Lending services

Library material may be:

• Requested and downloaded electronically via the Library Catalogue
• Borrowed in person
• Requested by faxing a completed request card to the relevant library (Fax no: 012 429 8128)

Please note: Registered Unisa students, with the exception of certain certificate and programme students, may borrow library material. The borrowing of library material is subject to the Library's lending regulations.

Students may borrow or request the following:

• recommended books
• prescribed books - Students are expected to buy their own copies of the prescribed books listed in Tutorial Letters 101
  • Limited copies are housed in the Unisa Branch Libraries and can be borrowed, subject to each Library's lending regulations
• open shelf books
• audio-visual material (certain restrictions apply)

Reference works such as encyclopaedias, dictionaries, year books and law reports may not be taken out of the Library.

Please note: Request your library material well ahead of your assignment's due date.

If you know how to request, click here, if not continue to 'How to search and request Library material electronically' 

How many items may I borrow?

Undergraduate students and persons who are studying for non-degree purposes may borrow a maximum of 8 books and 4 audio-visual items at a time.  
Postgraduate (honours, master's and doctoral) students may borrow a maximum of 16 books and 4 audio-visual items. 
Students registered for music courses may borrow 8 audio-visual items.

Loan periods differ according to:

• the type of library material
• whether items were issued by post or being borrowed in person

Search for the material you need via the Catalogue 

• On the Library's webpage, click on Search the catalogue
• Search the catalogue for the required item (using the title, keyword, etc searches)
• Then click on the Request link to request the identified items from the Library.

  You may request your Library material :

• via the Unisa Library Catalogue on the Library's webpage
• via the the Library App (Unisa Library) Available in IOS and android
• Via Encore

Download your e-reserves (Prescribed and recommended articles and chapters), chapters from books and law reports via the catalogue as this will save you a lot of time.

It is recommended that you use the Course Code Search from the Search options dropdown menu to access a list of your recommended material directly.

• Enter your course code and submit, select the current year and click on the relevant title
• You will be prompted for your student number and password before you can view or download your material.

  The Electronic reserves are available in PDF. You will need the Adobe Reader to view or print these documents. This can be downloaded free of charge at http://www.adobe.com.

1. Purpose

The purpose of this procedure is to provide clarity to Tutor Coordinators, Heads of Departments, Tutors/E-Tutors, and Library Staff on steps to follow to obtain library access and to request items from Tutor Collection and other Library collections

Before Tutors/e-Tutors can request books, they need to register on the Library system in order to be able to borrow library items and access other services.

 2. Registering on the Library System:

 2.1 Individual Library Membership Applications from Tutors/e-Tutors:

Tutors/e-Tutors need to complete the attached library ^[PDF] membership form.

• A copy of the contract of employment should be supplied and the letter from the Head of Department indicating the contract expiry date and providing surety.
• This must be sent to the Unisa Library via email: lib-special@unisa.ac.za
• The membership requests received are usually captured within 3 days but depending on the volumes, this turnaround time may extend beyond 3 working days.
• An email notification will be sent to the requester confirming library registration

 2.2 Batch Library Membership Applications from Tutor Coordinators and Heads of Department:

Compile an Ms Excel list of all the Tutors/e-Tutors under the fields below, from your College/Department, to be captured on the Library system.

• a short memo from the HoD to accompany the list where it is confirmed that the Tutors/e-Tutors are contracted for the year and that the Department stands surety
• The Library will send each Tutor/e-Tutor the membership form to complete, sign and email back as an attachment to the Unisa Library via the following email address: lib-special@unisa.ac.za
• On receiving the Ms Excel list, plus the completed card per Tutor/e-Tutor, the Library will then capture the details of the Tutor/e-Tutor on the database and advise him or her via email. The Tutor/e-Tutor may then place requests for books following the procedure below in section 3 and 4.

For further information on membership, kindly contact us at 012 429 3846 / 3438 / 3133 or send an email to:  lib-special@unisa.ac.za  

3. Requesting Tutor Books from the Tutor Collection

Take note that the process to request books for your modules has changed and the books have to be ordered directly from the Main Library in Pretoria (Muckleneuk Campus) – see the instructions below.   

