Borrowing

Borrowing periods

Your student or staff card is also your Library card.

If you don't have a University ID card see Students Services information on Student ID Cards.

The SCU Borrow app allows SCU students and staff to borrow physical books using their smartphone camera while at the Lismore, Gold Coast, or Coffs Harbour libraries.

• Download the App.  Search for “SCU Borrow” in the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android). Install the app on your smartphone. Enable location services if prompted.
• Log In. Open the app and press ‘Start’. Log in using your SCU username and password. Press 'Start'
• Borrow Books. Tap the ‘+’ button to begin borrowing. Use your phone’s camera to scan the barcode on each book (usually on the front cover or inside). Tap the ‘+’ button again to add more items.
• Finish and Confirm. Once all items are scanned, press the ‘Finish’ button. A loan receipt will be sent to your SCU email. Press 'close'

You can request a scan of part of an item — whether it's on loan or available at a Southern Cross University (SCU) library — and have it emailed to you by following these steps:

• Find the item in the Library collections.
• Sign in to your Library account (you must be signed in to make a request).
• Click "Availability information" (e.g., "Available at Coffs Harbour...").
• Below the location information, select "Request scan."
• Enter the details of the section you'd like scanned — chapter or article number, title, or page range.
• Click "Send request." Your scan will be emailed to you.

Please note that scan requests are subject to Australian copyright restrictions. You will be required to confirm that your request complies with the applicable copyright limits before submitting it.

You can request an item that's currently on loan or held at another SCU campus Library, then either pick it up from your own campus Library ("click and collect") or have it mailed to your home address.

To request an item:

• Find the item you want in the Library collections.
• Sign in to your Library account (you must be signed in to make a request).
• Click "Availability information" (e.g., "Available at Coffs Harbour...").
• Below the location information, select "Request item"
• Choose your pickup location for click and collect, or select home address to have it mailed to you.

You'll be notified by email once the item is available.

If we have your mobile number and it's your preferred contact method, you'll also receive an SMS.

Click and collect items are held for 5 days before the request expires.

Online students based in Australia will default to home delivery unless they select a campus pickup location instead.

See also information about finding and requesting SCU Theses.

Borrowed items will be automatically renewed, except under any of the following conditions:

• any item you have borrowed is overdue
• the item is reserved by another borrower
• your borrowing rights have been suspended
• the item has already been renewed two times.

After the second renewal, you will receive a reminder notice that an item is due.

Always return items on or before their due date to avoid penalties.
Items can be returned via the chutes outside the entrances of all campus libraries or via post using the Reply Paid service.

Reply Paid 157
SCU Library
Widjabal Country
Southern Cross University
PO Box 157
Lismore NSW 2480

Please note that Reply Paid does not include tracking of your item. Item tracking can be purchased for an additional fee from Australia Post.

If an item you have on loan is reserved by another borrower you will receive a recall notice for that item.

The item due date will be changed to 14 days from the date on which you are notified of the recall, unless the due date is earlier.

Recalls help to provide all clients with fair access to resources. Loan periods for standard items are generous and will be automatically adjusted according to user demand via the recall system.

We send email reminders to help you keep track of your library loans. If you don’t return items on time, you might lose borrowing access or be charged a replacement fee.

You can monitor your loans by logging into My Account.

• If an item is not returned after a long overdue notice, you will be billed for the replacement cost.
• Inter-library loans may incur overdue fines and/or replacement fees as invoiced by the lending library.
• Sanctions will remain in place until all debts are cleared.
• Payment of replacement fees or library invoices: refer to the bottom of the invoice for payment instructions.
• If you have questions, email library@scu.edu.au

Visitors, community members, alumni, and eligible high school students can join the Southern Cross University Library and access a range of borrowing and Library services.

Membership options, eligibility requirements, borrowing privileges, and application instructions vary by borrower type.

For information on how to join, please see:

• Community Borrowers
• Alumni Borrowers
• High School Access Program
• Students or staff from another University

Visit the relevant membership page for eligibility requirements, borrowing conditions, and application instructions. If you need assistance, please contact the Library at library@scu.edu.au

Students and staff from other universities can join the Southern Cross University (SCU) Library as reciprocal borrowers by emailing library@scu.edu.au and advising which SCU campus they wish to join.

To register, you will need to make an appointment and provide:

• Photo identification (preferably your university staff or student card)
• Proof of current enrolment or employment from your university

Reciprocal membership is free and provides borrowing access to the SCU Library's physical collections on campus.

Registration may take up to 48 hours to process.

Borrowing privileges are valid until 28 February of the following year and must be renewed annually.

Please note:

Reciprocal membership does not include access to Library computers.

Reciprocal borrowers can connect their own devices to the eduroam wireless network if their home institution participates.

Students studying through Open Universities Australia (OUA) are not eligible for reciprocal membership but may join the SCU Library as community borrowers.

For items not at Southern Cross University, the Library can request a loan from another library (inter-library loan) on your behalf. This service is available for all SCU students, staff members, and researchers affiliated with the University.

How to use the Inter-Library loan service

1. When searching the Library collections, click on Sign in on the top right of the screen and follow the prompts.
2. Search for the item you want. TIP: For journal articles and book chapters search for the article or chapter title or search by DOI.
3. If the item is not held at SCU Libraries, or you see no results, click on the Expand my results toggle on the left of your results.
4. Click on the item that you would like to request and select 'Request from another institution' under 'How to get it' OR if your item has not been displayed in the expanded results, click 'Request a nonSCU item at the top of the screen.
5. Check the request details and your delivery location is correct.
6. Tick the Copyright declaration.
7. Click 'send request'.

Renewing an Inter-Library loan

• Not all Inter-Library loans (ILLs) are renewable, check the loan slip in the item.
• If the item is renewable please email your request to the Library.

Delivery

*The timeframes listed are a guide only - we do not guarantee any delivery times.  If an item is posted to you, please allow at least another 3-4 working days for this.

Yes. If you live closer to another university library, you may be able to join that library and borrow materials through the University Libraries Australia and New Zealand (ULANZ) borrowing scheme.

To apply:

Contact the library you wish to join directly.

You will need proof of your current Southern Cross University enrolment, such as:

• Your Southern Cross University (SCU) Student card
• Your enrolment details or confirmation of enrolment
• A current fees receipt
• Complete any registration requirements set by the host library.

Please note that borrowing conditions vary by institution, and some libraries may charge fees or place limits on borrowing privileges.

For participating libraries and further details, visit the University Libraries Australia and New Zealand (ULANZ) website.