Architecture and Planning Library Collections and Services

The collections are of national significance for their content, extent and quality. They include rare materials dating back to the beginning of the 19th century. Many of these items came from the former library of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects or from the collections of individual architects.

Many of the library's resources and collections are now available online and can be found through the Library Catalogue and SuperSearch.

• Book Collection
• Reference Collection
• Reserve Collection
• Journal Collection
• Map Collection
• Theses Collections
• Building Plans & Architectural Drawings
• Photographic Collections
• Publishers Websites
• Architecture Rare Materials Collection
• Useful websites
  

Book Collection

The book collection is divided into two sequences by size: material up to 28cm in size is located at UniM Archit and is housed further down the library while folio material above 28cm in height are located at UniM Archit f are placed closer to the entrance. The floor plan will make this arrangement clear:

Reference Collection

The Reference collection contains print indexes and abstracts, directories, dictionaries and encyclopedias, as well as specialist books. These items can only be used within the Architecture & Planning Library and are not available for loan. These items are held at UniM Archit REF

Reserve Collection

The Reserve collection includes books in high demand, lecture notes and solutions to assignments and are located at UniM Archit reserve. Lecturers click here to place material on reserve . Items on Reserve are listed in the catalogue under course code and lecturer's name. Check what's on reserve for your subject .

Library books on 2-hour loan (reserve) can be borrowed after 4:00pm and are due back by 10:00am the next weekday morning. Fines apply for the late return of material.

Journal Collection

A large collection of journals is held dating back to the 19th century. Earlier bound issues are housed in the Architecture Stack, University Store or CARM and will need to be ordered at the desk. Allow more than 24 hours for retrieval of some titles.

Current journal issues are displayed outside the photocopying room. Journals are shelved alphabetically by title are located at UniM Archit P and are not available for borrowing. Most are listed in the Innopac online catalogue but some earlier titles may be unlisted. Ask at the Information Desk about uncatalogued journals

Theses Collection

This comprises theses from University of Melbourne Architecture, Building and Planning students at 4th year, Masters and PhD levels. These may be viewed within the Architecture & Planning Library, but must be requested in advance: request forms are available from the Loans Desk. Theses are listed on the Library's Innopac catalogue and can be searched by author, title or keyword options. A keyword search under architecture and thesis and [topic] will retrieve these items.

There is also a list of University of Melbourne architectural theses

Copying restrictions apply to all theses. Copies of theses can be ordered through Special Collections

Building Plans & Architectural Drawings

Architecture & Planning Library does not hold architectural drawings or building plans. A substantial collection of historic architectural drawings from the University of Melbourne architectural collection is permanently housed at the State Library of Victoria and may be located in the La Trobe Library Picture Collection (telephone 9669 9928). A card index of these drawings is held.

Photographic Collections

Large collections of photographs, mainly black & white, are held, particularly of buildings in Victoria from the 1950s together with postcards of historic buildings in Britain and Europe. These are uncatalogued and held in closed access storage. Ask staff at the information desk for assistance in accessing this material.

Publishers' Websites

The following websites can be useful in searching for newly published materials.The sites have been chosen for their coverage of subject areas within the Faculty of Architecture, Building & Planning