Request

Request Items for viewing in the Reading Room

Once you have identified the material you would like to view, please place an online request through Aeon, the Reading Room’s request management system.

The first time you submit a request, you will need to register as a user by completing the registration form:

Once you have registered you are ready to request material to view in the Reading Room.

You can find the request forms in Aeon, under the ‘New Request’ menu in the horizontal navigation bar.

Reading Room appointments are also managed through Aeon. Please book an appointment when requesting material so staff can respond to requests in an appropriate timeframe.

  • Requests for Archives can be made online in Aeon by submitting the “UMA – Archives Request” form, found under the ‘New Request’ menu.

    After finding the item/s you are looking for in the Archives Catalogue, complete and submit the “UMA – Archives Request” form in Aeon.

    Please make a request for the unit holding the item/s you would like to see. A maximum of ten archive boxes can be delivered per requestor per day.

    Access to some archival collections is restricted and permission must be obtained before the material can be accessed. This may affect when your items are delivered to the Reading Room; staff will be in touch if this impacts your request or causes delays.

    If you have a general research enquiry, please email um-archives@unimelb.edu.au.

  • Requests for East Asian Rare Books can be made online in Aeon by submitting an “East Asian Collection” request form.

    If you have found an item in the catalogue, the easiest way to complete the form is to select the “REQUEST FROM SPECIAL COLLECTIONS” button on the right-hand side of the catalogue record. This will prefill the required information in Aeon and you can simply submit the form.

  • Requests for Prints can be made online in Aeon by submitting an “Rare Prints Request” form, found under the ‘New Request’ menu.

    After finding the item you are looking for in the Prints Catalogue, complete and submit the “Rare Prints Request” form in Aeon.

  • Requests for Rare Books can be made online in Aeon by submitting a “Rare Books Request” form.

    If you have found an item in the Library catalogue, the easiest way to complete the form is to select the “REQUEST FROM SPECIAL COLLECTIONS” button on the right-hand side of the catalogue record. This will prefill the required information in Aeon and you can simply submit the form.

    Please be aware that items with the location UniM Bund or UniM Store are held offsite and may require up to 5 business days for retrieval.

  • Requests for Rare Maps can be made online in Aeon by submitting an “Rare Maps Request” form.

    If you have found an item in the catalogue, the easiest way to complete the form is to select the “REQUEST FROM SPECIAL COLLECTIONS” button on the right-hand side of the catalogue record. This will prefill the required information in Aeon and you can simply submit the form.

  • Requests for Rare Music can be made online in Aeon by submitting a “Rare Music Request” form.

    If you have found an item in the catalogue, the easiest way to complete the form is to select the “REQUEST FROM SPECIAL COLLECTIONS” button on the right-hand side of the catalogue record. This will prefill the required information in Aeon and you can simply submit the form.

    Please be aware that items with the location UniM Bund or UniM Store are held offsite and will require up to 5 business days for retrieval.

Digitisation Requests

  • Digitisation of archival material may be undertaken in consultation with staff members from Archives. Please contact um-archives@unimelb.edu.au to discuss digitisation of archival materials.

    Please be aware there may be a fee associated with your request and that issues of age, fragility and copyright may impact our ability to digitise some items. Some archival collections also have specific restrictions attached to their use, including embargo periods. Staff from the Archives will advise of any issues relating to a specific digitisation request.

    Staff from the Reading Room or the University Digitisation Centre will be in touch with details and any outstanding questions relating to your request.

  • For requests to have Special Collections materials digitised, please use the appropriate Aeon request form for your materials and select the 'Request Digitisation' option beneath the 'Request Type' heading. Please note that not all materials will be able to be digitised due to age, fragility, copyright or other concerns. There may also be a fee associated with your request.

  • To request the digitisation, or a digital copy, of a University of Melbourne Thesis, please visit the University Digitisation Centre.