For general information about using the library, please read the library etiquette (Bibliotheks-Knigge), which includes information about the cloakroom, the use of mobile phones, eating and drinking at the library, etc.
The Education, Linguistics and Comparative Literature Library is an open-shelf library. This means that you can access the shelves freely, simply take books from the shelves, read them at the reading room, or borrow them (if they may be borrowed) at the lending service.
Most books at the Education, Linguistics and Comparative Literature Library may be borrowed. As a general rule, you cannot borrow books that were published 100 or more years ago. This also applies to reference works, reserve collections and books shelved in the reference library. Periodicals may not be borrowed as well.
The maximum number of books that you can borrow from our special library depends on your user status. Please note our Terms and conditions for borrowing items. The number of books you have not borrowed yet (requests, reservations, books ready to collect) may not be higher than 50. This number applies across all libraries that are part of the Vienna University Library.
You can borrow books for a period of 28 days. You can reserve books that are currently borrowed by someone else. You can renew book loans via u:search, provided that you renew the loan before the end of the loan period.
You will receive an e-mail reminder three days before the loan period ends. Please note: Please make sure that we always know your current e-mail address if you are studying at another university or if you have an annual pass. Otherwise, we cannot guarantee that you will receive an e-mail reminder. Therefore, please check your user account independently to see when the copies you borrowed are due for return.
After the loan period has ended, you will receive three overdue reminders in 9-day intervals for which you have to pay reminder fees. If you still fail to return the book(s) after the third reminder, your library account will be blocked and you are unable to borrow any further items. In addition, we will take legal action to reclaim the book(s) you borrowed. If you lose a book you borrowed, you have to replace it in any case.
We keep books ready to collect for 5 business days as of the day we prepare them for collection.
You need a valid library card (u:card) to borrow items. You can upload all necessary documents for an initial registration or extension of your library account / library card via the service e-mail address of the Vienna University Library.
