Services offered by the library

Alternative access in case of faults of the overview page:

If already set up, use the bookmarklets.

In case of disruptions, you will find a list of links below as an interim solution:

1. Select the desired database from the list below.
2. You will be redirected to ZU's login page.
3. Log in with your account.
   
4. Once you have logged in, you will be redirected to the desired database.

You will need the login data mentioned under "Access information".

In ZU|niverse, you will find instructions on how to check your connection.

Literature research

• Knowledge Portal | Metasearch (EDS | EBSCO)
• OPAC (Online catalog)
• Journals | Publication Finder (EDS)
  

Licensed databases

• Datenbank-Infosystem (DBIS)
• EBSCO Business Source Premier
• EBSCO Communication & Mass Media Complete
• EBSCO Political Science Complete
• EBSCO PsycArticles | EBSCO PsycINFO
• EBSCO SocINDEX
• Frankfurter Allgemeine Archiv
  
• JSTOR
  
• Nexis Uni | (Nexis Uni source search)
• OECD
• Sage Journals Online
• Scopus
• WISO

E-Books

See “Knowledge portal” and “OPAC” under Literature research.

E-Journals

See "Journals | Publication Finder" under Literature research.

National licenses / Alliance licenses

• Datenbank-Infosystem (DBIS)

The regulations for interlibrary loan in Germany are valid in the current version of the Interlibrary Loan Regulations (LVO).

Leihverkehrsordnung (LVO)

Interlibrary Loan Regulations (LVO)

How to find journals in the ZU library:

1. Call EDS Journals.
2. Search for a journal using the search function.
   
3. Select an appropriate hit.
   
4. You are now on the title view of a journal.
   
5. Unfold the access display. Digital and printed versions as well as the publication periods are now displayed.
6. If available, use one of the links to access the journal. If "Access ZU Print" is listed, these are printed issues that you can find in the journal flaps or obtain from the archive upon request.
   

If you do not find what you are looking for, please feel free to contact the library team or use the interlibrary loan service

EDS-Journals / Publication Finder

How to find journals in other libraries (incl. ZU):

1. Call up the journal database (ZDB).
2. Search for a journal using the search function.
3. Select a suitable hit. Pay attention to digital and printed variants, as well as publication periods.
   
4. You are now on the title view of a journal.
   
5. Call up the overview of the ownership records. Via the ownership records you will get an overview of the libraries holding the journal and further information.
6. Inquire at one of the libraries or use the interlibrary loan service

Zeitschriftendatenbank (ZDB)

The periodical database "ZDB" is the world's largest database for title and ownership records of serial publications, i.e. journals, newspapers, series and periodicals from all countries and in all languages. The ZDB does not list articles.

The ZDB provides only a property record and thus no direct access to content.

Foreign ideas can also be quoted from journals. Foreign ideas, such as data, images or text passages, must be identified (bibliography, source citation). Various citation formats can be output via EDS-Journals.

There may be certain formats or specifications for the corresponding references/source citations. Be sure to ask your supervisors and lecturers about current and subject-specific requirements.

CIte with EDS

Training page

Library from A-Z:

A-Z - Cite

Notes on copyright

The impact factor (also known as the journal impact factor) is a metric that describes the influence or impact of scientific journals. It is calculated for selected journals, but not all journals worldwide are included.

This metric enables a bibliometric comparison between the listed journals and is often used as a guide when assessing scientific publication performance and selecting suitable publication outlets.

Important: The impact factor does not evaluate the quality of the content of a journal or individual article. A lower value is therefore not necessarily a disadvantage. Interpretation should always be carried out with caution.

In practice, interpreting this factor also involves the resonance and visibility of the articles and their authors. Publication in a journal without a good impact factor is therefore sometimes seen as wasted potential, even if this may not be the case. In some respects, the issue can also be compared to the structures of social media networks.

An average value of the frequency with which articles from a specific scientific journal were cited by other scientific articles per year.

Impact factors are published centrally through Journal Citation Reports (JCR). For more information, visit clarivate.com

ZU library has not licensed access to JCR!

Data basis & calculation of the impact factor, as well as alternatives:

de.wikipedia.org

forschungsinfo.de

publisso.de

The most frequently asked questions and answers:

1. The latest issue of a journal is not yet available.
2. Can journals be borrowed?

.

1. While new journal issues are available directly from retailers, libraries also receive the issues only on the publication date and possibly delayed by delivery. In addition, there are processing times for the receipt of issues.
2. Journals are part of the library's reference collection and cannot be borrowed. Short-term loans are also not possible. An exception to this rule are special issues, which are regularly held in the collection.
   

Not found what you are looking for?

