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About Us

Collections

Read an overview of what we have in our wide-ranging collections below or download our Collection Management Policy [pdf] which describes the Library's collecting responsibilities, including statements on collection principles, selection and deselection criteria, fund allocation, resource sharing and special collections.

General lending collections

  • Book Collection  The Te Puna Library in B180 has the largest collection of books (approx 73,000 titles), with a smaller collection at Waitākere Unitec Library. The collection reflects the learning needs of each library's user community. In total, the libraries contain approximately 82,000 books. We also have access to over 380,000 e-books.
  • DVD Collections  Each library has AV materials, consisting of DVDs, CDs and similar. This material can be borrowed.  Study materials are shelved within the main book collection at both libraries. There is also a separate DVD collection (movies) in each library: in the study space on level 3 in Te Puna and near the entrance at Waitākere Library.

Electronic resources

NB. Access to electronic resources is restricted to Unitec staff and students. 

  • E-Books  The library subscribes to over 380,000 e-books accessible through our catalogue. Find out how to access e-books.
  • E-Journals and articles  The library has access to over 80,200 full-text electronic journals. Our e-journal titles are listed in the library catalogue and our Journal finder list. If you know the details of the article you are looking for, you can obtain it by using the Citation Linker from LibrarySearch top menu.
  • Databases  The library subscribes to hundreds of databases which include academic articles and reference information. You can access them from the Databases A-Z list. 
  • Exams  The Library catalogue includes links to exam papers in PDF format for most Unitec courses. See our help page on how to access the exam papers.
  • Subject Guides  The guides on our website provide a 'one-stop shop' for each subject area. In each guide, our expert Subject Librarians have gathered together research databases relevant to a particular teaching area, subject-specific websites, and relevant online resources. You can access the guides from the index of the subject guide.

Short Loan collections

  • Short Loan Collection  The Short Loan collection manages the circulation of high-demand titles and includes books, articles, and audio-visual material. Many items are issued for two hours only, although some are available to take home for 24 or 72 hours. Each library has a Short Loan collection appropriate to its users. Items not returned on time will be subject to fines.

Journals

  • Online journals  We have online access to over 80,200 full-text electronic journals. Our electronic journal titles are listed in the Library catalogue and the Journal finder list. Most are located within searchable databases we subscribe to.
  • Print journals  The libraries also subscribe to approximately 80 printed journal titles to supplement our electronic journal databases. Students and staff may borrow most copies for up to 21 days.

Not for Loan and special collections

  • Not for Loan Collections (includes business, trade and community-related information)  Each library has a collection of dictionaries, encyclopedias and other material that provides quick and concise facts. At Te Puna these items are labelled as 'Not for Loan' and are shelved among the general collection along with related subject material.  In Waitākere, there is a small separate collection.
  • Te Kohinga Māori / Māori Collection  (Te Puna) The Te Puna Library has a Māori collection (Te Kohinga Māori) which contains books and audio-visual resources on Māori culture, history and society. This is a reference collection, but most of these resources are also available as lending copies from within the library's main collection.
  • Pacific Collection (Waitākere)  Waitākere Library has a Pacific collection focusing on Health and Social development. It contains books on Health, society, culture, identity, government reports and the history of the Pacific Islands. As this is a reference collection, lending copies are also available for most of the items in the General collection.
  • NZ Standards (Te Puna)  The Te Puna Library has selected NZ standards appropriate to their user community. These are available from the Ask Me Desk as a two-hour loan. A complete set of NZ standards is available online.
  • DVD Collection  This collection of films is part of the Performing and Screen Arts resources in Te Puna. Both libraries also have general movies, originally part of the English Language collection. All DVDs can be borrowed to be viewed at home.
  • Architecture Reference Collection  As well as reference material related to architecture, specific journals that are for in-library use only are shelved here on Level 2.

  • Fred Tschopp Collection (Te Puna)  This unique collection is on level 3 in Te Puna Library. It includes many of Fred's photos, plans and papers from his time in New Zealand. Fred Tschopp came to New Zealand at the start of the Depression and made plans for five parks in Auckland, such as Craigavon Park in Blockhouse Bay. He also worked on many other significant projects around the country, including the Prime Ministerial residence in Wellington. To see the collection, do a keyword search in the catalogue for the phrase "Fred Tschopp Collection" and email libinfo@unitec.ac.nz to arrange a time to access the cabinet. See a blog post about this collection and this related news article.  
  • Exhibition Catalogues  Split into two locations.  Exhibitions related to specific artists are located on Level 2.  Catalogues related to the school of Creative Industries subjects are on Level 3.
  • Student Reports  The Library accepts student reports where they provide information on unique research. Print copies can be requested via LibrarySearch.
  • Unitec Theses  The Unitec Library holds digital copies of most Unitec theses in our Institutional Research Repository Research Bank. These are available online and can be downloaded. Older theses as far back as 1999 may be available in print only. Check the library catalogue LibrarySearch. Print copies can be requested via LibrarySearch and are available only for in-library use.
  • Recreational Reading Collection Both libraries have this collection. Its role is to promote and encourage literacy among students. Popular genres, both fiction and non-fiction, are collected. There is a selection of graphic novels available.
  • Arts File collection  Containing newspaper articles related to a group of design and architecture topics, this information can be requested via LibrarySearch and are available only for in-library use