Library Education Resource Centre (ERC)

ERC collections relocation

Latest update: Wednesday 20 February 2008

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

On this page:

How do I access the ERC?

Click here for map showing access point to ERC after 05/02/08.

What has happened to the ERC Reference and Journal Collections?

Level 3 will be closed to all access from Friday February 1st, therefore collections, facilities and services currently housed on Level 3 of the ERC are in the process of being relocated.

ERC Journal Collection – This has been relocated to Level 2 of the ERC, which will be its permanent home.  Student study area, workstation and a photocopier will be located adjacent to the journals as part of the refurbishment.

ERC Reference Collection – This has been relocated temporarily to the ground floor of the Baillieu Library.  This collection will be returning to the ERC Level 3 once the refurbishment is complete.

Other services and facilities to be moved:

Media Collections:

ERC Student computers – Student computers previously located on Level 3 of the ERC will be temporarily relocated to Level 4 and Level 5.

Loans Desk – Will be temporarily located on Level 1.

Reserve Collection - Will be temporarily located on Level 1.

Information Desk- Will be temporarily located on Level 4.

Photocopiers - Will be temporarily located on Level 2 and 5. The Autoloader will be temporarily located on Level 1 near the Loans Desk.

How will I access collections in the ERC while the renovations are being done?

Education Collections including General Education, Text Books, Picture Books, Children’s Fiction, Folios.

There are approximately 246,000 items in the general collections on Level 5 of the ERC, the highest users of which are from the Education Faculty.

These collections will remain in the ERC during construction of the Eastern Learning Hub.

Browsing and borrowing of these collections will be available.

To ensure uninterrupted access, it may be necessary to relocate selected high-use material to the Baillieu Library during final stages.  Any changes in access to collections will be updated on this web page.

B and AB (Research) Collections

The renovation of the ERC has required some of the AB and B collections to move to other locations. A process of consultation has been undertaken with academic staff and students who were asked to indicate which titles were vital to keep on campus for purposes of teaching and research.  Approximately 84% of the collection is required on campus with 220,000 - 240,000 items from the total of 316,000 AB and B collection items remaining in the ERC, while 26,310 items have been relocated on campus to the Old Quad Library.  The remaining items will be relocated off campus to the University of Melbourne Library Store, Dawson Street, Brunswick, where arrangements are being investigated to permit limited access and borrowing.

B and AB items which will remain in the ERC during the renovations are:

Browsing and borrowing of these collections is available.

B and AB items which have been relocated to the Old Quad Library are:

Materials which have been relocated to the University of Melbourne Store:

Media Collections including DVDs, Videos, Kits and Playback Facilities

Playback facilities have been reviewed, and some out-of-date facilities have been retired.  But new playback facilities for DVDs and Videos will be available in the renovated ERC.

Some Media collections will be relocated within the ERC, to enable continued access to them whilst the renovations are taking place.

Map Collections

The ERC renovations will have some minor impacts on the Map Collection. 

To locate specific items, please check the library catalogue. The card catalogue located in the Baillieu Library could also be consulted.

Will the ERC opening hours change?

There may be times whilst the renovations are taking place where the ERC opening hours are changed, and/or access to individual collections or services are interrupted briefly. Such changes will be advertised via the website and in the ERC with as much notice as possible.

Where and What is the Old Quad Library?  What are its Opening Hours?

The Old Quad Library is located in the Quadrangle just south of the Union Building. The University has permitted the library to use this area to house collections temporarily while the Eastern Learning Hub is being constructed.

Click here for a campus map to see its precise location.

It’s opening hours are: Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm.

How do I access materials in the University of Melbourne Store (Uni M Store)?

The catalogue record will indicate where an item is located. If the location is Uni M Store, use the request button above the catalogue record, complete the online form with your name and library barcode - the same as requesting an item from any branch library.

The requested material will be retrieved and made available at the selected Library Loans desk for loan in the normal manner.

Store retrievals may take 24 - 48 hours.

Are extended loans available?

Extended loan periods for collections based in the ERC are now available:

We are also extending the number of items which you may borrow from the University libraries. This means that:

We encourage you to use these additional allowances to borrow ERC material.

We are seeking your help in making the amended loan periods work and we encourage you to pay close attention to all library notices and the due-dates of any borrowed material.

What if I need an item that someone else has on extended loan?

You will still be able to place a request on borrowed ERC material. After locating the required item in the library catalogue, place a request in the normal manner using the Request button on the catalogue record. If an item has been borrowed from the ERC for 90 days, the original borrower will be required to return the item within 14 days from the date of notification of the request.

What are the intended long term locations of the affected collections?

ERC/Education Reference Collection – Will return to Level 3, where it is housed currently. Core material from the Engineering Reference Collection will be incorporated into this collection.

ERC/Education Journal Collection – Will be relocated onto Level 2, and core Engineering Journals will be incorporated into the collection.

ERC/General, Textbook and Junior Collections – Will remain on Level 5 of the renovated ERC, where they are housed currently.

Media Collections – will remain on Level 4 of the renovated ERC, where they are housed currently.

Map Collection and facilities will remain on Level 4 of the renovated ERC , where they are housed currently.

Research Collections (B & AB) – Library staff will work with academic staff to decide future appropriate locations for different elements of the Research Collections. Material will be evaluated for inclusion in:

What are the plans for library space in the future?

The University Librarian is working with Libraries Committee to prepare a ten year space plan for our Library. This plan will allow for consultation with staff and students before being presented to the Committee of Deans and Planning and Budget Committee. This plan will seek to balance the competing needs for student space and collections. It will be informed by the Fisher Report and the Library Vision and will inform the University’s broader Master Planning process.

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