FAQs

The Informatics Library is located on the Informatikum on the ground floor of Building A . (Plans of the Informatikum)

Opening Hours

 

A library card can be obtained at the loan desk of the Informatics Library.

Please fill out the registration form for the University of Hamburg Library System in advance. Within 30 days you can pick up your library card at the Informatics Library. Please bring your identity card (alternatively: passport or electronic readable EU driving license, in each case with a current address confirmation of the residents' registration office concerning a residence in Germany) as well as your student identity card.

The library card is also valid for the other libraries of the University of Hamburg (Fachbibliotheken) and for the State and University Library Hamburg (Stabi) and free of charge for students of the University Hamburg.

To get access to your library account, please use the button "User account" in the Campus Catalogue or log in to the Katalogplus. You will be asked for your library card number and password.

What should I do if I forget my password?

Then please use the corresponding link in the Campus Catalogue under the button "User account" or in the Katalogplus under "Login".

You can search for printed books and e-books in library catalogues:

• The Campus Catalogue contains the media of the libraries of the University of Hamburg (Fachbibliotheken) and the State and University Library Hamburg (Stabi).
• The Katalogplus is an extension of the Campus Catalogue and also lists academic articles from journals that are mainly available in the University of Hamburg library system, either electronically or in print.

In both catalogues you will find information on the current availability of the media.

What can I do if I cannot find a book?

The librarians will be happy to help you! Send an e-mail to infbib-information.inf"AT"uni-hamburg.de (functional address of the librarians). Or you may contatct them by phone on 040 42883-2216. You are also welcome to suggest a book for the library.

VIB - Virtual Bookshelf

We have listed media on specific topics for you in the Virtual Bookshelf of the Informatics Library. You can find there e.g. media which are recommended in the seminars and lectures as well as media which can help you with the writing of scientific papers or which can ease your studies. We have listed introductions to the study of computer science for you here.

How do I find a book on the library shelves?

In the library catalogs, the location of each book/title is listed, which means the library where the book is available. In addition, a shelfmark is given, which marks the exact place of the book on the shelves of the respective library.

The shelfmarks of the Informatics Library usually consist of 3 categories:

• The 1st category is a letter that stands for the group to which the book has been thematically assigned. For example, the letter P stands for the group Programming.
• The 2nd category consists of 3 letters. Within a group, books are sorted alphabetically by these 3 letters.
• The 3rd category consists of numbers. If there are several books with the same letter sequence, they are arranged numerically on the shelves according to the numbers.

You need a library card to borrow media (books, reports, journals, etc.).

Search in the Campus Catalogue or Katalogplus for media you want to borrow and note the shelf mark given. In the library catalogs you can also see whether the book is currently on the shelf or borrowed. If the book is not borrowed, you may take it from the shelf and borrow it at the loan desk of the Informatics Library - after presenting your library card.

What can I do if a book has already been borrowed?

You can reserve borrowed media. To do so, click on the corresponding link in the library catalogues. You will be automatically notified by e-mail as soon as a reserved item is handed in at the Informatics Library. Within one week, you can pick up your reserved item during the opening hours.

How long can I keep borrowed media?

The loan period for media is 4 weeks.
3 days before the loan period ends, you will receive a reminder e-mail for timely return or renewal.

How can I extend the loan period?

Before the loan period expires, you can extend it 3 times for another 4 weeks via the link User account in the Campus Catalogue or login to the Katalogplus. You will be asked for your user number (=number of your library card) and password.

Please note that the loan period is extended by 4 weeks from the day of the extension - not from the end of the loan period.

If you have forgotten to renew or return your borrowed media in time, please contact the loan desk of the Informatics Library!

What happens if I have passed the loan period?

If the loan period is exceeded, fine rates will be charged.

The digital offer of the library consists of::

• e-books
• e-journals
• reference and fulltext databases

All licensed e-books can be found next to the printed books in the Campus Catalogue and in the Katalogplus.

The Electronic Journals Library (EZB) offers you fast, structured and standardized access to scientific and academic full-text journals. Journals concerning Computer Science, you can find here.

Reference and fulltext databasess collect information on selected topics and either indicate the sources of their information or link directly to the full texts on the internet. Various scientific research databases are available for your research.

How do I get access to e-media?

You get access to the licensed e-media from home via VPN. If you have any questions concerning VPN, please contact the Informatics Computing Centre.

Of course, you also get access to the licensed e-media from workplaces in the Informatics Library or from all devices on university campus (IP range 134.100.*.*). Information on the use of WLAN in the university area can be found here.

In the Informatics Library, there are a total of 50 quiet and comfortable workplaces for undisturbed study as well as group workplaces that can be used without prior registration. If you want to be sure to get a place, you can reserve in advance.

For how long can I book a workplace?

The possible time units for reservations are Monday to Friday from 9am - 12pm, 12pm - 3pm and from 3pm - 7pm. You can reserve up to three time units per day.
If not all time units are reserved for a day, free places can be reserved without prior reservation. Just give us a short call (040 42883-2215).

Do I have to use lockers for my personal belongings?

In the Informatics Library, you can take your bag/backpack with you to your workplace. It is also allowed to take drinks and small snacks with you.

Can I leave my personal belongings in the Informatics Library overnight?

If you work in the Informatics Library for a longer period of time, you can leave your books, documents, etc.  in a lockable "caddy" in the library. Caddys are available free of charge at the loan desk of the Informatics Library.

Notebooks / Macbooks

30 notebooks and 33 MacBooks are available for loan in the Informatics Library (only for students of the Department of Informatics). Details of the equipment can be found here.

To borrow a device, please bring your library card and identity card with you. The loan period is 4 weeks and can be extended 4 times - unless another user has made a reservation.

Would you like to reserve a device? Then please contact the loan desk (phone 42883-2215) or send us an e-mail(infbib-ausleihe.inf"AT"uni-hamburg.de).

Forgotten your charging cable at home?

You can borrow various charging cables for a short time at the loan desk of the Informatics Library.

Book Scanner and "Bürowerkstatt"

You can use the book scanner and the "Bürowerkstatt" in the Informatics Library. In the "Bürowerkstatt", you can join loose sheets with a spiral binding. Spirals in different sizes as well as cover sheets are available at the loan desk of the library. Both offers are free of charge.

Caddys

Don't want to transport your own books, papers, etc. that you use to study or write in the library from home to the library and back every day? Then you can borrow a lockable caddy from the loan desk!

Other services offered

I have questions about the loan or reservation of workplaces.

During the opening hours of the Informatics Library, you can contact the loan desk by phone at 040 428 83-2215. Or send an e-mail to infbib-ausleihe.inf"AT"uni-hamburg.de (functional address of the loan desk).

I have questions about books, e-media, articles, etc.

The librarians will be glad to help you! Send an e-mail to infbib-information.inf"AT"uni-hamburg.de (functional address of the librarians) or you may contatct them by phone on 040 42883-2216.

Of course you can also use our contact form to send us an enquiry.