A-Z - Presence holdings

A-Z - Union Catalogue of Serials (ZDB)

A-Z - Magazines | Journals

Borrowing media

1. Take the desired media directly from the shelf. 
2. Check out: Present the media at the service desk for checkout. ZU members can alternatively use the self-checkout machines. 
3. Report damage: Please inform the library team immediately of any visible damage so that it can be documented. 
4. Receive a receipt: After successfully borrowing the item, you will receive a receipt with details of the borrowed media and the loan periods. 
5. Library account: The loan will be noted in your library account. A valid library account and a student or employee ID card (or another form of ID) are required. 
6. Exceptions: Reference media cannot be borrowed.

Loan period: 21 days

Maximum renewals: 7x21 days

Maximum loan: 

• ZU students: 40 media
• Alumni of ZU: 10 media
• External users: 10 media

Lost your student ID card? 

If necessary, have your library account blocked until its whereabouts have been clarified.

Pickup by an authorized person

Granting power of attorney:

You can authorize another person to pick up media. To do so, send an informal power of attorney by email to the library team. 

Information to include in the email: 

• Name of the authorized person
• Title of the media to be picked up

Loan & handover: The media will be booked to your library account and handed over to the authorized person. 

ID requirement: The person picking up the media must be able to identify themselves upon pickup.

Email address: The email must be sent from the email address stored in the library account in order to clearly assign the authorization.

Returning media 

Returns can be made during service hours at the library service desk. ZU members also have the option of returning items via the return flap on the self-checkout machine. 

• Anyone can drop off/return library media.
• Returns made at the service desk during service hours are credited immediately.
• Returns via the self-service device return box can only be checked back in when the box is emptied. The return is not completed immediately upon insertion (important for loan periods). The return is only complete once it has been checked back in by the library team.
• Only read, but not borrowed? Books that you have not borrowed and have only read on site, for example, can be returned to us at the service desk.
• Exceptions may apply to special loans, which are subject to specific return regulations, such as personal returns during service hours only.

Note: Do not place borrowed media on the service counter or media carts for return.

If the return box is full, unfortunately there is no other way to return media safely. Ideally, you should take the media back with you and try to return it on another day.

Reminder 

If media items are not returned on time, a reminder process is automatically initiated for each item. The reminder process is terminated when the item in question is returned.

Late returns will incur reminder fees. An overview of the sequence of reminders and the associated fees can be found in the A–Z overview and in the library's terms of use.

• You will receive reminders by email
• Reminder fees will be automatically charged to your library account
• Reminders are sent before the start of our service hours and therefore before our return box is emptied. Please note the end of your loan period
• Your library account will be blocked after the 4th reminder in a reminder process 

Paying overdue fees:

Outstanding fees can be paid at the library service desk using your student or employee ID card. The student or employee ID card must correspond to the library account. Payment by bank transfer is also possible. In exceptional cases, payment can be made using the payment methods available at check-in. Guests of ZU should also contact the library team.

Weekends and public holidays:

Weekends and public holidays (Baden-Württemberg) as well as additional days specified by ZU are automatically taken into account for loan periods. Due dates and reminders should not fall within these periods.

3 days before the loan period for a medium you have borrowed expires, you will receive a reminder by email.

Tip: Check your library account in good time for due dates and outstanding fees.

1. Go to the library's OPAC.
2. Log in with your library account ("My Account").
3. After logging in, you will receive an overview of your current loans.
4. There you can renew individual items or all items - if a renewal is possible for the item in question.

The library catalog allows you to view the loan periods of the borrowed media and to extend them if necessary.

The regular loan period for media is 21 calendar days for all users of the library. During this time, the return or extension of the loan period of the media must take place. Loans can be extended seven times for 21 days each, provided there are no reservations.

If a medium is reserved by another user, renewal is not possible and the medium concerned must be handed in at the specified time.

Extension Online

Tip: You can switch the catalog to English from the start page.

Library from A to Z - Renewal

Reservation 

Reservations can be made for items that are currently on loan or available for loan. Items that are in the process of being delivered or are currently in use can also be reserved if necessary. 

Reservations are not possible for available media. 

1. Search for the desired title in the online catalog (OPAC).
2. Switch to the full view of the search result. 
3. Use the “Order/Reserve” button to make a reservation.

As soon as the desired medium is available for you, you will receive an automatic notification by email. The reservation will then change to “available” or “provided.” Provided media are available for pickup at the library service desk within the specified period. 

• A reservation interrupts the possibility of renewal for borrowers.
• The existing loan period (21 days) remains unchanged.
• If the loan period is exceeded, a reminder process is automatically initiated.
• If you no longer need a reservation, you can delete it from your library account. 
• Uncollected reservations are returned to the inventory after the deadline has expired, unless there is another reservation.

Online-Katalog (OPAC) 

The “reservation” service is free of charge.

