Loan Period – University Library Erlangen-Nürnberg

Can interlibrary loan periods be extended?

Ulrike Riedlberger — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 11:41:14 +0000

Whether or not you can extend the lending period depends on the library that sent us your book. If the lending library generally allows extensions, you can extend the lending period via the catalog.

How long can I keep interlibrary loans?

Ulrike Riedlberger — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 11:36:47 +0000

The length of time you can keep an interlibrary loan depends on the library that provided the book. There are no uniform regulations regarding this matter.
In most cases, the loan period is four weeks, but it can be much shorter.

What will happen if I don’t return my books on time?

Nora Strauß — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 07:49:26 +0000

Before the deadline, we will send you an email reminding you to return your media on time. Nevertheless, please check your personal account regularly. There, you will find the current, binding lending periods for your items.

Please note: For FAU members, the FAU email address is listed by default in their personal information.

Charge Collection Procedure

If you forget to return your media on time, we are obligated to charge you. The amount charged is according to the Bavarian Cost Law. After receiving the warning letter, please return the requested media immediately. Otherwise, you risk additional charges.

Please pay late fees via ePayBayern or bank transfer. Be sure to include the reference number (BKZ) in the payment description so that your payment can be correctly assigned.

Reclaim Procedure

For research staff members, a reclaim procedure will be initiated after the deadline has expired. If you fail to return the media, you will be responsible for paying for the new literature that will be purchased as a substitute.

How can I extend the loan period for borrowed media?

Nora Strauß — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 07:41:43 +0000

Log in to your library account using your IdM ID or UB-ID and the corresponding password. Your account balance shows all borrowed items. You can now extend the loan period of individual items or renew your entire account. Please note that the new loan period begins on the day of renewal.

Items that have been renewed six times cannot be renewed. Subsequent renewals are also not possible.

How long can I keep borrowed media?

Nora Strauß — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 07:25:19 +0000

Media available for loan at the Main Library (HB), the Science and Technology Branch Library (TNZB), the Economic and Social Sciences Branch Library (WSZB), and the Educational Sciences Branch Library (EZB) typically circulate for four weeks. Please note that certain types of media, such as periodical volumes or reading room only media, or media already reserved by multiple people, have shorter lending periods.

Lending periods for media from departmental libraries (shelf marks ranging from 01 to 18 and 98SP) may be limited; sometimes, borrowing is not possible.

For more information on the specific borrowing conditions for each item, please check the “Availability” section in each entry in the catalog.

How do I get a library card?

Nora Strauß — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 11:35:37 +0000

Members of FAU

The activated FAUcard serves as a library card for tudents, employees, and other individuals working at FAU, as well as guests. You can activate it through the IdM homepage. A manual on how to activate the library function of the FAUcard can be found on this page.

If you are research staff at FAU but have not received an FAUcard, it may be because you are not regularly employed at FAU. In this case, you can obtain a library card for external users.

Students of TH Nuremberg

Students of the University of Applied Sciences Nuremberg can use their OHMcard to register as a user of the university library. Please have your OHMcard activated at the Main Library, the Science and Technology Branch Library, the Economic and Social Sciences Branch Library, or the Educational Science Branch Library by presenting your ID card or passport. The UB does not accept a PDF ID card with a barcode issued by the University of Applied Sciences; an additional UB library card must be obtained for a fee.

For Members of Other Universities and All Interested Parties

Students from other universities and other individuals can purchase a library card for external users at a guest card kiosk and have it activated at the Main Library or a branch library upon presenting their ID card or passport.

The card costs 10 euros, of which 5 euros is a one-time fee for the library card and 5 euros is credit that you can use at the Studierendenwerk facilities or to pay for copies and printouts.

You can pay with bills at all guest card machines. Please pay with exact change; no change is given. You can use your debit card at the guest card machines in the Main Library, the Südmensa, and the Economic and Social Sciences Branch Library.

You can purchase and activate the library card at these locations:

Main Library in Erlangen during all opening hours
Purchase the card: Südmensa in Erlangen
Activate the card: Science and Technology Branch Library
Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
From August 3 to October 11, 2026: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Economic and Social Sciences Branch Library in Nuremberg during all opening hours
Educational Science Branch Library in Nuremberg during all opening hours

If you are a citizen of a country outside the European Union, we will need your passport with a residence permit that must be valid for at least another 3 months, or what is known as a residence permit.

For library users who are under 18 years of age, a parent or guardian must complete and sign the consent form.

By registering as a library user, you accept the General Regulations on the Use of Bavarian Public Libraries (ABOB).