Frequently Asked Questions
Below is a list of frequently asked questions and answers which many of our clients have asked when enquiring about Southbank Institute of Technology's library service.
These might help answer some of your own questions. If your question is not answered here, please contact us via Ask a Librarian and we will respond as soon as possible.
- What are the library's opening hours?
- What books do I have on loan and when are they due?
- How do I renew my books?
- How do I reserve a book from home?
- How do I find books, DVDs, journals and other resources in the library?
- Can I borrow from another campus library?
- I need access to a database, where do I find the password?
- Can I access the databases from home?
- How do I access Blackboard?
- How do I check my Internet quota?
- How do I reference my assignment?
- What is SAIL?
Survey Questions Answered:
- Why doesn't the library have a larger range of fiction books and entertainment DVDs?
- Why can't the library hold class sets of textbooks?
- Why does the library close over weekends and public holidays?
- Why do certain campus libraries close early on a Friday?
- Can the library/e-Learn Centres increase the amount of computers available to students?
- Speed of the computers in the library/e-Learn Centres explained
- Photocopying and printing costs explained
- Can you print in colour?
What are the library's opening hours?
All of the campus libraries opening hours are available on the Library Hours web page.
What books do I have on loan and when are they due?
Find out what items you have on loan and when they are due by accessing your library borrower information:
- Access your information from the Southbank library catalogue.
- Click on the My Details tab.
- Enter your student number and four-digit PIN in the login box.
- Displays an overview of your loans and hold requests.
- Click on the On Loan tab or Items Out under 'Account Overview'.
This screen will display the titles of item you have on loan, when you borrowed them, their due date and how many times you have renewed each item. From this screen, you may renew your items before their due date.
You can renew your loans either in person, by phone or email (Ask a Librarian), or online. To renew your loans online:
- Access your borrower information from the Southbank library catalogue.
- Click on the My Details tab.
- Enter your student number and four-digit PIN in the login box.
- Under 'Account Overview', click Items Out.
- Click in the box next to the item/s you wish to renew.
- Click on the Renew button.
- Your new due dates will be listed and the amount of times you have renewed the item/s.
You cannot renew your loans online if:
- The item/s are overdue.
- The title has been requested by another borrower.
- The item has already been renewed twice.
How do I reserve a book from home?
If an item is currently on loan to another borrower or is at another campus, you can place a hold on it by either asking at the loans desk, by phone, SMS, or email (Ask a Librarian), or on your computer at home. To place a hold on an item from home:
- On the Southbank library catalogue, search for the item you wish to reserve.
- Click on the title to open the full record.
- Click on the Request Item button.
- Enter your student number and your four-digit PIN in the login box.
- You will be informed of your position in the hold queue.
- Select the location where you wish to collect the item.
- Click on the Request button.
You will receive a message informing you that your request has been placed. If the library has your email address on record, then a notice will be sent advising you when the item is available. You may also view the status of your reserve through My Details on the library catalogue. The item will be held at the loans desk for seven days for you to collect.
How do I find books, DVDs, journals and other resources in the library?
The library catalogue lists all of the items held in all 3 campus libraries. You can search for a particular author, title or subject area. To find books, DVDs, journals and other resources in the library, click on the Southbank Catalogue link under Finding Information on the Library and e-Learn home page. If you need assistance using the catalogue, please contact your campus liaison librarian.
Can I borrow from another campus library?
Yes, as a student of Southbank Institute of Technology you are able to borrow items from any of the 3 campus libraries. If there is an item at another campus library that you would like to borrow, simply place a reservation (instructions as above) on that item and it will be sent over to your campus library within 2 working days.
I need access to a database, where do I find the password?
Passwords may be obtained by enrolled students of Southbank Institute of Technology by contacting library staff in person or via Ask a Librarian. You may also obtain database passwords from SAIL (Southbank Assignment writing and Information Literacy) online course via Blackboard. To obtain the SAIL login details please contact library staff by phone, SMS, live chat, in person or on email at sail.sbit@southbank.edu.au.
You may access the majority of the Southbank Institute of Technology's databases using your student number and your library PIN number by entering WebFeat.
If you have forgotten your library PIN, you can have it reset by contacting the Library at the Customer Service desk or through Ask a Librarian.
Can I access the databases from home?
Yes, access to library databases is available to Southbank Institute of Technology students from any off-campus Internet-connected computer.
Blackboard is Internet-based and can therefore be accessed from any Internet-connected computer. Access is provided via the Student Blackboard Login link from the Southbank Institute of Technology library website. Passwords are given to students once their enrolment has been processed. Passwords are usually the word student or learner, while usernames are the individuals' Southbank Institute of Technology student number. If you are unable to access Blackboard, please contact Blackboard Help on 1300 72 53 53 or email sbit.online@southbank.edu.au.
