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Access to other libraries

If staff or students at VU are not able to find particular items within the VU library they are can try to obtain these items from other libraries. Bonus+ and CAVAL are available to all staff and students. Article Reach is only available to undergraduate and TAFE students.

The Document Request System is another way that Staff and Postgraduate Students can obtain material not available at VU library.

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Bonus+

BONUS+ is a resource-sharing project that allows all staff and students of the member universities to request (hold) selected library materials from other institutions within Australia and New Zealand. The service is free-of-cost to the user.

How to place a request (hold)

Carry out a search in Library Search. If the item you are looking for is not availabe at VU, click on the BONUS+ link displayed on the results page of your search. This will carry out a search within the BONUS+ catalogue. Once you have located the item you wish to request (hold) within the BONUS+ catalogue, click on the "Request this item" link. BONUS+ will then look for an available copy and select a lending library (items with a "Local use only or "unavailable" status cannot be requested).

When the question "With which library are you registered?" appears, select Victoria University from the drop-down box provided and click on the "Submit above request" button. If you attempt to request (hold) an item from a participating institution that is also available at VU, the following message will be displayed: "You cannot use BONUS+ to request items that are available at your institution".

When the Request Verification page appears, enter your name, ID (Card) number, PIN (Personal Identification Number) and pickup location. Pickup Locations are limited to VU campus library locations only. Items cannot be picked up from the participating institution library.

Click on the "submit" button. BONUS+ will validate your request, and send it to the supplying institution. The item will then be delivered to the selected pickup location within 4-7 days approx.

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Article Reach

ArticleReach is a service for Undergraduates and TAFE students that enables you to locate and access journal articles that are not held in the Victoria University Library collection.

  • If you search Library Search you find an item that is not held in Victoria University Library (i.e. "no Full text"), follow the links (such as "Citation Online") and you will see the Electronic Resources login webpage and the option to request the article through ArticleReach.
  • Find a library that holds your required item.
  • Fill in the request form with as much of your item details as possible - the more details that you supply, the easier it is to fulfil your request.
  • Requested articles will be delivered to your email inbox as a link to the PDF usually in a short amount of time (times will vary depending on the library that is supplying the item). Alternately, you will receive an email stating that your request cannot be filled (either because it is unavailable, or that you didn't provide enough details in your request).
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CAVAL Reciprocal Borrowing (VU Patrons)

CAVAL is a reciprocal borrowing program that allows staff and students of participating libraries to borrow material from other participating libraries.

  • To participate Staff and students at VU are required to register and obtain a CAVAL card. This can be done by taking your current VU staff or student ID to the Loans Desk.
  • Staff and students from VU enrolling with other participating libraries, should make themselves aware of the overdue policy at each library.
  • If you have overdues at other libraries, then you may incur an additional infringement penalty of $20 payable to Victoria University.
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Search other libraries

Through VU Library Catalogue (using Z39.50)

Through library web sites

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Other Resources

  • National Library Copies Direct: The National Library of Australia offers a fee-based service for copies of articles, book chapters from it collection and other Australian collections. The service is available to the public, and maybe suited to VU undergraduate students.
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