General
Borrowing books from the university library is free of charge. If the loan periods are exceeded, fees are incurred.
The following parties are entitled to borrow books:
- Members of the university
- Other persons who have a library card
Late return results in an overdue fine according to § 13 Para 3 of the Regulations for use.
Order – reserve – renew
Order
To order books online, register on our catalogue surf@ubk:
Register with your AAU account or the access data of your choice (for external users) – “Sign in” (top right). Enter the relevant search requests into the search field. Access to details in the hit list is by clicking a title or “Available at”, where you find the location of your item under “Locations”. If the item is in the closed stacks or already borrowed, you can order resp. reserve it by clicking “Order/Request”. Please confirm your order by clicking “Order/Request” (now green) again.
Your order resp. reservation is now complete. In the case of a closed-stacks item, you will receive an email notifying you that your item is at the loan desk a few hours later. In the case of a reservation, you will be notified when the item has been returned. In both cases, items remain at the loan desk for 5 workdays.
In the case of an open-stacks item, make a note of classification system (“Auf.sys.”) and call number (e.g.: I 345576). You can collect these books from the shelves yourself.
Textbooks are reserved for AAU students. They are located opposite the loan desk resp. on level 2 (cube) and have their own classification system.
Detailed instructions: https://surf.aau.at/primo-explore/static-file/help?vid=UKL&lang=en_US
Reservations
To reserve books that are borrowed already, register on our catalogue surf@ubk.
Register with your AAU account or the access data of your choice (for external users) – “Sign in” (top right). Enter the relevant search requests into the search field. Access to details in the hit list is by clicking a title or “Available at”, where you find the location of your item under “Locations”.
If you see a date (“borrowed until”) in the catalogue line, the book is borrowed until the specified date.
You can reserve the book under “Order/Request”. Please confirm your reservation by clicking “Order/Request” (now green) again.
Your reservation is now complete. In the case of a borrowed book being reserved, you will receive an email notifying you when the book will be returned.
Items remain at the loan desk for 5 workdays.
Detailed instructions: https://surf.aau.at/primo-explore/static-file/help?vid=UKL&lang=en_US
Renew
To extend the borrowing period, register on our catalogue surf@ubk
Register with your AAU account or the access data of your choice (for external users) – “Sign in” (top right). Clicking “Account” opens a sub-menu with the option “My Library Card/My Loans”.
You can now access your personal library account, where you find all your personal information.
“My Loans” shows you the list of your borrowed books. Next to every title, you find “Renew” if an extension is possible.
You can extend single items or the complete list on “Renew all”.
Attention: if an item has been reserved or if you have a fine to pay, you cannot extend the loan period for this item/any items.
Please check the return date after every extension!
Detailed instructions: https://surf.aau.at/primo-explore/static-file/help?vid=UKL&lang=en_US
Returns & overdue fines
Please always return the media you have borrowed on time. If you exceed the loan period, fines will be due. Furthermore, if repeated warnings are sent, your user account may be blocked and you may be unable to borrow other books.
Late return results in an overdue fine according to § 13 Para 3 of the conditions of use.
After notice of overdue fine is served, the sum of € 0,50 per item and overdue day is charged (maximal overdue fine: price of the borrowed item).
Repeated failure to return the books after the 3rd warning constitutes a breach of the library regulations and can be penalised with limited (6 or 12 months) or, in the case of recurrence, permanent withdrawal of the entitlement to borrow books.
Prior to expiry of the loan period, you will automatically be sent a reminder by email. This is a service provided by the AAU, the non-compliance of which cannot constitute a waiver of or a legitimate extension to the return date.
(Spam filters often block these automated emails. Therefore please check your junk folder on a regular basis!)
Self-service kiosks for borrowing/returning books
Self-service borrowing/returning books, including at night
Since April 2005, within the framework of the 24-hour library, members of the university have been able to borrow media themselves from the open stacks of the library and return them to the library at any time, with the help of the self-service kiosks equipped with RFID technology. With this service, the AAU has a unique selling point in Austria.
Borrowing
- Hold your card above the sample card beside the screen.
- Place the media you wish to borrow one after another on the glass panel. The medium will be booked to your account and released. Please take your time with this step.
- Once you press “Finish”, you will receive a borrowing receipt.
Returns
- Place the media that need to be retuned one by one in the opening of the return kiosks. The kiosk will now accept the medium.
- The next item can only be inserted once the green light comes on again.
Inter-library loans and other non-accepted media can only be returned at the counter during opening hours.
If the return kiosks are not operational due to technical reasons, the media to be returned can be handed in to the porter at the main entrance.
