Library Use

Online Catalog

The online catalog or OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) is the web front-end interface of the library system  aDIS/BMS. Use the catalog to conduct a literature search and manage your library account , such as reviewing and renewing items that you have checked out, requesting or placing a hold on library materials, or ordering materials through interlibrary loan.

Reading Room and Study Spaces

Library materials are on open access in the readings rooms and stacks in the central library building (Bibliothekszentrale: BZ) and departmental library Helmholtzstraße (HH).

Workspaces are provided in all publicly accessible areas at both library locations. You can choose to study either in the open reading room area or in the stack aisles, and a limited number of personal study carrels are provided for quite study. In addition to these conventional work spaces, we provide a modern study environment with multimedia group work rooms and a lounge area.

Circulation

The Library lends materials primarily for the needs of the University community, but we also offer our services to the wider academically interested public.

E-Media (Databases)

The various academic departments together with kiz administrators choose which information resources are purchased or licensed for the University. Access to these resources is available through the collaborative service Databank Information System (DBIS).

E-Media (E-Journals)

Kiz, in close cooperation with the academic departments, selects the digital subscriptions to scientific journals. These subscriptions are primarily cataloged and searchable in the EZB (Electronic Journals Library).

E-Media (E-Books)

Faculty members as well as kiz make the purchasing or licensing decisions concerning digital book editions (e-books, o-books). Access is via the respective publisher's site.

Office Reference Collections

Professors and academic staff who wish to have reference material on hand for research purposes may establish their own office reference collections containing borrowed library material. Non-academic institutes can also apply for such permission.

Library patrons may request to borrow material from these collections via the online catalog.

Acquisition

The service includes acquiring and deacquiring print media to ensure a comprehensive care of the members of the university with up-to-date scientific literature for research, teaching and study.

The print media as well as the electronic information media are formally as well as factually (notations and keywords) as well as in various local, regional and supregional library catalogs.

Guide to Regional Libraries

Here you can find further information about 60 libraries in 30 cities constituting the wider regional academic community, from Albstadt to Dillingen (Donau) and from Aalen to Friedrichshafen.

Tip

Off-campus access to electronic information media (e.g. e-journals) is available to University members who connect to the campus network via VPN.