Once registered as a Library member, look up the prescribed books you need in Tutorial Letter 101 for the course/ module for which you are responsible.

• E-mail your request for the book(s) to: lib-post@unisa.ac.za and quote your staff/claim number in the subject line and in the body of the email, together with the full details of the book(s) you wish to request, e.g. author(s)/editors, title, edition, year of publication.
• When placing the request, also indicate whether you wish the book(s) couriered to your nearest Unisa Branch Library where you will collect the book or your postal address for delivery to your nearest South African Post Office from where you will collect the book (please do not delay in collecting your couriered or posted items).
• If you need further assistance regarding Tutor/e-Tutor requesting, kindly contact the Library at lib-post@unisa.ac.za  or call 012 429 3258 / 3133
  

 4. Requesting Books, Articles or Law Reports in other Unisa Library Collections

Tutors should submit all requests for non-Tutor Collection books, articles or law reports, online:

 via the Library Catalogue online request forms for books, articles and law reports, or

• the Request button on the individual Library Catalogue record for a book, or
• the Request It button on Encore for the individual record for a book.
• Books returned after the due date are subject to the fine of R5,00 per item per day (including Tutor collection books)

 5. Library Privileges of Tutors/e-Tutors

Should you need any other General Library-related information, please do not hesitate to contact Library Enquiries at library-enquiries@unisa.ac.za or telephone 012 429 3133.

Your request will be acknowledged and you will be informed about the status of your request via email and sms.

If the item is not available in the Unisa Library collection and you are a master's, doctoral student or member of staff, this request will be referred to the interlibrary loans staff who will try to find the item at another Library.

Your material can be delivered to you in any one of the following ways :

• articles will be emailed to your myLife email address as this is the preferred email address used by the University to communicate with its students. Access a tutorial on how to claim your myLife address
• Books and other Library material will be sent via the secure Safemail service of the Post Office who will notify you when the parcel arrives at the Post Office for collection.

You are able to track the status of the posted item(s) via myUnisa :

• Choose My Admin
• Select Parcel Tracking menu
• You will see the parcel track and trace number

It is your responsibility to collect an item you requested. Please claim parcels as it wastes time and costs money if unclaimed. This also prevents other students from using these items

• Collection at your nearest Unisa Branch Library
• Courier delivery to the doorstep of any Unisa disabled client

What do the courier services entail?

A courier service provided by a private company, at a fee, is available between the Main Library in Pretoria and the branch libraries in Akaki campus - Ethiopia, Cape Town, Durban, Polokwane, the Regional offices in Bloemfontein, East London, Kimberley, Mthatha and Nelspruit, the Morula Community Library in Mabopane, the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (South Campus) Port Elizabeth and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (Vista Campus) Port Elizabeth.

A courier service is also available between Muckleneuk (Pretoria, Main campus) Library and centres in, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Botswana and Swaziland. These centres are:

• De Chazal Du Mee Business School in Quatre Bornes, Mauritius, tel no (230) 4660234
• The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Harare, Zimbabwe, tel no (263) 472-6229
• Mascareignes Academy of Law, Economics and Management in Rose Hill, Mauritius, tel no (230) 4660600
• MV Training College in Gabarone, Botswana, tel no (267) 580284
• Snicle Consult (Pty) Ltd in Mbabane, Swaziland, tel no (268) 4040589
• Ulwazi Institute in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, tel no (263) 9 257941
• Zimbabwe Open University in Harare, Zimbabwe, tel no (263) 4 795518

A courier service is also available at the following registration points in Namibia:

• Gobabis, tel no (062) 562268
• Katima Mulilo, tel no (066) 253587
• Oshakati, tel no (065) 221781
• Otjiwarongo, tel no (067) 302213
• Rundu, tel no (066) 255185
• Tsumeb, tel no (067) 220288

In the case of the free courier service, no costs are involved in the delivery of the material from the Main Library or the return of material to the Main Library.

As in the case of other requests, the request card may be posted or faxed to the Main Library, or it may be handed in at a branch library or centre. The branch libraries or centre fax the requests to the Main Library free of charge.

