Skip to main content

Most State Library books are available for loan to public libraries for a 5 week period on the condition that they are read in the public library.

If home use is required, because of exceptional circumstances, please seek permission from State Library's Document Delivery staff:

Email: slsadocumentdelivery@sa.gov.au

Books on interlibrary loan are usually sent through the courier system in blue plastic satchels.

It is the public library's responsibility to keep on file signed copyright declaration forms in date order for four years.

For more information view the State Library's Inter-library loan services and Document Delivery to Public Libraries.

Available materials for loan

Most material with the following shelf locations is available for inter-library loan:

  • General reference: a size (orange shelves), b and c size (purple shelves), c++ (grey shelves).
  • McGuire Collection books: a and b sizes.
  • Hardy Collection books: pamphlets, a, b, c sizes.
  • Storage: a, b, c sizes.
  • Contact the Royal Geographical Society to arrange access to their material.

Note: a = small, b = large, c = outsize

Unavailable materials for loan

Certain categories of material which are not available for loan include:

  • Archival material
  • Audiovisual material
  • Car workshop manuals
  • Children's Literature Research Collection
  • "D" size books from all collections
  • English Language Unit ELLIS (English Language Learning and Improvement Service)
  • Family History Collection
  • General Reserve Collection
  • Government Publications
  • Hardy Specials
  • Items which are rare or difficult to replace (our staff will advise)
  • Maps
  • Material in constant use (our staff will advise)
  • Microfiche (although articles can be copied)
  • Microfilm (although articles can be copied)
  • McGuire Specials
  • Multi-volume sets
  • National Film and Sound Archive Collection
  • Newspapers (although articles can be copied)
  • Periodicals both Reference and South Australiana (although articles can be copied)
  • Rare Books and Named Collections
  • Ready Reference material
  • South Australiana:
    • Pamphlets
    • Periodicals
    • Ready reference
    • Storage
    • Videos / DVDs

The decision as to what is or is not for loan from the General Reference Collection rests with the State Library staff.