may place a hold on General Collection items that are already on loan.
There is no limit to the number of holds that you can place. Place a hold via the Library's online Catalogue.
Search the Library Catalogue, and if the item you want is on loan, login then select the "Place Hold" link. Follow the instructions on screen and select your pickup location.
When the item arrives you will be sent a notification to your USC email account. Collect and borrow your hold from the shelf near the self-checkout machines. Items from the General Collection are held for 7 days. 3-day loans are held for 3 days. 1-day loans are held for 1 day.
USC Fraser Coast, USC Caboolture, USC Gympie, USC SouthBank, the Sunshine Coast Health Institute and the Thompson Institute
Students enrolled and staff members working at, USC Fraser Coast, USC Caboolture, USC Gympie, USC SouthBank, the Sunshine Coast Health Institute and the Thompson Institute may request items from the USC Sunshine Coast General Collection using the Inter-site Request Form.
Items requested via the Inter-site request service will normally be delivered within two working days (Monday-Friday) of the receipt of the request.
Items requested via the service may be picked up from Student Central SouthBank, the Library at USC Fraser Coast, USC Caboolture and USC Gympie, the Sunshine Coast Health Institute during business hours, and the Administration Office at the Thompson Institute.
General Collection items will be held for collection for 7 days.
The USC Library inter-site request service may be used by students enrolled at, and staff working at, eligible USC campuses (see below).
Eligibility:
- Students enrolled and staff members working at, USC Fraser Coast, USC Caboolture, USC Gympie, USC SouthBank, the Sunshine Coast Health Institute or the Thompson Institute
- USC staff may also request from USC Fraser Coast and USC Caboolture General Collection
Off-campus students
USC higher degree by research students who reside in Australia and outside of the Sunshine Coast region are eligible for a postal loans service.
You may borrow items from the USC Sunshine Coast General Collection for research and scholarship activities. Short term loans and material in the Reserve Collection may not be requested via the service.
Use the Off-campus Request Form. Before you make a request, please ensure that you have checked the Library Catalogue for the item you are requesting.
You will be notified via email if an item is unavailable or on loan to another client. A hold will be placed on item/s on loan and your request will be processed as soon as possible.
The USC Library will pay postage charges to send material. The requester is responsible for all charges incurred in returning the material to the Library.
Reciprocal borrowing
USC students are eligible to register to borrow from another university library that participates in the University Libraries of Australia and New Zealand (ULANZ) agreement. Local conditions apply, so it is important to check the website of the university library where you intend to register.
Some universities may require a registration fee. Borrowing must be in person.
Research postgraduate students may also be eligible for visitor access at the Nambour General Hospital Library. For more information contact the USC Library on Tel: +61 7 5430 2804 or email LibraryHelp@usc.edu.au.
Retrieving material from the shelves
Library staff will retrieve items from the general collection. You will need to supply a list of items required for retrieval to your campus library.
Requests must be presented in person—email or phone requests will not be accepted as we are unable to hold books for you.
Staff will retrieve your requests as soon as possible. Extended loan periods may be negotiated with your campus library.