The Library of Georg Simon Ohm University divides into three locations and subject areas respectively, the Central Library for Engineering, Architecture and Design, the Departmental Library for Business and Social Studies and the Reference Library for Computer Science. Addresses and Opening Hours here.
Public services
The library facilities are in general available to any interested person during the opening hours (Opening hours in German). The terms on which the use of the library itself and the relationship between the user and the library are based are governed by the General User Service Association of the State of Bavarian Libraries from August 18, 1993
Holdings
Most materials in the library are borrowable. A collection of serial titles is maintained as non-circulating either because the material is in constant demand or because the items need to be carefully handled. In most cases they are distinguished by a band of red tape on the vertical spine of the book. This non-circulating collection includes
- Encyclopaedia and reference books
- Reference copies of course books
- Periodicals and bound periodical collections and journals
- Leaflets and brochures
- Books published before 1930
- Literature which is to be viewed only at respective location
Library cards
You must have a library card in order to access the electronic database. Students who show a current student ID card and present an ID with a picture on it can obtain a library card. Those students who do not yet have a student ID card can obtain a temporary library card, which will be valid for a period of 5 weeks, by presenting written confirmation from the Director of Studies that they are officially enrolled at the university. After this period the normal library card will be issued.
The library card is valid for the entire time of study. If you lose it, contact the circulation desk immediately so that use of the card can be blocked. Should the card be used before it has been blocked, the owner will be held responsible for any transactions.
Persons who are not students at the university and those who are not associated with the university in any way can obtain a library card by showing proof of residency in the Nuremberg area. The card is valid for 6 months and can be renewed at any time. The library card for lecturers and others associated with the university need not be renewed and is invalidated when the individual is no longer associated with the universtiy. The library card is valid for one semester for those employed for limited periods of time and can be renewed at the circulation desk by verbal arrangement for as long as employment is arranged.
Checking library materials
All items in the library's collection are checked out electronically. Present all the books you want to check out along with your library card at the circulation desk. The loan period is generally counted as 22 days on which the library is open. Special attention should be paid to the due date on the printed receipt. You can check your account information at any time on the OPAC or ask for a copy of your printout at the circulation desk.:
- The loan period can be shortened to a period of 10 opening days if the material is in great demand
- it is possible to check out books at the end of the summer semester for the time of the semester break or to extend the loan period of a book already checked out (providing this is a title which can be renewed) for the period of the break (only for students and university staff). At the end of the extended loan period the books must then be returned and cannot be renewed again
- for those who are not associated with the university the loan period is 10 opening days
Renewals
Library materials may be renewed twice for students, three times for those writing dissertations, six times for lecturers and once for those not associated with the university. You can process the renewal either on the Online-Catalog. The new loan period will appear on the monitor. Should the system refuse to extend the loan period, then the book must immediately be brought back to the library. Take care to systematically go through each of the steps when renewing a book. Be sure to print out the current version of your account information to confirm that the renewal has been correctly carried out.
Further information in German ...
Reservations
Materials currently in circulation or on order can also be placed on hold at the online catalog. You can check to see which titles you have reserved by looking into your account. As soon as a reserved title has been returned it will appear under the heading "Bestellungen". If you have given us an e-mail address the news that the book has been returned and has been set aside for you will be passed on to you this way. If the book is not picked up within 14 days, it will be passed on to the next person on the hold list or returned to the stacks. If you do not have an e-mail address, be sure to check your library account regularly to see if you have been notified about the book you have reserved. Should we not be able to hold a book you would like to check out, it might be that the particular title has been reserved or taken out by a lecturer. If you need this book and there is no other copy available, one of the librarians can request it and loan it to you for a short period of time. Please contact one of the librarians at the circulation desk for further information and assistance.
Fees
There are no charges for using the library. You only have to pay for
- prepaid copying cards (available at the Copy-Shop at Keßlerplatz or in the machines)
- copies made of interlibrary material
- replacement of a library card which has been lost
- reminders sent connected with the return of overdue material
Important note
The terms on which the use of the library itself and the relationship between the user and the library are based are governed by the General User Service Association of the State of Bavarian Libraries from 18 August 1993.