If the items are available, they will be forwarded immediately, free of charge, to the relevant library, regional office or centre.

The material should reach the point of delivery within 5 working days. 

How will I receive my requested material via the courier services? 

The onus is on the student to phone the library, regional office, registration facility or centre after about four days to enquire if the requested item has arrived.

When collecting the item, the student will be asked to sign an acknowledgement of receipt.

Material not claimed within ten working days will be sent back to the library from which it was couriered. 

What happens if I don't collect requested material? 

If material is not collected, the item will be couriered back to the Main Library in Pretoria, the Branch Library in East London or Cape Town.

A note will then be placed on the student's record, stating that courier items were not collected and that a penalty of R7,00 is payable. Students in Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Swaziland will be responsible for the cost of sending these items back to the Main Library in Pretoria.

Steps may also be taken to prevent the student from making use of the courier services again. 

Library material may be renewed:

• Online via the Library catalogue
• In the libraries at the lending desks
• By telephone

Telephonic renewals

The telephone number for renewals during office hours is 012 429 4164 or +27 11 471 3068 / 2933 / 3133.

See branch locator for branch libraries. A renewal reference number is given when library material is renewed telephonically. This number should be quoted if queries arise regarding the renewal.

Electronic renewals

Library material may be renewed via the Library catalogue. Renewals will not be granted if there is an outstanding account on the student's loan record.

Renewals are only granted if there is no waiting list. Items on the waiting list must be returned as soon as possible.

For how long will my items be renewed?

If a request for renewal is granted, the loan period for the library material will be extended by 14 days.

Items that are not renewed because they are required by another borrower on the waiting list must be returned by the due date.

If there is no response regarding a renewal request within 7 days of your request, enquiries may be directed to 012 429 4164 for Main Library items and to the relevant branch library for branch library items.

Renewal periods

* Study Collection books have a yellow date sheet inside the book.
** Will be allowed only when the library from which the material was loaned grants permission.

Requests for renewal (extension of the loan period) should be addressed to the library that issued the material. Renewals will only be granted if there is no one on the waiting list. Items on the waiting list must be returned by the due date.

When requesting renewal, students must give their student number. Renewals will not be granted if there is an outstanding account on the student's loan record.

You may return Library material that you have borrowed in the following ways:

• in person at any Branch Library
• by post: Unisa Library
  PO Box 392
  Unisa
  0003
• Mobile Library (bus)
• by commercial courier service

If you would like to verify if your Library items have been returned, log in to your myLibrary (https://oasis.unisa.ac.za/patroninfo) and check the items out on your name.

Important when returning Library items by post or courier:

• Students are liable for the cost of returning library items via courier or post office of their choice.
• Library material must be returned in sturdy packages. The Post Office parcel slip should be kept as proof that the books have been returned. Students are advised to insure their parcels because the Post Office compensates clients for the loss of insured parcels only. If a parcel is lost in the post, the sender will be held liable for the replacement cost. The replacement cost is payable to the Library.
• All audio-visual material should be returned in separate parcels that are clearly marked For attention: Audio-visual Collection.
• Do not return photocopied articles to the Library - they are yours to keep

Important when returning Library items in person

• Library material should be handed in at any Unisa Libraries or any Unisa Partnered Public Libraries and nowhere else. Books may not be posted in the assignment boxes.
• Audio-visual material borrowed from the Muckleneuk Library must be returned to the Lending Counter of the Audio-Visual Collection and not at any other service point.
• Always ask the Library staff member on duty at the Lending Counter for a receipt.
• Keep all your receipts together in a safe place as proof of return.

Must I return library material after my examinations?

All Library material must be returned immediately after the examinations, regardless of further study plans and / or expiry dates.

The examination results of students who fail to return library material by the due date will be withheld until the material has been received or until the replacement cost of each item as well as all outstanding administrative costs have been paid in full. Re-registration will also be prevented.

Students who qualify for supplementary or aegrotat examinations will be notified to this effect in a letter from the University. These students should submit a copy of this letter to the Main Library or the relevant branch library so that their membership can be extended until after the examinations.

Must I return library material if my studies are cancelled or suspended?

