How to use the library

The library is located over several sites, all of which may be visited and loans made in person. At Clayton, the Hargrave-Andrew Library, or HAL, (for science, engineering, medicine and information technology) and the Matheson Library, particularly for geography and environmental science, will hold most materials required for years one to three of a biological sciences course

There are branch libraries at Berwick, Caulfield, Gippsland, Peninsula, and Parkville (Pharmacy). There are also several affiliated hospital libraries where Monash materials are located to support the medical faculty departments located at those sites. You may request this material through the library catalogue using the Loan requests button at the top of the Catalogue page.

Deciphering a reading list or bibliography

OR, how to tell the difference between a book, book chapter, journal article or conference paper

You may be given a reading list for your subject or may wish to follow up on a reference from a bibliography given elsewhere in a book or at the end of a journal article. Entries in a reading list or bibliography are usually presented alphabetically by author. They may contain references describing books, journals, conference papers, chapters in books, web sites or software, etc. Citations are not usually sorted by the nature of the material they describe. Before checking whether Monash provides access to the item, you will need to decide what the citation is describing and the following pages show you the clues to watch for.

Here is an excerpt from a reading list:

Which one's a book?

This is a typical way of listing (citing) a book on a reading list. Some lecturers may use a slightly different style but the elements will be the same. Some clues that it is a book:

• details of the publisher's name and place of publication are given
• there are NO volume or issue number details

Which one's a book chapter?

Often your lecturer will want you to read just a section or chapter of a book. Below is a typical way of listing (citing) a chapter on a reading list.

Some clues that it is a book chapter:

• there are two titles with an author connected with each
• the word "In" connects the two parts of the citation. The first part (the chapter) is contained within the second (the book). This is significant as searching the library catalogue with keywords from the book author and title will show whether the library holds the item. Sometimes these readings will be available online via a Reading List. Usually, there will not be an entry in the the catalogue for a chapter from a book.

How do I recognise a journal article?

Often your lecturer will ask you to read articles taken from journals. Sometimes these readings will be available online via a reading list, sometimes you will be expected to find them yourself. In both cases you need to recognise what you are looking for. Some clues that it is a journal article:

• there are volume or issue details
• there are no publishing details
• there seem to be two titles - use the full journal title to search the library catalogue. (The first title is for the individual journal article)

Is this a conference?

Sometimes a lecturer might direct you to a specific paper published as part of a conference proceedings. It is important that you are able to recognise the differences between this type of citation and a journal article citation so you can search in the right place. Some clues that it is a conference paper:

• there appear to be two titles - use the conference title to search in the catalogue
• the title phrase contains the term "conference" or a synonym, eg. congress, convention, forum, symposium, workshop, etc

NOTE: Proceedings is often abbreviated to Proc. There are many other possible abbreviations.

The library catalogue

The Monash University Library's catalogue is accessible from wherever there is internet access. It includes details for all materials (books, journals, DVDs and CDs) held at all branch libraries. This is the tool to use to establish the location of the items on your reading lists.

Key features of library catalogue searching

• Reading lists
  - use to check what is required reading for your course, search by unit code or browse through the lists. Some materials, eg journal articles, book chapters or lecture notes, may have been made available online.
• Search
  - use to search for a known item by typing one or two words from the title and author’s family name. Also used for a quick topic search.
• Advanced search
  - use especially to search for a journal. Type the journal name in exact order with every word starting from the beginning of the title until sufficiently specific. A search for the journal titled Australian journal of botany shows two ways of getting to the content.

  
  

• Loan requests
  - use to request a book from another site
• My loans
  - use for details of your loans, renewals, pickups of holds, fines, etc

Reserve collection

High demand print materials including many textbooks are placed in the HAL reserve collection from where they may be borrowed for 3 hours or some are available overnight.

Locating material on the shelves

When searching the Library catalogue it is important that you write down all of the call number, and in which part of the Monash collection the item is held. At the shelves match each part of the number in turn.

For example to find the book:
Grazing ecology and forest history by F.W.M. Vera. (call number 577.318094 V473G 2000):

1. Locate the first three digits
2. Locate any digits following the decimal point. Remember that it is a decimal system, so 577.01 comes after 577.
3. When you have located the number in full, look for the letter, then the next set of numbers.
4. Check that the last letter is correct, to make sure you have the right book. Later editions of the same book will have the edition number or, in this case, date of publication after this letter

Loans

Your ID card is required for borrowing. Do not lend your card - you are responsible for materials borrowed on your card. Report it immediately if your card is lost or stolen.

Details of borrowing entitlements, renewing, recalls and fines are listed in the Library user’s guide or online. Note that overdue items will incur fines and you will be unable to borrow until the items are returned.

Some materials such as journals, reference books and some CDs are not available for loan to undergraduates.

Photocopying and printing

Your student ID card can be charged with credit for photocopying and printing within the library. The cost is 12 cents per A4 black and white side. This system is independent of printing accounts within the student computer laboratories.

Library guidelines

Disciplinary procedures will occur if materials are removed from the library without registering a loan.

Need help? Library frequently asked questions and online enquiries: current students/staff | public users, online chat, or phone +61 3 9905 5054
Something to say? Use our online enquiry service to send us your feedback and suggestions: current students/staff | public users