Content classifications

National Classification Scheme

How is a rating decided

What do ratings mean?

Classification ratings for publications

While Library collections are largely exempt from classification we all need to be aware of the current legislation around classification categories and how they apply to the InterLibrary loans service.

This becomes particularly important for items with a Category 1 or Category 2 restricted publications as these are prohibited in QLD.

Current titles with a Category 1 Restricted rating include

American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
The Boys (graphic novel) by Garth Ennis (Volumes 1,3,5)

Full media releasehere

The National Library will be collaborating with CAVAL and Index Data to develop the service to tailor to Australia’s unique environment. This outcome is the result of an extensive engagement and research strategy with Trove Partners and a robust tender process to select an innovative solution.

From mid-2025, Trove Partners will be able to access a new national resource sharing service with all the current core functions and a host of significant improvements.

Libraries have always relied on extensive resource sharing networks to deliver inter-library loan and document delivery copy services. The new service will completely integrate with the Australian National Bibliographic Database. Other new features include:

• A reciprocal service model with no transaction-based fees, to keep costs down.
• The ability to set preferred Partners, including by region or library sector.
• Automated load balancing, removing the need to create manual lists of suppliers.
• A platform for future innovation and improved functionality.

Project scope and background

• To identify the volume of Inter-library Loans being done by Public Libraries, including trends.
  
• Understand the staff resources taken to complete ILLs, including different staffing models.
  
• Identify the most efficient processes, systems and technology used for ILLs.
  
• Understand the National Library of Australia’s view of ILL, including trends and how they see Trove as supporting ILLs, including LADD.
  

This survey was completed in August 2022 and a presentation on its findings is available here

Overview shown below and full details are available on the NLA website here

The Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery Policy details the National Library’s approach to providing offsite access for other libraries to the Library’s collection.

Consistent with this policy, the National Library has implemented a digital first approach to interlibrary loans. This means the Library will supply a digital surrogate in place of the original physical item where possible within copyright and other rights obligations.

In response to a request from another library for an interlibrary loan, we will provide a digitised copy. The digitised copy will be delivered to the requesting library via their resource sharing service, and can be incorporated into the requesting library’s collection, within copyright, cultural and other rights obligations.

The original physical item will only be loaned in limited circumstances where:

• a digitised copy cannot be provided under the terms of the Copyright Act 1968 (applies to material which is in copyright and is readily commercially available) OR
  

• a physical copy is needed for accessibility purposes
  

Libraries can submit a loan request where it meets one of the exceptions above for provision of a physical loan via the Loan request option of the requesting Library’s resource sharing service. The loan will be supplied in accordance with library sector standard timeframes for resource sharing.

Where the loan request does not meet one of the exceptions above, we will reject your Loan request and it will be passed on to the next library on the rota. You will also be advised that should you wish to purchase a digitised copy, you can re-submit your request via the Copy option.

Consistent with the digital first approach, the National Library will only provide physical loans in limited circumstances. Where a physical loan is preferred, libraries should place loan requests with reciprocal lending partners within their established networks.

Please email Digitisation on Demand with any enquiries. Our business hours are 9.00am - 5.00pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time), Monday to Friday.