Conditions of borrowing
- Students at the AAU (including exchange students)
- Students writing their thesis/dissertation at the AAU
- Academic staff at the AAU
- Administrative staff at the AAU
- Graduates of the AAU (Alumni)
- External users (school pupils, students at other Austrian universities, other paying users)
- Students at the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences or the University College of Teacher Education Carinthia
- Students writing their thesis at the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences or the University College of Teacher Education Carinthia
- External academics
Insofar as a work has not been reserved or a warning has not been sent, it can be renewed 2x (excluding holidays). Renewal is also possible online via the local online catalogue after logging in (“Log in”).
Long-term loans at the department (see also Section 4 (7) of the Regulations for use)
Renewal limitations are laid down in the Regulations for use (see also Section 13 of the Regulations for use)
Students at the AAU (including exchange students)
| Location | Number | Loan period |
|---|---|---|
| Closed stacks | 12 | 30 days |
| Open-access area | 3 | 14 days* |
| Textbook collection | 3 | 30 days |
| Media library | 6 | 30 days* |
| Contemporary Fiction | 6 | 30 days* |
| Inter-library loan | unlimited | depends on the library |
| * Cannot be renewed! |
Students writing their thesis/dissertation at the AAU
| Location | Number | Loan period |
|---|---|---|
| Closed stacks | 12 | 30 days |
| Open-access area | 9 | 30 days |
| Textbook collection | 3 | 30 days |
| Media library | 6 | 30 days* |
| Contemporary Fiction | 6 | 30 days* |
| Inter-library loan | unlimited | depends on the library |
| * Cannot be renewed! |
Academic staff at the AAU
| Location | Number | Loan period |
|---|---|---|
| Closed stacks | 90* | 6 months (Renewed automatically twice) |
| Open-access area | 90* | 6 months (Renewed automatically twice) |
| Textbook collection | 0 | |
| Media library | 6 | 30 days² |
| Contemporary Fiction | 6 | 30 days² |
| Inter-library loan | unlimited | depends on the library |
| * maximum number of items that can be borrowed, irrespective of location | ||
| ² Cannot be renewed! |
Administrative staff at the AAU
| Location | Number | Loan period |
|---|---|---|
| Closed stacks | 12 | 3 months |
| Open-access area | 9 | 3 months |
| Textbook collection | 0 | |
| Media library | 6 | 30 days* |
| Contemporary Fiction | 6 | 30 days* |
| Inter-library loan | unlimited | depends on the library |
| * Cannot be renewed! |
Graduates of the AAU (Alumni)
| Location | Number | Loan period |
|---|---|---|
| Closed stacks | 6 | 30 days |
| Open-access area | 3 | 14 days* |
| Textbook collection | 0 | |
| Media library | 3 | 30 days* |
| Contemporary Fiction | 3 | 30 days* |
| Inter-library loan | unlimited | depends on the library |
| * Cannot be renewed! |
External users (school pupils, students at other Austrian universities, other paying users)
| Location | Number | Loan period |
|---|---|---|
| Closed stacks | 6 | 30 days |
| Open-access area | 3 | 14 days* |
| Textbook collection | 0 | |
| Media library | 3 | 30 days* |
| Contemporary Fiction | 3 | 30 days* |
| Inter-library loan | unlimited | depends on the library |
| * Cannot be renewed! |
Students at the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences or the University College of Teacher Education Carinthia
| Location | Number | Loan period |
|---|---|---|
| Closed stacks | 6 | 30 days |
| Open-access area | 3 | 14 days* |
| Textbook collection | 0 | |
| Media library | 3 | 30 days* |
| Contemporary Fiction | 3 | 30 days* |
| Inter-library loan | unlimited | depends on the library |
| * Cannot be renewed! |
Students writing their thesis at the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences or the University College of Teacher Education Carinthia
| Location | Number | Loan period |
|---|---|---|
| Closed stacks | 12 | 30 days |
| Open-access area | 3 | 14 days* |
| Textbook collection | 0 | |
| Media library | 3 | 30 days* |
| Contemporary Fiction | 3 | 30 days* |
| Inter-library loan | unlimited | depends on the library |
| * Cannot be renewed! |
External academics
| Location | Number | Loan period |
|---|---|---|
| Closed stacks | 30* | 3 months |
| Open-access area | 30* | 3 months |
| Textbook collection | 0 | |
| Media library | 6 | 30 days² |
| Contemporary Fiction | 6 | 30 days² |
| Inter-library loan | unlimited | depends on the library |
| * maximum number of items that can be borrowed, irrespective of location | ||
| ² Cannot be renewed! |
