Skip to main content
state library of queensland
  • Home

    • /

  • Borrowing for individuals

Borrowing for individuals

If you are a State Library of Queensland (State Library) member and a Queensland resident, you can borrow from the Information Collection. 

Queensland residents

To borrow you need to:

  • Become a State Library member.
  • Visit us at South Bank and present:
    • Queensland driver licence (physical or digital) with current address OR
    • Two forms of identification, at least one of which must include your name and current Queensland residential address.  See below for suggested forms of identification.

For members 15 years and younger, a signed parent/guardian consent form along with identification that includes the parent/guardian name and residential address is required before borrowing. Download a copy of the parent/guardian consent form.

Borrowers are responsible for ensuring their contact details remain up to date.

Membership cards issued for the purposes of borrowing are not transferable.

State Library members who are also members of a Queensland public library can request loans from the Information Collection to be sent to their public library via One Search. You do not have to visit us or present identification to use this service. 

 

Non-Queensland residents

If you do not live in Queensland, you may borrow via the interlibrary loan service provided by your local public, State or university library.

If you do not have a current Queensland driver licence, the following is a list of suggested forms of identification:

  • Bank statement
  • Contract of purchase, current lease or rental document, mortgage or land ownership certificate
  • Electricity, gas or telephone account
  • Learners permit
  • Local government rates notice
  • Renewal notice for Queensland driver licence or vehicle registration
  • Statement from an educational institution's administrator with name of student and residential address
  • Student identification card
  • Vehicle registration certificate

Physical or digital forms of identification are acceptable.

Items in the Information Collection available for loan include: 

  • Books and magazines
  • Music scores, performance sets
  • Asia Pacific Design Library (APDL)
  • Business and law titles.

Heritage collections in John Oxley Library are not for loan. Items not available for loan may be used onsite at State Library.

The physical condition of an item may affect the availability of a loan or copy. The loan of an item is at the discretion of State Library.

Loan limit Loan period Maximum loan period
Maximum of 10 items  Four weeks 12 weeks

For music performance sets, the loan period may be longer to accommodate the performance date. Please ask staff at the time of borrowing.

You can request an item with your State Library membership via One Search, the library catalogue.

You will be notified by email once an item is ready for collection and advised of the pickup location.

Requested items are placed on the hold shelf for 5 days.

Information Collection items are placed on the level 3 collection point.

John Oxley Library items are placed on the level 4 collection point.

Items not collected will be returned to the shelves and your hold will be cancelled.

If you are unable to collect your item(s) during the above mentioned period, you can request an extension (maximum 7 days) by contacting Access Services: 

Phone
+61 7 3840 7850 (Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm) 

Delivery times.

Send to my Public Library items will be posted to your nominated Queensland public library.

You can renew your loans in the following ways:

Your loans can be renewed up to the maximum loan period of 12 weeks.

Loans cannot be renewed if:

  • The item has reached the maximum loan period
  • Requested by another borrower
  • The item is considered lost or damaged and an invoice issued
  • The item is claimed as returned.

Additional renewals may be negotiated at the discretion of State Library. 

Loans are to be returned in good condition by the due date.

Loans can be returned to State Library in the following ways:

In person during opening hours to:

  • Reception, Level 1
  • Information Desk, Level 3.

State Library does not offer an after-hours return facility.

Mail to:

Access & Discovery

State Library of Queensland

PO Box 3488

South Brisbane Q 4101

Scheduled email notifications will be sent as follows:

Notification type

Schedule

Courtesy notice

Three days prior to due date

Due Date notice

 Day due to be returned

Overdue notice

14 days overdue 

Final Overdue notice

28 days overdue 

Item is considered lost and invoice for replacement cost generated 

42 days overdue 

72 days overdue 

Final notification of invoice issued and not actioned by the borrower

102 days overdue 

Summary of current loans

Monthly

State Library does not charge overdue fees or fines.

