Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you can borrow books from the Gordon library if you are not a student or staff member.

There are a couple of options available such as:

CAVAL Reciprocal Borrowing Scheme

The CAVAL scheme allows staff or students to borrow resources in person from other Victorian TAFE and University Libraries in the scheme. Find out if your library is a CAVAL member. If it is, ask the librarians at your institute if you are eligible for a CAVAL card. When you visit The Gordon Library, you need to bring your current staff or student ID card and CAVAL card with you if you wish to borrow.

Community Membership

Members of the public can come into the library to browse the shelves and use our resources. They can also register for a Community Borrower card. Please bring proof of identity (and concession if applicable). Community Borrowers can borrow books and motor manuals. Membership does not include access to electronic resources, and use of computer facilities is for Gordon staff and students only.

The rates for becoming a Community Borrower are:

Full rate (12 months) $80

Concession (12 months) $40

As a Community Borrower you can borrow:

12 Books (excluding Motor Manuals) -14 Days  

Loan Conditions

The following loan conditions apply to CAVAL and community borrowers:

• Loan period is 14 days
• Borrowing limit of 12 books
• Serials, audiovisual items and AV equipment are not available for loan
• Items must be returned or renewed by the due date
• You will be responsible for replacement costs for any lost or damaged items
• You are unable to access The Gordon's computer network
• Membership does not include access to electronic resources

When you become a student at The Gordon, you automatically receive $10.00 credit on your printing account. (This print credit is nonrefundable)

You can view your account balance on campus. 

There are now two ways to top up your print credit:

1. Access your print account, then click "Add Credit" where you will be able to top-up your print balance using your debit or credit card via our secure online method.

2. You can purchase top-up print cards in amounts of: 50c, $1, $2, $5, $10 or $20.

Print top-up cards can be purchased from:

• City Campus Customer Service (EFTPOS only).
• East Campus Customer Service (EFTPOS only).
• Werribee Campus Customer Service, Watton St and Princess Hwy (EFTPOS only) - $5 and $10 cards only available at Werribee campuses.

Top-up instructions are available in our How-to Guide "Print Costs & Account Top-Up". 

Read & Write software is available for all students. This free literacy support tool offers help with tasks like reading text out loud, understanding unfamiliar words, researching assignments and proofreading written work. Find out how to access and use Read & Write.

We also currently have the following Disability Support devices available in the library: 

City:   2 C Pens, 2 Alpha Smart Keyboards and 2 iPads. Please contact the Disability Inclusion Support Team if you would like to borrow any of these items.

You can request an item by any of the following ways:

• Limited nursing resources are available for loan from a display cabinet at Watton St campus near customer service, staff at the front counter will be able to assist with loaning of these items.
• Logging into the Library Catalogue to search and reserve online (Using your Gordon student ID and password). When reserving your items select "Werribee Campus". Items will be delivered to your home address by Express Post.
• Downloading and using the Library App (Liberty Link) on your mobile device and follow the above step
• Library Chat
• Contacting The Gordon Library on 5225 0812 (City) or 5225 0609 (East) or email: library@gordontafe.edu.au
• Visit the City Campus (Geelong) or East Campus library in person
• Library self-loan station, located at City or East library

All full time and part time students get free access to Office 365 while studying at The Gordon.

Instructions are available on how to access or download Office 365 on the student portal under IT essentials, or by clicking this link here.

If you require further assistance with Office 365, our Library team will be happy to assist you.

Standard opening hours:
Monday to Thursday - 7:30am - 5pm
Friday - 7:30am - 4:00pm

*Please note all times may be subject to change, not open Victorian public holidays.

All computers and laptops at both City and East Campus Libraries have the following programs installed:

• 7-Zip
• Adobe CC 2024
• AutoDesk - Revit 2024
• AutoDesk Inventor 2024
• AutoCAD 2024
• Blend for Visual Studio 2022
• Cura 2.3
• Garden Planner
• Garmin Base Camp
• GIMP 2.10.36
• Google Chrome
• Google Earth Pro
• GPS Babel
• JetBrains
• K-Lite Codec Pack
• Map Window5
• MedicalDirector PracSoft
• Microsoft Edge
• Microsoft Office 2019 with Outlook
• MYOB AccountRight 2022.2
• MYOB AccountRight Plus v19.12
• Notepad++
• ObjectLand
• QGIS 3.16
• SketchUp  2023
• Stencyl
• TypingMaster
• Visual Studio
• Windows Movie Maker

Standard Opening Hours for City & East Libraries:

Library Space Open From 7:30am Monday – Friday
Library Staff available - Monday to Thursday - 8:30am - 5:00pm
Friday - 8:30am - 4:00pm

(Open during term breaks unless otherwise noted)

* Closed Victorian public holidays

Students passwords can be reset by click here, or by clicking on the on "Forgot your Password link on the eCentral login page and following the below steps:

1. Enter student ID number, then click "Retrieve Password".

2. You will shortly be sent a SMS with a link, click this link then insert new password and confirm.

Please ensure your password is at least 14 characters long, has an uppercase and lower-case letter, a number and a special character but do not use " or _ .

