Tutorials & Trainings
The library offers trainings for students and members of ZU. In addition to basic library introductions, further and more in-depth information on research techniques and databases is offered.
One of our core tasks is to support students in acquiring and developing research and information skills.
For Students
Our offer includes library tours as well as introductions to library use and literature research, which are mandatory for first semester students as part of the curriculum.
In addition, we offer targeted “research updates” for Bachelor's and Master's graduates as well as individually tailored training courses on research and information skills with a thematic or subject-specific focus.
For scientists and scholars
We offer researchers personal information appointments for a brief introduction to our library.
In addition, we provide an overview of new tools and research sources as part of special training courses.
On request, we are also happy to visit your course to teach content directly on site.
For school classes
The library imparts specialist knowledge through guided tours and introductions to using the library's services and researching literature.
Our wide range of media helps students to deepen their understanding of lesson content and explore new topics independently.
Can't find a suitable date or content? Feel free to send us an email!
To supplement and refresh the introductions to library use, you will find further information on literature research and academic work here.
Dates and further training materials can be found in ZU|niverse.
Selected literature on the subject of academic work, starting your studies and tips.
The books listed can be found under the respective shelfmark in the library collection. Some titles may be on the study tips shelf (new acquisitions shelf). The books can be borrowed unless otherwise indicated.
LOTSE - Library Online Tour and Self-Paced Education
Via Lotse you can find articles and link lists around the topic of literature research and scientific work. Parallel to this, there is also a Lotse YouTube channel. Lotse is maintained by the
Münster University and State Library*.
Via the Lotse website of
Münster University and State Library, you will find information about citation and scientific work. Topics such as citation styles, bibliographies or "What gets cited?" are covered. An article on the topic of "Citing electronic sources" is also available.
*Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Münster (ULB Münster)
ZBW - Leibniz Information Center for Economics
The ZBW is a specialized library for economic literature and the world's largest research infrastructure for economic literature with a supra-regional mission.
Research: Books and eBooks
Literature search in the online catalog (OPAC)
Hit list & full display
If suitable media are available in the ZU library's inventory, they will appear in the first tab, “Library catalogue”. The active tab is indicated by a dark background. In the second tab, you can switch to the interlibrary loan hit list. Further information on interlibrary loans
Double-clicking on a hit will take you to the full display, where further information is shown.
Simple search: On the home page of the online catalog, you will find a preset search field for simple searches. Enter your search term there. (E-books are also searched.)
The search results can be filtered afterwards, e.g., by year of publication or media type.
Advanced search: For a more specific search, click on “Advanced search” on the home page of the online catalog. Here you can combine several search fields to obtain more precise results. You can search specifically for certain publication years, languages, publishers, or locations. The advanced search is particularly suitable for: literature research on scientific topics, searching for specific editions, searching for works by a specific author.
Auto-complete is supported when entering data in some search fields of the online catalog.
To ensure that your search is successful, please enter titles and names as accurately as possible. The catalog does not perform automatic spell checking, so incorrect entries may result in no hits being displayed.
When searching for people, it is usually sufficient to enter their last name. If several people are involved in a work, it is usually sufficient to enter one of the first-named people.
The printed books in the library's collection are assigned to a specific classification number and have an individual call number.
In the catalog, you can search specifically for a classification number or a specific call number. Please note that this type of search is not suitable for e-books, as they are not physically on the shelf and therefore do not have a call number.
We recommend using the advanced search function to search for a classification or call number. Enter the first characters of the desired classification or call number in the “Call Number” field and use an asterisk (*) for truncation to find all matching entries.
How to find eBooks in the ZU OPAC:
- Open the ZU online catalog (OPAC).
- Switch to advanced search.
- Select the option “E-Book” from the “Media type” drop-down menu.
- Enter your search terms
The results list will now show only e-books.
Filtering already generated hit lists. If you have already created a hit list, you can narrow it down afterwards:
- Select the filter “Media type: E-book.”
- Click on “Filter” to adjust the list accordingly.
Links to e-books can be found in two places in OPAC:
- In search results: each result has “Full text” on the right-hand side of the entry.
- In the detailed view of a result: at the bottom under “Access.”
If you are outside the university network, you will need EZproxy.
Journals are mainly listed in the knowledge portal (EDS).
Certain journals are also listed in the online catalog (OPAC).
Printed editions can be found in the library—in the journal racks or in the library archives.
Journal search in the knowledge portal (EDS)
- Go to “Journals | Publication Finder (EDS)”.
- Set the search field to the desired input. “Title” is preselected.
- Perform the search.
- A list of results will now be displayed. Select the appropriate result.
- Access and access periods are listed for each result.
Research: ZU-theses
Using the advanced search of the online catalog (OPAC), it is possible to search specifically for released ZU theses. Alternatively, you can find an index directly at the theses.
