Our collections
At La Trobe University Library, we are dedicated to supporting excellence in learning, teaching and research by providing access to a diverse and comprehensive collection of resources.
Our collection strengths span across various disciplines, ensuring that you have the necessary materials to advance your study or research. If you can't find what you need in our collections, we may be able to help you source the material from other libraries.
Collection strengths
While the strength of the collection is post-1966 material published since the foundation of the Library, an effort has been made to acquire some antiquarian and out-of-print titles through second hand book dealers.
Notes
The focus of this collection is:
- Sub-Saharan history & politics
- works of literature by African writers
- scholarly works in the areas of archaeology, anthropology, religion, history, politics, development, international relations, economics, and sociology.
Location
Melbourne (Bundoora) and Online (access via Library collections search).
Access
Your valid student/staff card allows you to borrow from any campus library.
Format
Print: Dewey Decimal call numbers:
- 960s for African History
- Af820s for African literature
- 320s for African politics & government
Quantity
25,000 to 30,000 print titles
The Library became a European Documentation Centre (EDC) in 1975 and has one of the oldest and largest print collections of this material in Australia. The Collection aims to:
- promote teaching and research in European integration
- provide access to EU information and awareness of EU policies
- organise EU information for researchers, students and the general public
- act as a reference point on the EU in the University.
Notes
Search the Library collections as follows:
- author (e.g. European Commission, Statistical Office of the European Communities)
- title (e.g. EDC collection)
- subject (e.g. European Union countries - Statistics)
Location
Melbourne (Bundoora) and Online
Access
Your valid student/staff card allows you to borrow these items via any campus library.
Format
Print, Online
Quantity
Several thousand print titles plus electronic materials
This collection is very strong in early Buddhism (including the entire Buddhist Canon in several Asian languages) and in Sanskrit literature pertaining to Hinduism and belle-lettres. In addition, this is supplemented by extensive holdings of secondary sources in modern European languages.
Notes
This collection is strong in the social sciences and humanities.
Items of interest include:
- Indian official and census statistics
- encyclopaedic gazetteers of India
- The Illustrated weekly of India (Bombay)
- Asiatic annual register; or, A view of the history of Hindustan, and of the politics, commerce and literature of Asia
- The Asiatic journal and monthly register for British India and its dependencies.
Location
Melbourne (Bundoora) and Online (access via Library collections search)
Access
Your valid student/staff card allows you to borrow from any campus library.
Format
Print: Dewey Decimal call numbers:
- 294s for Buddhism
- 181s for Hindu philosophy
- 934s and 954s for Indian history.
Electronic:
- e.g. Empire Online
Quantity
37,500
In 1991, the Library signed an agreement with the National Library of Australia for a long term loan of five major collections of Latin American materials. In all, 14,000 volumes were transferred and added to La Trobe Library's collection.
Notes
The focus of this collection is:
- Mexican, Brazilian, Cuban, and Caribbean studies
- United States-Latin American relations
- Latino peoples living in the United States.
Format
Print: Dewey Decimal call numbers:
- 320s for Politics and Government
- Am860s for Latin American literature
- 972s for Mexican History
- 980s for Latin American History
Location
Melbourne (Bundoora) and Online (access via Library collections search)
Access
Your valid student/staff card allows you to borrow this material via any campus library.
Quantity
28,000 to 30,000 print titles and growing electronic content
Notes
Highlights of this collection include:
- 12th century to 15th century sacred music (especially 14th century Gregorian chant)
- collected editions of scores
- instrument and instrumental ensembles
- jazz
- keyboard music
- opera
- orchestra, chamber, strings and keyboard works of all major composers
- vocal music.
Location
Melbourne (Bundoora)
Access
Your valid student/staff card allows you to borrow from any campus library. Some older or more valuable items may be held in Special Storage or may not be available for loan.
Quantity
11,000 scores, recordings
Notes
These collections house rare, valuable, fragile and theses materials such as:
- books printed before 1850
- limited editions
- volumes of works which feature decorative bindings
- books that are liable to theft, mutilation or damage because of their content or condition
- theses which have been placed on limited access by the graduate.
Further description
The Library has a number of special collections, classified as:
Format
Location
Melbourne (Bundoora) (locate via Library collections search)
Access
Available for use in the Library only and must be read in the Special Collections reading area under 'Special Collections Conditions of Use' rules. For access to these items, please ask at the Inquiry Desk on Level 1.
Quantity
Approximately 10,000 titles
Collections by format
The General collection at all campuses contains books on a wide range of subjects that supports teaching and research in:
- Education
- Health Sciences
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Law and Management
- Science, Engineering and Technology.
