Postgraduate Students

Welcome to the Library!

Welcome to Murdoch University Library. The Library is here to assist postgraduate students with your research requirements.

Contacting your Subject / Liaison Librarian

Find your subject librarian who is available to assist you in using the Library's resources.

Liaison librarians have overall responsibility for library services to each of the University's Faculties & Schools. They provide reference services within the divisions at designated times each week, assisting with research queries, demonstrating electronic resources and answering questions about the library's services.

Research Resources

The Library Catalogue

Use the Catalogue to access all print or electronic library resources. More information on searching catalogue.

Journal Articles & Databases & Library Portal

Use Journal Articles & Databases to search for journal articles.
Use the Library Portal to search across multiple databases and catalogues simultaneously and link seamlessly to fulltext resources and other services.

LibGuides : Subject Guides to Library Resources

Libguides have been written by specialist subject librarians. Use them when beginning your research as they provide a guide for effective use of the library and direction to the most appropriate resources in your subject area.

Finding Murdoch University Theses

All theses awarded by Murdoch University are listed in the Library's Catalogue. Further information...
PhD, MPhil and Professional doctorate theses by research submitted from 2003 onwards are available through the Murdoch Digital Theses program and earlier theses are being added retrospectively.

The National Australasian Digital Thesis program provides access to and promotes Australian research to the international community. Further information ...

Theses submission and binding varies.

Proposing Resources

You can make suggestions for resources relevant to your research for inclusion in the collection by sending a completed Acquisitions Proposal Form to the relevant Subject Librarian. You can also send marked publishers' catalogues to your Subject Librarian.

Alerting & RSS feed Services

Alerting services keep you up to date with current literature in your discipline. Regular emails notify you when new journal articles or issues of your selected journals are published. You can also set up email alerts to notify you when new books arrive in the Murdoch University Library.

RSS (or Really Simple Syndication) is a way to deliver frequently updated content such as blog entries, news headlines directly to your reader or RSS folder in your email. You can subscribe to the Library's RSS Book feeds in your subject area. Further information...

See comparison of email alerts and RSS feeds for further information.

Document Delivery (LIDDAS)

All Murdoch staff and postgraduate students (including honours) are eligible to use the LIDDAS Document Delivery service. The Library is currently trialling not passing on charges for document delivery for most requests. However registration is required before requests can be submitted.
[Note: requests for theses, costly items, or large numbers of requests will require payment, and will be referred back to the requestor. Document delivery staff will contact you to arrange payment if required.] Further information...

Endnote

EndNote is personal bibliographic management software for Windows and Macintosh systems that allows you to store and manage your references and then use these references to create bibliographies automatically in your word processor (both in-text and reference lists), for theses, papers, and essays. Contact ITS to obtain a copy of the EndNote software. The Library conducts introductory training sessions on using the EndNote software. Further information....

Training and Workshops

The Library participates in the Graduate Research Education and Training (GREAT) program coordinated by the Graduate Centre. See the GREAT program and timetable. The Library also offers free training and workshops (e.g. EndNote, Databases). For further information see Classes and Programs.

You may like to work through the LITE programme. It will introduce you to the Murdoch Libraries, their resources and collections, to library research skills, and to skills in searching the World Wide Web effectively for the information you require. Select 'Other Murdoch University Students and Other MIT Students'

Borrowing

Postgraduate students are automatically enrolled in the University Library. Continuing students can use their existing card but new students will need to arrange their ID/library cards at enrolment or orientation. Enquire at the Loans Desk at your campus library if you do not have a Library card.

Postgraduate students may borrow up to 25 items at a time. For masters and doctorate students, the loan period for most items is to the end of the current semester, unless recalled. For graduate diploma students, the loan period for most items is 4 weeks, unless recalled. Some items may have shorter loan periods, so it is important to check the due date when borrowing. Special rules apply to video and DVD loans.

Renewals

You can renew your loans by logging on to My Library. Items can be renewed to a maximum of 5 times unless requested by another borrower. DVDs and videos can only be renewed twice.

Recalled Items

Most items borrowed are subject to recall to allow everyone access to library collections. You will be notified by email if an item is recalled and you will have 7 days to return it.

Requesting Items

Recalling Items on Loan

You may recall up to 10 items at any one time. To recall an item:

1. Search the Library Catalogue and display the record for the item you want
2. Select the "Request" button at the top or bottom of the screen
3. Enter your Murdoch Username and Password. If you are already logged in to My Library, you will not have to login at this stage.
4. Select a Pickup location from the dropdown menu.
5. Click on "Submit"
6. Click on "Request selected item" (and you may need to select the copy to be recalled)
7. The message 'Your request for this item has been sent to the library' should appear on the screen
8. Click on "Start Over" or "Logout" to exit.

