Library access for community visitors

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Visitors are welcome at all RMIT University Library sites

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.

There are Library Assistants available who can help you with general questions on site, or call Ask the Library on (03) 9925 2020 during business hours.

Visiting the Library

There are four Library sites you can visit: Swanston and Carlton Libraries on the city campus, Bundoora Library and Brunswick Library.

Please note that from 6:30pm weekdays and on weekends, the campus buildings are only accessible with an RMIT swipe card.

What you can access

Physical collections

You are welcome to browse our physical collections, which include books, journals, magazines and DVDs. If you are looking for a specific title, use LibrarySearch to find its location and check availability before visiting us to ensure it's not out on loan.

You can use LibrarySearch in any browser on your device. Alternatively, there are PCs set up for public access to LibrarySearch:

  • Swanston Library has five public PCs, three are on level 5 and two on level 6
  • Carlton Library has one public PC.

There are TV monitors with DVD players available in each Library.

If you wish to borrow items from our collections, you can do so through the interlibrary loan service via your local library, or by applying for a community borrower card with RMIT and paying a fee.

Online databases, journals and e-books

Due to the licensing agreements, we cannot give access to subscription-based online resources to community visitors. You can still use LibrarySearch to find free resources, which you can access without an RMIT login.

The Research Repository is an open access institutional repository providing free, searchable access to scholarly publications authored by RMIT University researchers.

Access the RMIT Research Repository

RMIT University Archives operates as the institutional repository for university records that are evidence of the functions and activities performed throughout RMIT.  Its mission is to acquire, organise, preserve and publicise such materials and to assist researchers in their use. 

Find out more about our RMIT University Archives collection.

Subject guides highlight the variety of resources available in each subject area. They were created by librarians to help students and staff with their research, and you may also find them useful.

The Learning Lab tutorials can help you with your study, writing, maths and English language skills.

There are open study spaces and silent study areas in each Library. Please respect other Library users, keep spaces clean and don’t leave your belongings unattended.

Group study rooms are available to RMIT students only.

You can connect to RMIT Wi-Fi if you are a business visitor, an event guest, or a student or staff member from another university. Bring your own device and refer to instructions on how to connect to the RMIT network.

Library computers and printers are available to RMIT student only.

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Acknowledgement of Country

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.