Library essentials for students
The La Trobe University (LTU) Library is more than a building or a website. We offer free learning support with friendly specialists who can provide advice and assistance with your studies.
Why visit the Library?
Whether you visit the Library in person or online, you have access to advice and assistance with research, writing, referencing, presentations, managing your time, understanding your assessment tasks, improving your maths and coding skills, and more. The Library works very closely with all the Schools and disciplines at La Trobe to meet your unique study needs.
Every LTU campus has a Library building or designated place where you can socialise, work in small groups, ask questions, study in designated quiet areas, find information for your assessments, borrow textbooks, and more.
The Library is also a community and a great place to interact with other students to exchange ideas, form study groups and make friends. Engaging with other students can help smooth the transition into life at university.
Learning and assessment help
The Library offers many services and resources to improve your study, research and assessment skills.
Workshops, training and events
We offer a huge range of workshops and training sessions covering topics like referencing, academic writing, finding information, understanding assessments, and more.
Finding information for your research and assessments
We have a wide range of online databases you can use when researching and finding information for your assessments.
Most subjects also have a reading list, with textbooks and other readings that are relevant to your coursework. These are available online or within the Library collections.
Helpful guides and information
Achieve@Uni
A collection of student help guides to help you achieve at uni. This website has resources, writing samples and tips to support you in completing assessments and improving your skills.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Considering using generative AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT) to assist in your studies? Check our guide on understanding AI and how to work with it responsibly.
Academic Referencing Tool
The Academic Referencing Tool (ART) provides detailed referencing examples for La Trobe University's prescribed referencing styles.
Assessment planning
Try our Assessment Planner, which creates a step-by-step timeline for your assessment with personalised target deadlines to ensure you complete everything on time.
Face-to-face assistance
One-on-one consultations with an Academic Skills Advisor
We offer one-to-one appointments with Academic Skills Advisors for advice on your assessments, preparing for exams, academic writing, study habits and more.
One-on-one consultations with a Librarian
You can also request an appointment with a Librarian, who can assist you with finding credible information, systematic searching, developing your research question, law-specific inquiries and referencing support.
Peer Learning Advisors (PLAs)
Our PLAs are experienced LTU students specially trained to help others with navigating study and assessments. You can meet with a PLA in person or via online chat. Check the Library opening hours to see when PLAs are available.
Discipline Hubs
The Discipline Hubs connect you with expert tutors who provide support in the maths, science and coding skills you may need for your degree.
Visit the following LMS sites to explore online resources and connect with our tutors face-to-face, both in-person or online:
Support for international students
We offer a range of support options to help you throughout your studies. We provide a variety of tools, resources and support, including one-to-one study and assessment help.
For more information, see Study support for international students.
Academic integrity and referencing
It's important that any work you submit properly acknowledges the sources of information you have used, ensuring you don't present someone else's work as your own. This is in line with the University's Academic Integrity policy, which all students and staff must follow.
The Library has created a guide to explain how to use information appropriately and identify actions that may breach the University's policy. We also offer support and resources to assist you with referencing, helping you to correctly acknowledge and cite your sources.
Borrowing
The Library gives you access to an extensive collection of physical and digital books, journals, research papers, and other resources in your field of study.
Use the Library Collections Search to find resources, and log in to your Library account to manage your loans and resource requests.
For information on how to borrow, renew and return items from LTU Library, see Borrow from the Library.
If you're an LTU student or staff member, you can also borrow in person from other participating academic libraries. For more information, see Borrow at other academic libraries.
Next steps
If you're looking for specific information that wasn't covered here, check out the Library's frequently asked questions (FAQs) or get in touch.