High Use Collection

Types of loan options for your subjects

When requesting items to be added for your subject, you have the option to select if it is either a required reading or a recommended reading.

  • Required readings: The library will purchase a set amount based on the number of students in your subject. The library will use a ratio to ensure a mix of two-hour and overnight loans are available for students.
  • Recommended readings: The library will purchase two copies (one prescribed and one recommended). More information of specific loan options are below:

How is the library changing? To maximise access for students, the library will purchase ebooks as the preferred format for textbooks and recommended readings when available. Ebooks provide our students with 24/7 convenience – giving them access to resources when they need it most.

  • Two-hour and Three-hour loans
    • A maximum of 2 two-hour loan items can be borrowed at any one time
    • Cannot be requested (placed on hold) when on loan
    • Not renewable; $100 maximum fine for late return
    • Due to their restrictive nature, two-hour loans are best used only when many students will need to access a prescribed text within a short period.
  • Overnight Loans
    • Cannot be requested (placed on hold) when on loan
    • Not renewable; $100 maximum fine for late return
  • Seven-Day Week Loans
    • Can be placed on hold
    • Renewable: $15 maximum fine for late return
    • Shelved in the general collection

Placing textbooks and recommended readings for your students

Readings Online is the preferred method of providing students with subject readings and the Library encourages requests for making prescribed and recommended readings available to students to go through this service. Using Readings Online to share teaching resources with students facilitates copyright compliance, accessibility, and consistency.

Library High Use collections consist of hardcopy items that may not be available online.

If you need to place a print-only title in the High Use collection, please email library-highuse@unimelb.edu.au. Please include 'High Use [subjectcode], [Faculty/School]' in the Subject Line so that we can ensure the request goes to the library that supports your faculty or school.

If you are requesting an item to be placed in the High Use collection at the Law Library please email law-library@unimelb.edu.au.