How do I check my Internet quota?
All Southbank Institute of Technology students can download 300 megabytes of data relating to their course, every semester from any computer within the Institute. This is called your Internet quota. To check your Internet quota, visit the Internet Access Service website. You can access this site on-campus only, by clicking on the 'Favourites' menu at the top of the Internet browser, and selecting IACS Home.
How do I reference my assignment?
When preparing for an assignment, you will consult many books, serials, newspapers, audiovisual material and Internet sites. Information from some of these sources will have been included in your assignment and therefore must be referenced accordingly. There are several different methods of referencing assignments. Southbank Institute of Technology recommends the Harvard system of referencing.
Copies of the Guide to Writing Assignments and Referencing can be found in the library or purchased for A$5.50. You may also use SAIL (Southbank Assignment writing and Information Literacy) online course via Blackboard which also contains a unit on assignment writing which includes referencing explanations and examples.
For more information on different styles, use the library web page Citing and Referencing which contains links to various referencing tools. Please check with your teacher to see which style of referencing is required.
Some courses such as Hospitality Management use APA (American Psychological Association) style of referencing. A guide to APA Referencing is available as a PDF document below (you will need Adobe Acrobat to view it).
Download the document here:
Referencing Guide:
APA Style [pdf 78Kb]
SAIL - Southbank Assignment writing and Information Literacy is a 100% online course delivered through Blackboard. The course is aimed at all Southbank Institute of Technology students and focuses on the ability to find, evaluate and use information.
The course is made up of eight units that will teach students how to:
- Analyse their assignment topics
- Locate and retrieve information
- Evaluate information
- Use the library catalogue
- Search library databases
- Search the Internet
- Prepare and write assignments
- Reference correctly to avoid copyright or plagiarism issues.
SAIL is delivered through Blackboard where access requires a login and password. To gain access to this course, please contact your campus liaison librarian or email your interest to: sail.sbit@southbank.edu.au.
Why doesn't the library have a larger range of fiction books and entertainment DVDs?
The purchase of recreational fiction and DVDs is of secondary importance to the library collection. As an academic library, our focus is to ensure that we hold sufficient instructional support materials across all our study areas. The Southbank Institute of Technology Library Collection Development policy states recreational resources may be purchased at the library's discretion, if funds permit.
Why can't the library hold class sets of textbooks?
Students are encouraged to buy their own textbooks wherever possible and there are always several copies of your current textbooks in high-frequency circulation at any one time. The Reservations, Intercampus Loans and 2 Hour Loans services that Southbank Institute of Technology Libraries offer to students and staff ensures that everyone has fair access to textbooks. Additionally, as many of the textbooks for programmes taught at Southbank Institute of Technology are re-published in new editions every year, it is not financially feasible for Southbank Institute of Technology Libraries to hold class sets of these texts.
Why does the library close over weekends and public holidays?
Southbank Institute of Technology Libraries are open for the hours that most students prefer to attend. Trials of extended opening times have been conducted in the past and were poorly attended, and therefore discontinued. While there are no plans to open on public holidays, Southbank campus library in C Block is open on Saturdays from 9am to 4pm throughout each semester.
Why do certain campus libraries close early on a Friday?
Morningside campus library is closed on Fridays and Kangaroo Point campus library close early on Friday as there are minimal classes held on Fridays, particularly in the afternoon. Usage of the libraries is low compared with other weekdays and poor attendance on previous trials did not justify opening for longer hours. If students require access to a Library or e-Learn Centre all day on Friday, the Southbank campus library and e-Learn in C Block is open longer hours from 8am to 5pm.
Can the library/e-Learn Centres increase the amount of computers available to students?
Southbank Institute of Technology Libraries and e-Learn are actively working to increase the number of machines available to students. Current space limitations holds down our numbers. However, new buildings currently under construction will increase the number of computers available to students.
Speed of computers in the library/e-Learn Centres explained
The library and e-Learn machines are constantly being used by students from all faculties, placing a large load on our computers. We have recently upgraded about a third of our fleet and will continue this process in the coming months to help improve PC speed.
Photocopying and printing costs explained
Southbank Institute of Technology Libraries and e-Learn do not make any profit from student printing. The current printing costs are necessary to continue to offer this service to students. Universities have a larger student population and a higher volume of copies, therefore they are able to offer lower costs per copy. TAFE has a smaller student population and lower volume of copies made. We are required to charge a higher cost per copy to continue services.
There is a colour laser printer located at Morningside Campus Library to accommodate art students. It is not viable to offer this service at other campus libraries as they do not have a high enough demand for this facility, so it would not be cost effective to run them.
Last updated 31 March, 2008