Notes
The material in this collection is arranged by subject according to the Dewey Decimal Classification system.
Nearly all the items are available for loan. More information about borrowing this material is available for students and staff, as well as the community.
Location
All campus libraries and Online (access via Library collections search)
Access
Your valid student/staff card allows you to borrow from any campus library.
Quantity
Over 1.5 million items
The main aim of the Education Curriculum Collection (ECC) is to help users stay abreast of the latest curriculum developments and resources in both primary and secondary education. A big part of the collection is juvenile fiction and picture storybooks, with an emphasis on texts used in schools and award winning children's literature.
Notes
Also includes resources for:
- classroom activities
- curriculum design
- lesson preparation ideas
- teaching ideas and strategies.
Location
Albury-Wodonga, Bendigo, Melbourne (Bundoora) and Online (access via Library collections search)
Access
Your valid student/staff card allows you to borrow from any campus library.
Format
Print, DVDs, models, pictures, kits, CDs, CD-ROMs and games.
Quantity
Approximately 2000 items
Journals, also known as Serials, Periodicals and Magazines, are published in parts on a continuing basis. Many titles are now available as eJournals.
Location
Melbourne (Bundoora) and Online (access via Library collections search)
Older volumes are in storage.
Access
Your valid student/staff card allows you to borrow from any campus library.
Quantity
Over 630,000 volumes
This collection includes general and subject-specific dictionaries, handbooks, atlases, encyclopaedias, bibliographies and more. It provides scholarly information often not freely available on the web.
Notes
The collection of online reference materials is growing rapidly.
Location
All campus libraries and Online (access via Library collections search)
Access
Physical items to be used only within the Library.
Quantity
Over 30,000 items
Notes
This collection has the following strengths:
- Australian Federal and State government publications
- British government publications
- Publications of intergovernmental organisations, such as the World Bank and the United Nations
- Selection of Irish government publications from 1972 to 1992
Location
Online (access via Library collections search)
Some older, less used and rarer material is located in storage.
Format
Print, Online
Access
Your valid student/staff card allows you to borrow from any campus library. Access online materials using your La Trobe username and password if prompted.
Quantity
A substantial and comprehensive print collection mainly from the 1960s to present.
View more on the Government publications collection LibGuide
This collection includes a wide range of material to support the research and study of the staff and students at the University. The collection includes:
- computer software (software to accompany texts), tutorials, CD-Roms, DVDs and specialised computer programs
- microforms of theses, books, manuscripts etc.
- music recordings
- music scores
- online recorded lectures now provided by Lectopia Lectures Online
- online streaming videos
- videocassettes, DVDs, laserdiscs, slides, charts, anatomical models assessment/test kits, multimedia packages, etc.
Notes
Audio-visual viewing facilities vary amongst campuses but include:
- cassette decks
- computer and associated software for students with sight or hearing impairments
- group rooms for genuine use of resources held in the collection
- multimedia workstations for accessing a range of formats (PCs and Mac)
- readers and printers for microform material
- video, laserdisc and DVD viewing facilities.
Location
All campus libraries (access via Library collections search)
Access
Your valid student/staff card allows you to borrow from any campus library.
Format
Videos, laserdiscs, slides, charts, anatomical models assessment/test kits, multimedia packages, CD-Roms, DVDs and specialised computer programs, music recordings and scores.
Quantity
Approximately 20,000 titles
Notes
The Melbourne (Bundoora) campus library has a significant collection of primary and secondary research materials and historical documents on microfiche and microfilm.
Location
Melbourne (Bundoora) and Online (access via Library collections search)
View
Microfilm readers and printers are located at the Melbourne (Bundoora) and Bendigo campuses.
Quantity
4,000 titles comprising thousands of fiches and reels
Additional collections
The Library holds many rare and fragile items from the areas of Australiana, South Asia and India, Latin American studies and Linguistics. Access to many of these items is restricted as they require careful storage and handling to ensure they are preserved for future generations.
The Library has converted over 400 out-of-copyright titles to high-quality online versions freely accessible to researchers and students in the following collections:
- Australiana series
- India series
- Latin America series
- Language and linguistics series
Note: These items are not currently accessible as a series. If you do require access, please contact Library staff.
By digitising collection material, the Library is helping to:
- preserve the original books
- increase access to the Library's collections
- allow access to digital materials online wherever and whenever users need access.
Related material
You might also be interested in:
- Dardalis Archives of the Hellenic Diaspora
This collection covers a wide variety of subjects related to Greek Australian migration, history, religion and culture.