- Select the advanced search in OPAC.
- Set a field to “Keyword.”
- Now enter a keyword or combination of keywords and perform the search.
Possible keyword combinations:
- Abschlussarbeit ZU
- Abschlussarbeit ZU Bachelor
- Abschlussarbeit ZU Master
Placement: The theses are located on the right side of the library, in the small cabinets in front of the right reading room.
Older publications can be requested from the library team.
In the catalog, the signature of the theses is displayed. There is a number at the end of each signature. The theses are sorted by number in the cabinets. The numbers are on the spine of the book.
Example:
AL 43600 S255 R5.2018,2 / No. 1007
Theses are part of the reference collection and cannot be borrowed.
Search by person name
To search for authors or, for example, supervisors of a thesis, the field “Author (person)” can be added. The person search can be used in addition to keywords or independently as a separate search.
Example of a search combination:
“Supervisor” + “Abschlussarbeit ZU” (not “thesis ZU”)
This combination finds theses in which the corresponding person is listed. “Master” or “Bachelor” can still be used to narrow down the search query.
Search by signature
All ZU theses can be searched using the first digits of their signature.
- Set one of the search fields to “Signature” and enter “AL 43600*”.
- The results list for this search query will show all ZU theses that are recorded in our catalog.
Further refinement of the search is still possible. Example: “Call number AL 43600*” + “Abschlussarbeit ZU Master.” (not “thesis ZU”)
Unfortunately, a topic or content search that goes beyond the words in the title of the papers is not possible.
To get close to a thematic narrowing, you can search for supervisors of a subject area.
Looking for outstanding bachelor's and master's theses, including those that have won the Best Thesis Award? Award-winning ZU theses on display in the library are marked with a blue dot above the call number label.
The most frequently asked questions and answers:
- Are all theses in the library?
- A thesis is presented on the ZU website. However, it is not in the library. Can this thesis be consulted?
- Not all theses are listed in the library. Some theses have not been released by the author and are therefore not available in the library. If you have any questions about this, please feel free to contact the Study and Examination Center.
- Some theses (e.g. Best-Thesis-Award) may be presented on the ZU website. However, this is independent of the granting of a release for the library. If a final thesis is not shown in the library, it cannot be viewed.
Research: Language and dictionaries
In the stock of the library you can find, among others, language and dictionaries. For books in the field of language there are the following classifications in the library system.
- Select the advanced search in OPAC.
- Set a field to “Call number.”
- Now enter a call number range with truncation and run the search. Example: “FS*”
You can find the following languages among the signature areas:
- Arabic — EL - EP
- Chinese — EG - EH
- German — GA - GO
- English — HC - HU
- French — ID - IJ
- Italian — IS - IV
- Japanese — EI
- Latin — FS
- Dutch — GU - GZ
- [Skandinavien region] — GW
- Portuguese — IR
- Russian — KA - KZ
- Spanish — IM - IP
General reference works / encyclopedias — AC - AH
Tip: Depending on your needs, it may be worthwhile to have your own dictionary, as the library only stocks these as reference material or only in small quantities.
In addition to printed works, there are also a variety of databases dealing with language.
You can find a selection of databases via our DBIS
Citation: OPAC and knowledge portal
- Search the catalog and select a relevant result.
- Open the full display of the selected title.
- In the right-hand menu bar, you will find the “Export” option.
- Click on “Export” to open a list of available formats. Select the desired format to download a file for common citation programs.
After selecting the format, a separate window will open for saving the file. Save the file on your device and then open it with your citation program.
Be sure to check with your supervisors and lecturers about current and subject-specific requirements.
The following programs are available as formats:
BibTeX, Citavi, EndNote, ProCite, RefWorks, Reference Manager, Zotero.
Tip: Test the functions and, if necessary, document your sources in more detail than just the basics.
Would you like to view different citation styles or do you need additional options? Various options are also available via the knowledge portal.
Be sure to check with your supervisors and lecturers about current and subject-specific requirements.
For the section “Selected literature on scientific work, starting your studies, and tips”
For a targeted search, it is advisable to look for titles that deal with topics such as citation, source management, or scientific working methods in general.
Do you have any questions?
Was your question not answered? Write us your question, or feel free to contact our service desk directly. Of course, you can also pass on questions to us by e-mail or telephone.
Feedback
In order to be able to offer you the most suitable and comprehensive service possible, we, the library team at ZU, depend on your feedback. Therefore, please write us your impressions, suggestions and wishes regarding the information offered and feel free to give us constructive hints for improvement.
Contact
Zeppelin Universität
Library
Fallenbrunnen 3
88045 Friedrichshafen
Tel +49 7541 6009 1180
Write an email