The most frequently asked questions and answers:

1. The account has reached the maximum number of borrows, now what?
2. Can the library create holds on request? [Reservation]
3. Can the library send media?
4. Can someone borrow using someone else's card?
5. Can you borrow books from other libraries through ZU?
6. Can I reserve more than one copy of a medium? [Reservation]
7. Is it still possible to borrow with a blocked library account?
8. Does the library team lend and send books for users?
9. Do weekends and holidays count toward the loan period?
   

1. By returning borrowed items, you can make room on your library account again. Exceeding the maximum number of loans is possible only in exceptional cases. Interlibrary loans are an exception. Interlibrary loans can always be borrowed, as they are only available for a limited time.
2. [Reservation] You can also place a reservation at the service desk, but the library team can only record a specific copy of a medium. Alternatively, see 6.
3. No, it is generally not possible to send media. The library lends media only via the service desk, directly to a person or sends media via the official interlibrary loan.
4. Please avoid passing on your student ID card, as the responsibility for actions via the card remains with the actual holder (see pick-up permission).
5. Interlibrary loan allows you to borrow items from the collections of other libraries. Further information on interlibrary loan
6. [Reservation] Independent reservation via the online catalog (OPAC) automatically records all copies on a record (multiple copies; multiple copies of the same book of an edition on the same record). The next available copy will then be made available to you.
7. As long as your library account is blocked, no borrowing can be done. There are different causes and solutions for account locks, so please contact the library team directly.
8. No, the library team does not handle external loans for library users. As listed in 3, media shipping is also not available.
9. Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays (Baden-Württemberg) and other days set by the library do not count towards the loan period. The loan period stored in the library system applies. You can view the valid loan period in your personal online account.

Library from A-Z:

A-Z - Loans

A-Z - Extension

A-Z - Self-Service Device

A-Z - Accounting for books

A-Z - Extension

A-Z - Reservation (Media)

The most frequently asked questions and answers:

1. Someone else has returned your book?
2. A return by mail did not arrive?
3. A return by mail takes longer?

1. No personalized restriction will take effect upon return and the return will be made. Make sure that you keep your borrowed books in a safe place. If you still need the book, you may be able to borrow it again or you will have to make a reservation.
2. Inform the library staff and inquire at the check-in if necessary. Depending on your options, you may continue to renew your borrowing or the library may be able to grant an extension on the loan period. If the item does not arrive, please contact the library team.
3. Inform the library team. Depending on the possibility, you can continue to renew your borrowings or the library can grant an extension of the loan period if necessary.

Library from A-Z:

A-Z - Fees and prices

A-Z - Reminders

A-Z - Return of Media

Examples:

• § 44a Vorübergehende Vervielfältigungshandlungen [Temporary acts of reproduction]
  
• § 53 Vervielfältigungen zum privaten und sonstigen eigenen Gebrauch [Duplications for private and other own use]
  

More information about § 44a

More information about § 53

• What is the maximum amount I can copy or scan from a book or magazine?
• May I share the copies or scans I have made with other people?
  

The making of copies or scans of small parts of a work or of individual articles in magazines or newspapers is regulated by the laws, including Section 6 - Abschnitt 6 (Schranken des Urheberrechts durch gesetzlich erlaubte Nutzungen), im Unterabschnitt 4 „Gesetzlich erlaubte Nutzungen für Unterricht, Wissenschaft und Institutionen“. [(Limits on Copyright by Uses Permitted by Law), in Subsection 4, "Uses Permitted by Law for Educational, Scientific, and Institutional Purposes." ]

Tip:
Use permalinks to share content.

Examples:

• § 60 a Unterricht und Lehre [Teaching]
  
• § 60 b Unterrichts- und Lehrmedien [Teaching and teaching media]
  
• § 60 c Wissenschaftliche Forschung [Scientific research]
  
• Subsection 5 „Besondere gesetzlich erlaubte Nutzungen verwaister Werke“ ["Special legally permitted uses of orphan works]
  
• Section 8 „Besondere Bestimmungen für Computerprogramme“ ["Special Provisions for Computer Programs"]
  

§ 60 a Unterricht und Lehre

§ 60 b Unterrichts- und Lehrmedien

§ 60 c Wissenschaftliche Forschung

Unterabschnitt 5

Abschnitt 8

Access from the university network:

ZU members automatically have access to all content licensed by the library when they access the databases, e-books and e-journals via the university network.

External users contact the library team as so-called "walk-in users" if required.

Library from A to Z - Recherche PCs

Library from A to Z - Eduroam

Access from outside the university network:

ZU members can also access much of the content licensed by the library from home using what is known as EZproxy. The EZproxy platform is web-based and requires no plug-ins, client software, or special browser settings. Not all providers allow remote access and are accordingly not listed in the "EZproxy".

Access data must not be passed on to third parties under any circumstances.

EZproxy