• Students who cancel one or more of their courses must return all library material for the relevant courses without delay.
• Students who are obliged to suspend their studies due to ill health or other circumstances should immediately return all library material in their possession.
• The material may be requested again after re-registration.

What happens if I don't return library material on time?

Failure to return library material on time could lead to the rendering of an account. The Library will send an account of R5.00 per item per day for library material not returned by the due date.

If a borrowed item is returned to the Library after an account has been rendered, the student remains liable for the administrative costs of R5.00 per item per day (minimum R35.00 per item) for the late return. The administrative cost will not be cancelled. Students will not be allowed to borrow other material until this amount has been paid in full.

What must I do when library material is damaged or lost?

Please inform the Library immediately if an item is damaged or lost. Damage includes marking, underlining and making notes in an item.

The student has to pay the replacement cost or supply the Library with a new copy if library material is damaged or lost.

If the Library is not immediately notified about the damage to or loss of an item, an account equivalent to the market value of the item will be charged. See Fines and Payments for more information.

The student will not be allowed to borrow any other library material until this account has been paid or the item has been replaced.

How do I check my loan record?

Students may use the Library catalogue to check which items have been issued to them.

What is interlibrary loan?

No single library has the capacity to own or subscribe to all the print and electronic publications or databases available.

The Interlibrary Loan service is available free of charge to staff and registered M and D students of Unisa.

If you request an item that is not available in the Collection of the Unisa Library, your request will bereferred automatically to the Interlibrary Loans staff to find out if it is available at another local or international library.

ILL article download service

When the requested  item arrives from the supplying institution, it is available on the Article Exchange website.

You will receive an email from the Interlibrary Loans mailbox (libr-ill@unisa.ac.za) to notify you of the arrival of the requested item, and you will be provided with a password and short URL with which to retrieve the document. The message will look something like this:

Your next step is to click on the URL in the email, type in the password and click on Get my file. We recommend that you print out the document immediately.

Article Exchange is a secure website where requested items are temporarily stored for users to access and print out.

It is very important to take note of the following :

• A file can be picked up a maximum of five times for each URL/ password combination
• After the file has been viewed 5 times, it will be removed
• Files not retrieved remain available for 30 days
• Files that are not picked up at all will beremovedafter 30 days
• If files are not retrieved within 30 days, the article(s) will have to be requested again.

It is therefore essential to print the article or book extract on the first view.

Renewing any items borrowed on interlibrary loan

Keep in mind that it is the policy of some local and international host libraries not to permit renewals for books borrowed on interlibrary loan, and that for this reason requests for renewal may sometimes be declined. We recommend that you make prompt use of any books borrowed from other libraries.

Send your request for renewal to the Interlibrary Loans mailbox at: libr-ill@unisa.ac.za, and include your name, staff or student number, contact details and the details of the book(s) you wish to renew.

When the Interlibrary Loans section notifies you of the renewal, write the new due date on the issue slip in the front of the book.

Recommended books

Reservations may be made via the Library Catalogue should all copies be out on loan.

A list of recommended titles appears at the end of Tutorial Letter 101 for each course. Each title has been allocated a book number which should be supplied when requesting these books from the library.

Prescribed books

Students are required to purchase their own copies of prescribed books.

official booksellers.

No reservations are made for prescribed books that are already out on loan. Students who have problems obtaining specific prescribed books from the booksellers should contact:

vospresc@unisa.ac.za

Open shelf books

Students may borrow all the books in the Open Shelf Collection except the reference books (e.g. dictionaries, encyclopaedias, bibliographies and atlases). Reference books are marked with the prefix REF before the number and may only be used in the Library.

Use the colour-code shelf guide, available on each floor, to determine the location of the books.

Reference collection

The reference collection is indicated by the letters REF in front of the classification number.

The items in the reference collection are to be used in the library and may not be taken out

Little used collection

The Little Used collection is located on level 1 of the Main Library and contains earlier editions of books that are no longer used regularly, discontinued journal titles and earlier issues of journals.

Newspapers

Newspapers are available in the Newspaper Reading area on level 4 of the Main Library.

Contact number: +27 12 429 3209

• Pressreader (Daily Online newspapers)
• Newspapers on microfilm