General informations
Many locations of the University Library offer lockers for safekeeping of the belongings that you don’t want to bring with you into the Reading Room.
Usually, lockers can only be occupied for the day and will be emptied the next morning (before the respective library opens).
If you want to store books and documents at the University Library securely for a longer period, permanent lockers are available at four locations of the University Library.
Please refer to: Locations & Opening Hours
Please refer to: Locations & Opening Hours
The University Library is open to university members and the general public (students from grade 11).
If you’d like to order or borrow books, or use the reading room, then you are required to hold a valid library card.
For information on which documents and data to provide for issuing a library card, please refer to:
„How do I get a library card?“
In general, the services of the University Library are free for everyone.
For issuing a library card as a non-FAU member, exceeding the loan period, and certain special services (for example Document Delivery Services, …), fees will be demanded.
For information on the exact amount of those, please refer to: Fees & Charges
The catalogue is accessible through our website and offers the means to search, order and borrow books (this entails amongst other things: Checking your library account, renewing of the loan period of previously borrowed media, and reserving of currently lended media)
Through our homepage, you have furthermore access to the catalogues of regional and other libraries.
Full-fledged access to databases and E-Journals requires a PC with connection to the University Network.
Remote access to the network can be granted via a VPN client. The range of accessible media through this method, however, is limited.
Please refer to this page.
The computer workstations at the University Library of Erlangen-Nürnberg mainly serve the purpose of literature research. They are for all users to help them with their studies, research, and whatever stage of professional training they are on. Please mind the Terms of Use.
Every user of the University Library has access to our internet workstations. There you have the possibility to do research using the internet, use the library’s electronic services, print out documents and much more.
Details on how to login to the workstations can be found on the spot.
Students of FAU also have access to CIP-Pools, rooms providing multiple computers to use (Login with FAUcard’s IdM password).
Further information on every PC workplace at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), as well as information on the eqiupment, can be found on the homepage of the Regionales Rechenzentrum Erlangen (RRZE).
Additionally, students at FAU have the possibility to access the internet via the WiFi connection.
Further information on this topic can also be found on the homepage of the RRZE.
The library offers “New to the Library” training for English-speaking students.
Please refer to: Training
For all matters regarding the library, literature research, and how to employ the various services available, our staff at the Information Desks (one each at their respective library) will gladly assist you with your problem.
For contact information, please refer to Locations.
If you prefer, you can also contact us via Ask a librarian.
The credit on the library card can be topped up at the locations Main Library, Technical and Scientific Branch Library, Economic and Social Sciences Branch Library and Educational Science Branch Library either in the library rooms or in publicly accessible rooms. Only euro banknotes can be deposited at machines for loading credit. Card payment is also possible in some cases.
Members of FAU
When the FAUcard is activated for the library, the UB-ID printed on the FAUcard confirms the release of the data for the subsequent creation of an account in the library system. The data generated when using the library catalogue in connection with ordering and borrowing media is stored in this account.
FAU members log on to the Internet workstations in the library with their IdM ID and are automatically directed to the home directories provided by the Regional Computing Centre Erlangen (RRZE) on its servers. The data is regularly backed up and automatically deleted when the affiliation with the FAU ends. The account in the library system will also be deleted when there are no longer any liabilities to the library.
Persons whose affiliation with the FAU is terminated may apply for a new library card if they wish to continue to use the library. Any existing debts in the library system will be transferred from the old account to the new one.
Non-university members
Two accounts are created when a library card is issued: One in the library system to store data generated when using the library catalogue to order and borrow items. A second account is created in user management for the library’s Internet workstations. This is linked to a home directory for which a limited amount of space is provided on the library’s file server to store the data saved here. This data is not backed up regularly, so it is recommended that you back it up yourself to a USB stick or drive.
Both accounts are linked: after one year of inactivity in the library system, both accounts will be blocked, including access to the library’s Internet workstations. The library card can be renewed at the circulation desk and access to the library’s Internet workstations can be reactivated. The renewal is valid for one year. After three years of inactivity in the library system, accounts are automatically deleted. All data of users who have not been active in the library system for three years and have not logged on to the library’s Internet workstations for at least two years will then be erased.
People who become FAU members and receive an FAU card should be aware that the data stored with the old UB ID will be deleted when the library function is activated in the IDM. If you still need the data, please back it up beforehand, e.g. on a USB drive. Borrowed items and fees due will be transferred to the new account in the library system.
The machines for validating the FAUcard can be found in the Main Library and the Educational Science Branch Library in the library rooms, on the South Campus in the MHB building. At WiSo, the machines are located in the foyer of the faculty building and on level 0.