When you are working on a presentation in a group, you need a different type of working environment from when you’re concentrating on a text on your own. The university library therefore offers different types of working areas:
- You can choose between reading and computer areas. The university library also has areas and rooms for group work.
- 7 height-adjustable tables are designed to facilitate accessible working.
- The media library also offers 4 special multimedia work stations, where you can use all types of non-print media in a secure area.
- All work stations have WLAN.
So that students writing their Doctoral dissertations don’t have to carry all of their work papers around with them all the time, we offer 4 “Study buddies“, in which they can store and lock away the media they have borrowed and their work papers for a defined period of time.
Reading room
The 4 reading room areas have a total of 300 work stations. These work stations provide a calm, concentrated environment for learning. They are designed to be used while researching and working with literature in the library.
Water can be brought in if it is in a sealable transparent container. Food and other drinks are not permitted.
PC work stations
All of the university library’s reading rooms have PC work stations.
For “catalogue research” in the online catalogues of the university library, a total of 5 work stations are available, distributed between all reading rooms. You do not need to log in to access these online catalogue computers.
Furthermore, the library offers users 26 “PC work stations” with internet access and the usual Windows environment. The majority of these computers can be found on both floors in the new building (“cube”). If you wish to use these computers, please log in with your AAU user ID. You can save data that you create or edit on the PC on your USB stick.
Bookable rooms and smart boxes
focused working – alone or in groups
Meetings, online courses, concentrated learning, etc.
- The group groupwork rooms & the Smart Boxes are only accessible via the main entrance of the library.
- Please note that our Smart Boxes have transparent glass fronts.
- Book our rooms and boxes online (online-booking) or use them spontaneously according to availability.
Groupwork room 1 
Level 3: Central building (Z.3.04a, max. 12 people)
Extended equipment: projector, work PC
Groupwork room 2
Level 2: EDZ (Z.2.11b, max. 15 people; central building)
Extended equipment: projector
Smart Box 1 + 2
Level 3: Central building, west side (1-2 people)
Extended equipment: whiteboard*, ventilation
Smart Box 3
Level 3: East-facing central building (1-4 people, barrier-free)
Extended equipment: whiteboard*, ventilation
Smart Box 4
Level 2: Unruhezone | non-rest area (1-4 people)
Extended equipment: whiteboard*, ventilation
*Whiteboard markers can be borrowed at the information desk.
Accessible working
People have individual requirements for their working environments. The library therefore offers various services in order to meet these requirements:
- Height-adjustable work stations: On each reading room level, you will find multiple desks that are height-adjustable at the touch of a button. These work stations are marked as “Height-adjustable work stations”. The up/down buttons are located on the right underneath the tabletop. The tabletop can be adjusted so that it is possible to work standing up.
- Screen reader: There is a screen reader, which can magnify and read out print medium, on level 3. Operating instructions are attached to the screen reader.
- Workspace for blind and visually-impaired library users: On level 0 (room B.0.08), there is a workspace equipped with various assistive technologies (Braille displays, screen readers etc.), which enables blind and visually-impaired library users to carry out their own literature research, to digitise literature or to use the university’s digital services in a way that is as accessible as possible.
If you have any queries, please contact the Accessibility Service.
Media library
In the media library on the first floor (level 2) in the periodicals reading room, various “non-book materials” are collected and prepared:
- 25,000 CDs and DVDs freely accessible:
Films, CD-ROMs, music… - More than 1000 audiobooks:
Currently located separately on level 3 (beside the info desk) - Multimedia containers with classification system into different subject areas:
Search for the desired topic directly! - 3 multimedia stations:
Play back all available formats on the corresponding devices in the media library. - Micro-media scanners:
Save your microfiche and microfilm scans directly onto your USB stick!
Discover our media with your eyes and ears!
Study buddies
For library users who require their own extensive work papers, e.g. students writing their Doctoral dissertations, 4 lockable book trolleys on wheels, so-called “study buddies” are available.
These may be used exclusively to store books and media loaned from the AAU university library and personal belongings. Locking away media that is “not available for loan” is prohibited.
Upon written request, study buddies can be assigned for a maximum of 3 months by the staff at the loan desk.
Ask for this service at the information counters.
