Library services for distance students: Request books, journals and scans

1. Make sure your Home address is correct in eVision - this is where your items will be sent to.

2. Use the Library Search | Ketu for your campus to find the book: Library Search - campus view

3. If we hold the book it will appear in the results list. Lots of results? Use the filters on the left to narrow it down.

4. Sign in – You need to be signed in to get full access to online content and request options. You'll see your results list again once you've signed in.

‘Available Online’ indicates an ebook and you should be able to access it online.

If the book isn’t available online, look for an ‘Available in the Library’ version in the results list. If there are several editions of the book, make sure you request the one that you need.

• Click on Request (for Home Delivery).
• Select pickup location of Home Address.

If you are either:

• Studying an on-campus paper;
• OR on placement;
• OR a PhD or Master’s candidate;

You may not see the Home Address option. If you're living outside Dunedin, you can still request items for Home Delivery. Select your nearest Otago library (e.g 'Wellington' or 'Central') as the pickup location and type 'please deliver to' and your delivery address into the comments box.

Request a scan of book chapters or pages:

1. Click on ‘Scan Request’.

2.  In ‘Request details’ enter the chapter details, you can copy and paste your citation - note the copyright information as a guide to how much we can scan for you.

Note: If you have any problems placing a scan request (or require a scan of a chapter of a book that is on Reserve) you will need to contact: ask.library@otago.ac.nz. 

This short video talks you through the process for requesting books and book scans - click on the image to open the video in a new window:

We send books to you by courier, and you can return them the same way.

Use the return address label provided in the parcel your books arrived in. This is for the free courier service. You can also re-use the packaging. Place the return label on the front of the parcel.

Return parcel options – choose ONE of these:

Phone NEW ZEALAND COURIERS for a parcel pickup:

a)     Phone the New Zealand Couriers Customer Service team: 0800 800 841.
b)     Let the team member know that you have an item to be picked up.
c)     Provide your name, address, contact number and where the item will be left to be collected by the courier.
d)     The customer service team member will then arrange for this item to be collected.

OR

Drop off to a NEW ZEALAND COURIERS branch:
 
a)      Go to www.nzcouriers.co.nz
b)      Click on the “Find us Quick” tab to locate your nearest New Zealand Couriers branch.
c)      Drop your item off to this branch.

OR

Drop books off at any University of Otago library in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington or Invercargill.

No return address label?
If you don’t have the return address label, you can return books using the Freepost address. You’ll need to take your parcel to a Post shop. Include the Freepost number and you won’t need to pay the postage.  

University of Otago Library
Private Bag 1973
Dunedin 9054
FreePost 108584

If you have any mail enquiries, please contact the University of Otago  mailroom:
Phone: 03 479 8205
Email: mail.services@otago.ac.nz

If you have questions about your books (renewals, requests, fines etc.) please contact the Library or ‘reply’ to your email notices.
ask.library@otago.ac.nz
0800 347 826 or 0800 DISTANT (NZ only) (24 hour answer phone).

Click on the image below to see the video, or follow these instructions to request issues or articles from journals that we only hold in print.

1.Use the Library Search | Ketu for your campus to find the journal title: Library Search - campus view

2. If we hold the journal it will appear in the results list. Lots of results? Use the filters on the left to narrow it down.

3. Sign in – You need to be signed in to get full access to online content and request options. You'll see your results list again once you've signed in.

‘Available Online’ indicates an ejournal and you may be able to access the issue/article you want online. Check the dates listed against the database name to make sure the database has the year that you want.

If the journal isn’t available online, look for an ‘Available in the Library’ version in the results list.

4. If the journal is held at several locations, you may need to click on a location (on the 'Available in the Library' tab) to see the request options.

5. Check the 'Holdings' dates to see if we hold the issue you need.

• To request a journal issue, choose from the issues listed on the tab, or click on 'Request a different issue' at the top of the tab. .
• Complete the request details, and select the pickup location of 'Home Address' if you see it (right at the bottom of the list).

If you are either:

Studying an on-campus paper;
OR on placement;
OR a PhD or Master’s candidate;

You may not see the Home Address option. If you're living outside Dunedin, you can still request items for Home Delivery. Select your nearest Otago library (e.g 'Wellington' or 'Central') as the pickup location and type 'please deliver to' and your delivery address into the comments box.

• To request an article scan, click on 'Scan Request' to the right of a listed issue, or 'Request a scan from a different issue' at the top of the tab.
• Complete the citation details.
• Click on 'Request'. You’ll see a Request placed message, if your request was successful.

If we don’t have the volume / issue number you require use the ‘Request an Interloan’ option and we will get it for you.

We will scan the section you want (within copyright guidelines) and email it to your @otago email address.

Can’t find it in Library Search?

If we don’t have the item you want in print or online, you can request it via Interloan.                           

Need help?

If you have any queries, just contact us: ask.library@otago.ac.nz  or Freephone: 0800 347 826

Virtual bookshelf on Library Search I Ketu from University of Otago Library on Vimeo.

Now you can search for a book then browse other books in the same subject area using the Virtual Bookshelf - watch the video to see how!