Requesting Items from Another Murdoch Campus Library

You are able to request items that are available (status 'check shelf') at another campus to be picked up at any branch library by requesting the item through the catalogue, in the same way you recall an item from another borrower. You may not request items to be picked up at another branch library on the same campus. For example, you cannot request an item from Vet to be picked up at Main or CRC.
Books can also be returned at any of the Campus Libraries, with the exception of Reserve items.
Reserve items must be returned to the Library where you borrowed them.

You are also able to request copies of journal articles that are held in print at campus libraries that are not your normal library. Complete the online form to arrange for copies to be sent to you.

Penalty Points and Fines

Penalty points and fines apply if the item is lost, damaged or not returned. If an item becomes overdue, penalty points accrue and are added to your record when the item is returned. Points accrue at the following rates:

If you accrue 200 or more penalty points in an academic year, your borrowing rights will be suspended until you pay a fine of $20.00. After payment your points are reset to zero. After a second fine in an academic year your points will be reset to 100 and after a further fine to 190. Penalty points are reset to zero every year if they remain below 200. Recurrent penalty point fines may involve suspension of your borrowing rights. Reinstatement of borrowing rights from repeat offences is at the discretion of the University Librarian.

Borrowing from other Libraries

Bonus+

You can use to request books from the collections of Deakin University, University of Ballarat, University of Melbourne, University of Technology Sydney, Victoria University, University of Newcastle and Massey University in New Zealand.

Academic Libraries in Perth

You may join the libraries at Curtin, Edith Cowan, and Notre Dame Universities and the University of Western Australia as a reciprocal borrower. See Western Australian University Libraries Reciprocal Borrowing Scheme for information on how to apply for borrowing rights and details about special rules and conditions that apply to each library. Take your student ID/library card and proof of current enrollment to the Library you would like to join. You can also join any of the libraries at TAFEWA.

Australian and Overseas Academic Libraries

A list of other libraries, throughout Australia, to which you may apply for membership is accessible on the Internet at http://www.caul.edu.au/ula/. You should apply directly to these libraries. You will need photo ID and proof of your current Murdoch enrollment.

For all other libraries, please use the application form to apply for a letter of introduction. Complete the relevant personal details, and add the names and addresses of the libraries you wish to use. We will then send you the appropriate letter(s) of introduction to present at the libraries you have specified.

You should remember that reciprocal borrowing and access to resources and facilities is a privilege that is granted at the discretion of the host library. Access to some electronic resources may not be permitted due to licensing restrictions. Any misuse of privileges granted to you may result in your borrowing rights being revoked.

Department of Agriculture and Food WA (DAFWA)

Off Campus Access to Resources

You may access most of the Library's databases and electronic resources from off campus. You will be prompted to enter your Username and Password to acces them. For further information see off campus access and troubleshooting access to electronic resources.

Computer Facilities

Computers are available in the Library and Learning Common for students and staff. You need to use your Murdoch Username and Password to log on to all computers except those for community access.

You need to login to Gateway via the desktop to access most external resources.

Wireless access is available in the Murdoch Campus, Veterinary Library, Rockingham Campus Libraries and Peel Learning Common. If you need help with setup to access wireless, please see staff at the IT Service Desk. A wireless card can be borrowed from the Loans Desk if required. Further Information..

Copying and Printing

Credit for photocopying and printing can be added to your student card using an Autoloader. Autoloaders are located in the main library North Wing Level 3 and Link Level 2, Veterinary Library, Rockingham Campus Library and Peel Learning Common.

You may charge copying and printing costs to an account code, upon presentation of the appropriate request form (signed by your School or Divisional Executive Officer or Dean of the School) to staff at the IT Service Desk Counter in the Murdoch campus Library.
Further information...

Study Carrels

Study Carrels are located on all levels of the South Wing at the Murdoch Campus Library. They are available for PhD, MPhil and DBA (by research/thesis component) students only.

Application forms are available from the Library Administration area at the end of Link Level 2 and must be signed by your supervisor. A $20.00 deposit is payable for the key and if you do not wish to renew you must return the key to the Administration Office for reimbursement of the deposit. Renewal applications are sent out approximately four weeks before the expiry date. For more information enquire at 9360 2154.