Options for getting resources from our off-site collections and other Australian and overseas libraries.
If the item you want is held at another Library site at RMIT, we will retrieve it for you. If the item is not in our collection, you may be able to source it for you from another library in Australia or overseas.
Books and other hard-copy items
Log in to LibrarySearch, find the item's full record and use the Place a Hold option under Locate/Request heading.
Journal articles, book chapters, and other digital copies
Log in to LibrarySearch, find the item's full record and click on the Document Delivery link from the top menu. The document delivery request form will open in a new tab. Fill in the details and make sure to select the Digital format under Delivery information.
Document Delivery service
If the book is not available in our Library, request it as an interlibrary loan through our Document Delivery service.
Our Library is a member of two reciprocal borrowing schemes, which allow you to borrow some items in person from the participating libraries. The two schemes are CAVAL (Cooperative Action by Victorian Academic Libraries) and ULANZ (the University Libraries of Australia and New Zealand).
Victorian university or TAFE libraries
- Check your CAVAL eligibility.
- Confirm that the external library is a member of the CAVAL scheme.
- Take your current RMIT ID to the library you wish to borrow from. That library will issue you with a CAVAL card. (RMIT University OUA students please note: you must first register for a CAVAL card at an RMIT University Library service desk).
- You can use the CAVAL card at any member library.
- You need both your RMIT ID and the CAVAL card to borrow items from other libraries.
Australian or New Zealand university libraries
- Confirm that the external library participates in ULANZ
- Apply in person at the library you wish to borrow from unless the library has an online registration scheme. You will need a photo ID and proof of current enrolment. Some libraries may charge a registration fee.
Membership conditions
- Membership is for the current calendar year only, regardless of when you join throughout the year.
- Proof of continued enrolment or employment will be required to renew your registration each year.
- Membership is personal and not transferable.
Borrowing and returns
Loans can only be made in person from the library where you register.
You must return items to the library you borrowed from. Penalties and fines for late returns are at the discretion of the lending library. These will be set out in the membership brochure available at the lending library.
Overdue items
Your borrowing rights at our Library will be suspended and you may not be able to re-enroll, receive results or graduate until your record is cleared.
Low use journals are stored at the CAVAL Archival and Research Materials Centre (CARM2).
Online requests
To request journals or copies of journal articles from the off-site storage, send a document delivery request.
Delivery times: journal loans and copies: 2 - 4 working days
Copies of articles will be delivered electronically to your document delivery account.
Loans of journals will be available from a service desk at your site Library (to be used in the Library only).
We will email you when your request has arrived.
Items will be available for 4 weeks, and you can renew them for additional 4 weeks using your document delivery account, by emailing libdoc@rmit.edu.au, or calling 03 9925 2441.
On-site access
You can visit CAVAL CARM2 off-site storage facility to view material. 24-hour notice is required.
CAVAL
4 Park Drive
Bundoora
Ph: 03 9459 2722
Email: caval@caval.edu.au
Australian libraries
- Trove - From the National Library of Australia. Search for books, images, historic newspapers, maps, music, and more
- Australian Libraries Gateway A directory of Australian libraries.
Victorian university libraries
- CARM centre - Offsite storage for low use materials from 8 local universities. Request materials via Document Delivery Service.
- Australian Catholic University
- Federation University Australia (formerly University of Ballarat)
- Deakin University Library
- Latrobe University Library
- University of Melbourne Library
- Monash University Library
- Swinburne University Library
- Victoria University (VU) Library
Victorian public and special libraries
- State Library of Victoria - Study areas include access to the RMIT wireless network (No borrowing).
- City Library (Melbourne Library Service) - Membership is open to Victorian residents.
- Libraries Victoria – access many (but not all) Victorian public library catalogues.
- Victorian Government Library Service Catalogue - Library catalogue of the Victorian Public Service (VPS). Includes Victorian Government library collections and department or agency-specific collections.
International libraries
- Library Hub Discover covers catalogues of major university and national libraries in the UK and Ireland, including the British Library.
- Worldcat lets you search the collections of thousands of libraries around the world.
