Swanston Library is located in the heart of the RMIT's Melbourne City campus, on the fifth and sixth floors of the Swanston Academic Building (SAB). It is the largest University Library site, providing access to collections, facilities and services as well as regular events for the RMIT community.
Our friendly Library Concierge staff, in their white 'Ask me' aprons, are ready to help you find study spaces, learning resources, computers, printers or support services. Look for them near the entrance on Level 5 of Building 10.
Use the Ask the Library chat or call (03) 9925 2020.
Returning your loans? An external returns chute is outside the entrance to Building 8, Level 2, off Swanston Street.
Postal address:
RMIT University Swanston Library
PO Box 2476
Melbourne VIC 3001
Street address: Building 10, Level 5 (access via escalators from Level 4 or lifts in Building 12), 360 Swanston Street, Melbourne (Naarm).
How to get there: Visit the Public Transport Victoria website for timetables, tickets and information.
Where to park: Parking on campus.
The Swanston Library's physical collection focuses on Social sciences, Psychology, Engineering, Science, Arts, Architecture, Music, Literature and History.
The Library is home to RMIT’s Special Collection, which includes material relating to the history of RMIT University Library, items published before 1900, limited editions, artists’ books, and other valuable or vulnerable resources.
The Swanston Library is also a custodian of the RMIT Archives Collection (the history of RMIT), the Australian Screen Research Collection (film and television), the Emily McPherson Collection (cookery and home economics), the Sir Keith Murdoch Collection (publishing and journalism), and the Peter Corrigan Collection (architecture).
One of the highlights from the Library's Special Collection is a book published in 1664 titled In taciti primordia annalium & historias commentatio by J. H. Boecler, and six rare incunabula leaves from 1472 which demonstrate the printing techniques of the fifteenth century.
Car parking spaces are available on LaTrobe Street, near the Bowen Street entrance. City of Melbourne provides more information on permits and parking for people with disabilities.
Wheelchair access from Swanston Street is via lifts in Building 12. Within the Library, nearly all public areas are wheelchair-accessible.
Toilets are located near the entrance to Swanston Library.
Swanston Library's sensory-friendly study room has:
Swipe access is required. Find out more and apply for access on our Disability and neurodiversity support webpage.
Our mobility map includes:
You don’t need to study or work at RMIT to use the Library for study, work or research. Take advantage of open spaces, access to physical collections, a selection of online resources and RMIT University Archives.
Library Concierge can help you with general questions on site, or call Ask the Library on (03) 9925 2020 during business hours.
From 6.30pm weekdays and on weekends the campus buildings are only accessible with an RMIT swipe card.
When planning a visit, don't rely on Google for our opening hours because they may not be correct. Always check our website for the most up-to-date information.
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.
Learn more about our commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
