We maintain a collection of material relating to hearing and vision loss in children and adults. The collection is aimed at professionals who teach students or work with clients who have hearing and/or vision loss. It includes journals, books, conference proceedings, annual reports, newsletters, audiovisual material, and kits. The library also holds archival material documenting the more than 160-year history of NextSense.

Postal loans of material from the library’s collection are available to NextSense staff and NextSense Institute students. Our helpful librarians can access and email journal articles and book chapters to you and perform database searches to find literature on your requested topic. Journal articles or book chapters can be requested.

The Rydge Family Library offers a comfortable and modern environment for students and staff, with access to wi-fi and laptops. There's a quiet study room for group or individual use as well as desktop PCs, printing and photocopying facilities.

The library is adjacent to the Student Common Room, with access to kitchen facilities, a DVD player and study space.

All the information resources of the Rydge Family Library are listed on Macquarie University’s MultiSearch tool. Holds, requests and renewals can be made by logging into MultiSearch with your Macquarie University OneID.

NextSense Institute students can access journal articles, eBooks and course readings through MultiSearch.

NextSense Institute students and NextSense staff can borrow a maximum of 10 items at time, which can be posted out to you. The loan period is for four weeks. It is the responsibility of borrowers to cover the cost of return postage of items sent out by mail.

Renewals may be made twice unless the item has been requested by another borrower.

Reference books and journal articles cannot be loaned. Photocopying and scanning facilities are available in the library.

Parents and carers of children who are receiving services through NextSense, and NextSense volunteers are also able to make use of the Rydge Family Library resources to support their information needs. Please contact us for details on how to register as a borrower.

Past students of the NextSense Institute may continue to borrow books from the library; this does not include access to electronic resources. Please contact us for details on how to register as an alumni borrower.

The Rydge Family Library participates in resource sharing through interlibrary loans and document delivery with libraries across Australia. If you are not affiliated with NextSense and wish to borrow from us, please contact your local library to arrange an interlibrary loan (charges may apply).

Members of the public may visit by appointment.

An after-hours book return chute is located near Reception.

Street address

NextSense Institute Library, 361-365 North Rocks Road, North Rocks NSW 2151

Postal address

NextSense Institute Library, Private Bag 29, Parramatta NSW 2124

Email

institute.library@nextsense.org.au

Phone

(02) 9872 0285

Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm.

Staff provide services remotely on Wednesday and Friday, and the library is closed for in-person visits on these days.

The library is closed weekends and public holidays.

Hours may vary at short notice—please phone ahead to confirm opening hours.

Norman Rydge, AM OBE, is Vice-Patron of NextSense. He was a member of the Board of Directors from 1977 until 2009, and President from 1995 until 2009. Norman his wife Lorita, and their family have been exceptional supporters of NextSense.