Your password should now be updated for all Gordon Accounts.

After hours return chutes are available 24/7 for book and DVD returns at both Geelong City campus and East Campus locations.

View the return chute locations map.

Yes, the Library is open during the term breaks: 

Library space open from 7:30am Monday – Friday
Library staff available - Monday to Thursday - 8:30am - 5:00pm
Friday - 8:30am - 4:00pm

*Not open Victorian public holidays and closed during Christmas shutdown period.

The Bookshop is located in the Library at East Campus, Building H (H1.06).

More information can be found on the Bookshop's website. 

You can purchase your items by:

• Visiting us in person at the East Campus Library, Building H (H1.06) or, 
• Ph: (03) 5225 0542  
• Order using our online ordering form.

City students: your order can be sent to City Library for collection.

Werribee students: your order can be delivered to Customer Service at Werribee for your collection.

Online resources (including ebooks, articles, videos and images, standards and more) can be accessed via the library website.

You will be required to enter your Gordon email address (studentnumber@gordontafe.edu.au) and your Gordon password (this is the same login used to access computers at The Gordon).

*Please be aware if accessing Australian Standards for the first time you will have to register. View the Registration instructions on the library website. 

If you can’t find what you are looking for in the Gordon Library, please ask library staff as there are a number of different options available to you:

CAVAL Reciprocal Borrowing Program

The CAVAL scheme allows Gordon students and staff to borrow resources in person from other Victorian TAFE and University Libraries (such as Deakin University Library). Applications for a CAVAL membership card must be made in person at the Service Desk of the City or East Library. When you visit another library, you need to take both your current Gordon staff or student ID card and CAVAL membership card to the service desk of that library. It is important to remember that when you borrow from other libraries, you are subject to that library’s policies and procedures.

Inter-Library Loans

If you are studying Certificate III and above and it is not possible for you to borrow or photocopy resources from other libraries in person, you may request The Gordon Library to obtain resources on your behalf via an Inter-Library Loan. This service is granted on a case-by-case basis, you may only request one item at a time. Please contact the library for more information. Staff can request Inter-Library Loans by applying in person to the library service desks, by phone or via email. Resources from other libraries usually take 2 to 3 weeks to arrive.

Geelong Regional Library Corporation

The Geelong Regional Library Corporation operates free public libraries for the residents of Geelong. Their City Library is a short walk from the Gordon City campus. We can search their library catalogue for you from our Service Desks.

Loans can be renewed a maximum of two times, provided the items have not been reserved by another borrower. If you need items for longer, you can renew your loans by any of the following ways:

• Logging into the Library Catalogue to renew online (Using your Gordon username and password)
• Downloading and using the Library App (Liberty Link) on your mobile device
• Library Chat 
• Library self-loan station, located at City or East library
• Phone the Gordon Library on (03) 5225 0812 (City) or (03) 5225 0609 (East) or email: library@gordontafe.edu.au
• Visit City (Geelong Campus) or East library in person

*Please be aware that once your item(s) are overdue you will need to contact the library to renew. 

Gordon students and staff members can borrow items using their student/staff ID card by one of the following methods:

• In person at City or East Campuses using the self-loan station, or Library staff can assist you at the Service Desk.
• Werribee students or staff at Watton St can borrow items from the display cabinet near customer service, Customer service staff will assist with these loans.
• Reserve your item/s online through the library website, you will be notified when your item(s) are ready to be collected from your nominated campus. Please have your student/staff card on you when collecting your item(s). 

The Bookshop can be contacted by:

• Ph: (03) 5225 0542
• Online Chat
• Email: bookshop@gordontafe.edu.au
• Visit us in the Library at East Campus, Building H (H1.06)

More information can be found on the Bookshop web page.

Download the Library app - called 'Liberty Link' from the Apple or Android store.

The Library catalogue has more instructions on how to download and use the app.