Library Card

Members of FAU

For students, doctoral candidates, and employees of Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), the FAUcard serves as a library card. Please activate the library function of the FAUcard in the IdM portal. Further information on the FAUcard is available from the FAUcard Service Office.

Members of TH Nuremberg

Members of Technische Hochschule Nürnberg, who also show their OHMcard when they sign up, can use it as their library card. PDF cards with barcodes issued by TH Nürnberg are not accepted at the University Library.

For Members of Other Universities and All Interested Parties

Students from other universities and other individuals must register in person. You can get your library card at the Main Library, the Science and Technology Branch Library, the Economic and Social Sciences Branch Library, and the Educational Science Branch Library upon presentation of your identity card or passport. The card costs a one-time fee of €5.

Minors using the library must also submit a Parental consent form for minors using the library externally completed by their legal guardians when registering.

The €5 reimbursement fee will be automatically charged to your account when your new library card is issued for external library users and must be paid at the library’s payment terminals within six weeks. Only cash in bills and sometimes EC cards can be used at the Student Services Association’s card machines.

Legal Basis for Lending

The General Regulations on the General Regulations on the Use of Bavarian Public Libraries (ABOB) apply to the use of the UB, including loans.

FAQ

Library Card

How do I activate the library function of my FAUcard?

Your FAUcard comes with a UB-ID (University Library User ID).
In order to use it to borrow books from the library, you must accept the “General Regulations on the Use of Bavarian Public Libraries” (ABOB) online.
To do so, please follow these steps:

  1. Log in to the IdM Portal.
  2. Click Requests/Tasks in the upper menu bar.
  3. Confirm library card activation and follow the instructions.
  4. Accept the terms and conditions of use to activate your card.

Please confirm the activation was successful afterwards.

  1. Click on Self Service in the upper menu bar.
  2. Scroll down to the Services section to see if “University Library” is listed as active.
    If so, your FAUcard has been activated successfully.
    If not, please check that you have completed the activation process correctly (see above).
    It takes a few minutes for the card to activate.

Please note that your FAUcard can only be used for borrowing starting the day after activation, or two days after in certain cases.

How do I get a library card?

The activated FAUcard serves as a library card for students, researchers, and employees of Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU), as well as members of the Graduate Center. 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.

Members of the public (ages 16 and older) need a library card from the University Library of Erlangen-Nürnberg (UB) to borrow books. There is a 5.00€ fee for issuance. A €5 note is required for payment. You must provide a German registration address.

Members of the University of Applied Sciences Nuremberg can use their OHMcard to register as a user of the university library. 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.

You can obtain a library card at the following locations of the University Library:

An identity card or passport is required for issuance.
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).

If you are a citizen of a non-EU country, you must present a passport with a valid residence authorization for at least three months. Alternatively, you can provide a residence title.

How do I replace a lost library card?

If you lose your FAUcard, you can block it in the IdM portal. If necessary, you can unblock it again. Replacement cards are issued by the FAUcard Service Office. Please apply for a replacement card online via the IdM portal.

For all other library users: If you have lost your library card, please report the loss immediately to one of our lending desks to avoid any potential misuse by third parties. Once you have found your card, we will unblock your library account.
If required, we will issue you a replacement card for a fee of €5.00.

To block and later unblock the payment function in the event of loss of your library card, send an email with your FPM ID to info@werkswelt.de. It is best to note down or photograph the FPM number on the back of the new library card immediately after it has been issued.

How long is my library card valid?

FAU-Students
Your FAUcard will be with you throughout your entire time at FAU.
The expiration date is printed on the card, and it can be renewed every semester at validation machines after re-registering for the next semester.
After you are exmatriculated, your FAUcard expires.
If you wish to continue using the University Library’s services, please contact our staff at the information desks.

Researchers and FAU employees
The validity period of your FAUcard depends on your employment status:

  • If you are a fixed-term employee, your FAUcard will be valid until your contract ends.
  • Regular employees usually receive a FAUcard that does not expire. However, the validity period printed on the card is set to five years.
    You can renew this period at a validation machine anytime while you are still employed.

After your contract has ended, your FAUcard will also expire. If you wish to continue using the University Library’s services, please contact our staff at the information desks.

External users
Your library card is valid for one year. You can renew it once every year for another year.
If you have not used the library’s services for at least two years, your personal data will be deleted automatically.

What are my library card number and password?

Your library card number is 11 digits long. You will find your library card number on your FAUcard or library card, starting with either 028 or 056. (for library users who have registered with their OHMcard).

The password is preset to your birthday in the format day-month-year, for example, 17051982. This feature protects your personal data from unauthorized access.

Please change this password to a personal password in the catalog via the Account / Renewal – Personal Data – Change Password to a personal password function. The new password must consist of at least eight and no more than 12 characters. . You can use letters, numbers, and special characters, except for backslash () and asterisk (=). Please note that the password is case-sensitive.
We recommend changing your password regularly.