Community Borrowers

Who Can Register as a Community Borrower?
Adult members of the community may be admitted upon application and are able to borrow the next business day after registration is complete and a CSU Card has been obtained. Cards are not processed immediately, they will be available for collection in three working days.

Borrowers are required to observe the Terms and Conditions of use of the CSU Card and for borrowing at CSU. It is each borrower's responsibility to make themselves aware of the Rule of the Library.

How Do I Register as a Community Borrower?

Applications can only be processed during Library Opening Hours.

Steps to Register

  • Fee paying Community Borrowers:

    Bring to the Library
  • Non fee paying Community Borrowers:

    Bring to the Library
  • When your CSU ID card has been processed by Student Central you will be able to access the Library. CSU cards are not processed immediately, they will be available for collection in three working days or posted to you.
  • Create your CSU user name and password by going to the Activate my Login webpage. The CSU user name and password will allow you to place requests on library material and access My Library Record. Your password will need to be updated every 60 days. If you experience any problems creating your CSU account contact the IT Help Desk on 1300 653 088 Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm.

Your CSU Library card is not transferable to any other person.

Are There Any Enrolment Fees?
There is an annual fee of $110 for members of the community except as listed below. All Community Borrower cards are valid until 28 February of the following year. Fees are charged on a quarterly schedule:
Jan - Mar Apr - Jun Jul - Sept Oct - Dec
$110.00 $82.50 $55.00 $27.50

There is no annual fee if you are:

  • an employee or student of an organisation with which CSU Library has a current signed agreement
  • a visiting academic
  • a member of the CSU Board of Governors or Advisory Councils
  • an honorary member (eg. registered CSU Alumni member, Life member etc.)
  • an honorary community borrower (retired staff of CSU may become honorary community borrowers for one year after their retirement)
  • a current Workplace Learning Supervisor of CSU students

Please provide proof of your non fee paying status upon registration with the Library.

Which Services May I Use?
Community borrowers may use these CSU Library services:

  • Primo Search
  • loans from the general collections, including audiovisual and curriculum materials
  • periodicals
  • requests (holds)
  • microforms
  • photocopying (at standard rate)
  • reference collections
  • 'Ask Us' Desk services
  • Intercampus loans (charges apply for photocopies)
  • Walk-in access to selected electronic resources*

* Limited access to selected databases and electronic resources is available within the Library building.

Note: Requests and intercampus loans are not available from St Mark's campus.

Services not available:

  • distance education services
  • interlibrary loans
  • eBooks
  • database/internet access
  • closed access collections
  • special collections
  • short loan items including laptops and study rooms
  • Reserve Collection
What are the borrowing and renewing conditions?
Number of items that can be borrowed Standard loan period Number of renewals DVD/Video borrowing period DVD/Video renewal
20 14 days 1 time 14 days 1 renewal

Items can’t be renewed if:

  • They are more than two weeks overdue
  • You have unpaid fines of $100 or more
  • Someone else has requested the item
  • You’ve reached the renewal limit for that item

Renewals can be made by logging into My Library Record in Primo Search or by contacting the Loans Desk.

How much are the Library Fines?
Fines of $0.50 per day, per item are incurred if loans are not returned by the due date. Once the maximum fines are reached borrowers will be suspended from further borrowing until the items are returned, discharged, and fines paid. High demand material may be recalled by the Library, and fines accrue at a higher rate ($5.00 per day, per item, max $100).

For items lost or not returned, fees will be charged according to the approved schedule.

(Fines, replacement charges are payable by BPAY, In person or by mail through the
Division of Finance.)

Note: Your first Library card is free; replacement Library cards will cost $25.00 each.

Need Help?

More information is available on the Library website or by contacting the Library.

For assistance with using Primo Search there are a number of online tutorials available:

Ask a Librarian
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Ask a Question: Live Chat
To speak to a Librarian call 1800 808 369