Studying, reading, researching, checking emails, making copies and maybe a quick visit to the café: for almost all students, the University Library is a central hub – complete with welcoming atmosphere.
At the beginning of the pandemic the library set up an extensive book and scan ordering service and expanded its collection of digital literature. This means students can now also access many sources from home.
1,400 individual study spaces
“Service is our top priority,” says Heike Andermann, head of the University Library. “We want to provide our visitors with the best possible conditions in which to work and study.”
In normal circumstances, many students use their breaks between seminars to study. For that purpose, there are usually 1,400 individual study spaces available, almost 300 of which are equipped with a computer. The library also offers group study rooms for up to 20 people, which can be booked online. Those who want to edit audio files or record music should head to the MusicSpace. Here, you will find several computers with keyboards, microphones and special software, so you can let your creativity run wild.
To use the lockers and borrow books, the only thing you will need as a new student is your Campus Card, which you receive when you register. However, you will first need to activate the borrowing service on your card. You can do this at the library desk, and you only need to do this once. Library users have access to more than 1.3 million books, as well as almost 120,000 e-books, 30,000 electronic journals, databases, films, videos, software, audio recording media and test procedures. Newcomers can learn the ropes during a tour of the library.
A calm and focused atmosphere
“Students can also contact us at any time,” says Andermann. “Our experts always keep track of the current literature and electronic media relevant to the degree programmes. They are always on hand to give advice and share tips on how to find literature.”
Is there anything that students need to be aware of in the library? “We expect visitors to adhere to our ‘Golden Rules’, which are a bit like the University Library’s code of conduct,” says Andermann. It goes without saying that visitors should treat the collection with care and that everyone should contribute to creating a calm, focused atmosphere in the library. After all, it should be a bit like a living room in which everyone feels comfortable.