 

Lost items

An item is considered lost, and an invoice issued once the item is 42 days overdue.

Lost items not returned or paid for after the final invoice (102 days overdue) will be referred to a debt collector agency.

The replacement cost is based on State Library Annual Asset Valuation figures, which are reviewed annually.

A refund will be given for items paid for and then returned by the borrower in good condition.  Refunds are provided within a six-month period of payment.  It is the responsibility of the borrower to contact State Library to initiate a refund.  Refunds are processed via EFT only.

State Library will suspend your borrowing privileges until all lost items are returned or the invoice is paid in full.

Your borrowing privileges are reinstated once an item is returned or the lost replacement fee is received in full.  No further fees or fines are incurred.

 

Damaged items

You are responsible for maintaining the condition of items borrowed from State Library.

If an item is returned damaged e.g. torn or lost pages, written on, mouldy or stained, water damaged or missing pages, an invoice will be issued to cover the cost of replacement.  State Library will contact you prior to issuing the replacement cost invoice.

The replacement cost is based on State Library Annual Asset Valuation figures, which are reviewed annually.

State Library will suspend your borrowing privileges until the invoice is paid in full.

 

Items claimed as returned

You are responsible for notifying State Library if an item is returned but remains on your account.

You can notify us in the following ways:

Please include details such as where and when you returned your loans to help us locate your items.

Once reported, a check of library shelves will be conducted.  A minimum of three checks will be undertaken during a 90-day period.

Until found, the item will be given a status of 'claim return' and remain on your account.  You will continue to receive email notifications until the item is located during the 90-day period.

After the 90-day period, the claim will be assessed and either removed from your account without fee or fine penalty, or incur the standard replacement cost.  This is at the discretion of State Library.  You will be notified of the decision.

 

Appeals

Appeals regarding replacement costs can be made up to 28 days following the final invoice being issued, and must be made in writing to:

Lead, Access & Discovery

State Library of Queensland

PO BOX 3488

SOUTH BRISBANE QLD 4101

 

A copy of the invoice is to be included with your submission.  Please include as much detail as possible in your appeal to assist in processing your request.

State Library may contact you for further information, and you will be notified of a decision within 30 days.

 

You can pay your invoice securely online using BPOINT.

Please include your first and last name, email address and payment amount. 

For payments related to lost or damaged items, include the invoice number located on the upper left-hand side of the Tax Invoice.

For other payment options see pay an invoice.

Complete the order form to request an interlibrary loan.

Interlibrary loans – from National Film and Sound Archive

State Library of Queensland is an official National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) partner and the Queensland Access Centre, enabling you to access material from the NFSA collection for free.

 

How to order

Requests to be submitted directly to NFSA by:

  • Searching the NFSA collection
  • Selecting Access Request

NFSA will send your requested material to State Library and we will contact you to arrange access.

 

Payment

Please contact NFSA staff to confirm the price and arrange payment.

 

Delivery timeframe

Processed within 5 working days.

 

Conditions of use

Onsite use only (Booking required).

 

Collection queries

NFSA staff:

 

Contact Us

Access & Discovery

Mon-Fri 9am-4pm
t +61 7 3840 7850
e ill@slq.qld.gov.au

If you are a Queensland resident you can request a loan to be sent to your Queensland public library.

How to request

Login to One Search and once you have found the item you wish to borrow select “My Public Library” from the pickup location and then enter the name of the library into the comments field.

We will email you once the item has been sent to your public library.

What you need to know

You need to be a member of your public library in order to collect the item.

Your public library’s borrowing privileges and conditions apply, please confirm with your public library regarding:

  • what items you can borrow
  • how many items you can borrow
  • if they charge a request or interlibrary loan fee.

Loan periods, renewals and returns are managed by your public library.

Find a public library

Email:  access@slq.qld.gov.au (Mon-Fri 9am-4pm)

Phone: +61 7 3840 7850