Borrowing & Renewing

Getting Started

The Library has a wide range of resources available for loan.

You will require a Library card to loan physical resources at the campus libraries.

  • For Western students and staff, your ID card is your Library card.
  • For Alumni Members, your GradLife card is your Library card.
  • For all other membership types, the library will provide a Library card at the time of joining.
  • Familiarise yourself with the loan conditions.
  • Library items may be borrowed from and returned to any of the campus libraries. Return chutes are located within or near each library entrance.
  • Wherever possible, items should be borrowed and returned using the Self-Service Machine located within the campus library.
  • You are responsible for all transactions on your record in the Library system.
  • Lost cards should be reported to the Library to ensure no unauthorised use.

You are responsible for the timely return of borrowed items irrespective of the receipt or non-receipt of email notices. Please see Managing Your Loans and Requests for further information.

Requesting and Intercampus Delivery

If the item you need is unavailable at your "home" library, you may visit the campus library which has a copy available and borrow the item.

Alternatively, you may request an item to be delivered via the Intercampus Delivery service for pick up at a nominated campus library. There is no charge for this service.

Note: the courier service is not available to or from Sydney City Campus.

Most items are available for Intercampus delivery, with the following exceptions:

  • Reserve Collection material
  • Not for loan materials
  • Special collections
  • Items may be requested via the Library Search Box 'Request' link.
  • A courtesy availability email will be sent to your email account once the item is ready to collect.
  • Items will be held for seven (7) days at the nominated pickup location.
  • Requests cannot be placed by clients with overdue items and/or fees of $10 or greater.
  • If available at the time of request, items will be delivered to the nominated library within three working days via the Intercampus Delivery service.

View a demonstration for placing a request.

Managing Your Loans And Requests

You can login to My Library to:

  • Review items on loan and see their due dates
  • View the status of requested items
  • Review any outstanding fees

Items on loan are automatically renewed unless they’ve been requested, reached the 365-day loan limit, or are overdue. In these cases, you will need to bring them back to the Library.

Items that are not returned will be marked as Lost and a $125 charge will be applied. Amounts of $10 or greater must be paid in full to restore borrowing privileges.

Courtesy notices are sent to your email account to alert you to:

  • Library items due for return
  • Requested items available for collection
  • Lost items and associated fees

Please check your email account regularly to take full advantage of this service.

How To Return Items

With the exception of Reserve Collection material, items may be returned to any Western Sydney University Library.

Returns chutes are located near each Library entrance. Items may also be returned via the Self-Service Machines located inside each Library.

Reserve Collection material must be returned to the lending library and handed to a staff member at the Service Desk.

Items may also be returned via Australia Post. These will be deemed returned on the day they are received by the library, not date of mailing.

Mail returns to:

Western Sydney University
Library
Locked Bag 1797
Penrith, NSW, 2751

Recalled Items

Sometimes it may be necessary for the Library to recall material on loan. This will usually happen if the material is in high demand and required for the Reserve Collection.

Recalled items have a shortened loan period of seven days from the date of recall or the original due date whichever falls first.

Print Journal Articles

University students and staff may request copies of articles held in print journals, and held only at a campus library other than your home library. These articles are scanned and emailed to your Western email account.

To request an article from another campus library:

  • Check item is available via the Library search box
  • Send the complete citation for the required article to libicjr@westernsydney.edu.au. Be sure to include the journal title, volume/issue number, year of publication, article title and author and the page numbers if available
  • Please allow two working days for delivery of item via your Western email.