Making requests

Many items are available on the shelves in the reading rooms. If the Location message in the item record states the item’s location (eg Arts), you can simply find the item on the shelves yourself.

For items held in storage within the building, the Location message states ‘Send Request’ and gives a pick-up location. You must make a request through the catalogue, and collect the item from the stated location when it has been retrieved. These requests must be made by 5.30pm each day for same day delivery.

Before you can request items online, you must register as a State Library user and obtain a barcode.

Steps to making a request

Once you have completed your search, you will need to:

• Select the required item from your search results by clicking on the title or heading to display the item record.
• Look at the Location message in the item record to check whether the item is available on the shelves or an online request is required.
• If you need to send a request for the item you want, click Send Request in the toolbar.
• Enter your barcode from your library card and your surname (family name).
• Click OK.
• Select either Request for Today or Request for Another Day from the drop-down menu, then click Submit Request.  

• Enter your barcode again on the request form.
• If requesting a journal or magazine, either select an issue from the drop-down menu, or specify the volume number or year in the box provided.
• For Request for Another Day, specify the day you plan to visit the Library. Print out the request form for your own record.
• Click Submit Request.
• Note the pick-up location of the item you have requested, in the Location field in the item record.
• Your Request for Today will be delivered to the pick-up location - usually within 20 minutes. All Requests for Today must be made by 5.30pm each day.
• Your Request for Another Day will be available at the pick-up location at 10am on the day you specified.

If you have not finished with a book when you are leaving the Library, ask at the appropriate book or information desk for it to be placed on the Reserve shelves for you.

You can submit up to four Requests for Today at a time, and up to four Requests for Another Day from each collection per day.

Requesting material stored offsite

Not all collection material is stored at 328 Swanston Street. For items in offsite storage, the Location message asks you to order the item at the appropriate information desk. Alternatively, you can call 03 8664 7002 during Library hours to order the item.

Deliveries of offsite materials to the Library will be made Monday to Friday. From Sunday to Thursday, material requested by 5.30pm will be available at 10am the next day. Material requested on Friday and Saturday willl be available at 10am on Monday.

On public holidays falling Monday to Friday, services will be as for weekends, with the additional deliveries of:

• offsite periodicals
• offsite newspapers which have been ordered two working days in advance.

On public holidays falling on weekends, normal weekend services will apply.

Please note

Until further notice, newspapers will require an additional 24 hours before they will be available for collection.

Requesting heritage collections material

Not all materials held in the Heritage Collections are listed in the online catalogue, and Heritage Collections material cannot be ordered online. To search comprehensively for a Heritage Collections item, please telephone the relevant collection, eg Rare Books, Maps etc, to make an inquiry or to make an appointment to visit the collection and consult card catalogues and indexes.

Printing, saving and emailing

The brief or detailed view of individual or multiple records from a results list can be printed or saved. Records can also be emailed to any email address.