Library Account

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.

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.

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.
5. Please check to make sure your valid email address is entered, and add one if necessary.

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.

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 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

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.

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).

Block Your FAUcard Yourself

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.

Please report the loss immediately to one of our lending desks to avoid any potential misuse by third parties.

Have Your Library Card for Non-university Members Deactivated

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 you can’t find your library card at all, you can purchase a new one for a fee of 5 euros at a guest card machine. We will activate it at the Main Library or at a branch library as a replacement card.

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.

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.

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.

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 three years. You can renew it for another three years via our contact form, by phone, or in person.

If you have not used the library’s services for at least two years, your personal data will be deleted automatically.

FAU members can access University Library services using their IdM ID and password. You can update your details via the IdM portal.

Non-university members use their UB-ID to log in to the catalog, access their library account, and use the computer stations. The UB-ID is an 11-digit number. You can find it on your library card starting with 028 or 056 (for users who registered with their OHMcard).

Before logging in for the first time, you must set your password using the „Set/Forgot Password” feature in the catalog. You can do this no later than 30 minutes after receiving your library card. Enter the email address you provided when you received your library card. You will then receive a link to set your password. Your new password must be at least 12 characters long and include one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number, and one special character. We recommend changing your password regularly.

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.