FAQ – Current Information on the Library Shutdown

Borrowing, Returning, Media Reclaims

Can I still order books in the OPAC?

Unfortunately, it is not possible to order or reserve books during the shutdown. All ordering functions of our Online Catalogue OPAC are deactivated.

Can I still borrow books?

Borrowing and checking-out of physical library material is not possible during the shutdown. All ordering options in the OPAC are deactivated. Furthermore, already ordered books cannot be picked up at our branch libraries.

Alternative
We offer more than 160,000 e-books, which you as a TUM member can use from anywhere. You only need to authenticate yourself with your TUM ID. The easiest way to do this is via eAccess. Please log in and search the OPAC for e-books.

eAccess Login

Can I pick up books I have already ordered?

Even books that are already ready for pick-up at our branch library can no longer be collected. Please order them again as soon as the university library is re-opened.

How can I return borrowed books?

As long as our branch libaries are closed, you do not have to return borrowed items. Media reclaims are suspended during the shutdown. Thus, you will not incur any costs.

No returns by mail or book drop
Please do not return books by mail or to the book drop at the Branch Library Weihenstephan. Since we are currently not allowed to enter the TUM buildings, we can neither accept your returns nor check them out from your library account.

Will there be media reclaims during the closure?

During the shutdown, we will not reclaim any borrowed items and charge reclaim costs. This also applies when the loan periods expire during this time.

However, please note: Media reclaim procedures already underway remain valid. Fees can be paid via bank transfer using the billing code (BKZ). You will find the BKZ and bank details on your reclaim letter.

If you have any questions, please contact our First Level Hotline.

How can I pay charges now?

Cash payment is not possible during the shutdown. Fees can be paid via bank transfer indicating the billing code (BKZ) on the transfer form. You can find the BKZ and bank details on your reclaim letter.

Important note: During the shutdown we will not reclaim any borrowed items, even if their loan period expires. You will therefore not incur any new media reclaim costs. However, media reclaim procedures already underway remain valid.

If you have any questions, please contact our First Level Hotline.

Interlibrary Loan, Document Delivery, Poster Prints

Can I use interlibrary loan?

Unfortunately, national and international interlibrary loan is also discontinued. It is currently not possible to order literature from other libraries.

Books that you have already ordered cannot be picked up in our branch libraries. Open orders will be cancelled and books ready for collection will be returned to the owning library at the end of the shutdown.

Books already borrowed via interlibrary loan must not be returned until we are open for you again. You will not be charged any media reclaim fees, even if the loan period expires.

Can I use dokumenTUM, the scan service of TUM?

Unfortuntately, it is not possible to have articles from journals and book chapters scanned.

Since Wednesday, March 18, 2020, 6:00 p.m., the university is in restricted operation. Access is now only permitted for employees in system-critical areas.

Can I pick up poster prints ordered from the LRZ to the Main Campus?

Unfortunately, you can not pick up poster prints that you have already ordered from the Leibniz Computing Centre (LRZ) to the TUM Main Campus. All services of the LRZ Collection Point are temporarily suspended.

It is also not possible to order new poster prints. The LRZ is closed to the public as well and has suspended services like the poster printing.

Further information:
LRZ Poster Print Service

Studying Areas, Carrels, Lockers

Are study areas at the TUM accessible?

All study areas in our branch libraries, including reading rooms, group study rooms, and carrels, are currently not accessible. Facilities managed by other institutions, such as the StudiTUM buildings, CIP pools, canteens, or cafeterias are closed for the time being.

The TUM Board of Management has ordered the university to place its operations under restrictions starting Wednesday, 18 March 2020 at 6:00 p.m. Access to TUM is only permitted for employees in system-critical areas.

For information on current developments, please visit the TUM's website on the coronvirus situation: https://www.tum.de/die-tum/aktuelles/coronavirus/

Further information:
StudiTUM buildings
Munich Student Union

I'm currently using one of the library carrels. What do I have to consider?

Carrels are not accessible for the moment. Regardless of your reservation period, you do not have to return the transponder until the library re-opens.

Generally, access to TUM is no longer possible, starting Wednesday, 18 March 2020, 6:00 p.m.

I am currently using a locker at the library. What do I have to consider?

The lockers of the University Library are currently not accessible – no matter if they are inside or outside the library facilities. If you are currently using a locker, you can return the key as soon as the library is re-opened.

Generally, access to TUM is no longer possible, starting Wednesday, 18 March 2020, 6:00 p.m.

E-Media, E-Learning, Remote Access

How can I use e-books from home?

We have more than 160,000 e-books online available for TUM members. You can find our entire collection in the OPAC. You can see whether a title is available as an e-book by the blue "Read online" button.

To access e-books for free of charge, you must first authenticate yourself via eAccess. Log in with your TUM ID and then search in the OPAC.

Further information
Terms of use and alternative access options
Bibs vs. virus – extended access to electronic resources

How can I use e-journals from home?

We make over 45,000 scientific journals available online to TUM members. To access full texts free of charge from home, you must first authenticate yourself with your TUM ID.

The easiest way to do this is via eAccess: Log in with your TUM ID, then search for journal titles in the Electronic Journals Library (EZB).

Further information
Terms of use and alternative access options
Bibs vs. virus – extended access to electronic resources

Can I access specialist databases and research portals from home?

The University Library offers TUM members over 2,400 online databases and search portals in which you can find references, scientific papers, statistics, company data, facts, articles from journals, newspapers, conference proceedings and much more.

To access these resources free of charge from home, you have to authenticate yourself as a TUM member. Depending on the database this can be done with your TUM ID via eAccess or institutional login (Shibboleth). Other databases require a personal registration.

Access information for each database and an overview of our portfolio can be found at: www.ub.tum.de/en/databases

Further information
Bibs vs. virus – extended access to electronic resources

Is there extended access to e-media available?

Many publishers are offering temporary access to their e-books, e-journals and databases due to the corona crisis. Some make their complete program freely available, others offer expanded access with an existing license or make parts of their publications related to Covid-19 accessible.

Since these are time-limited access options, you will not find these e-media via our OPAC, but on the page bibs vs. virus. Please log in via eAccess with your TUM ID.

Can I still attend courses at the university library?

Unfortunately, no classroom courses are possible during the shutdown. However, the University Library offers online courses on literature research, reference management and citation. You can find our e-courses on Moodle. There you can work on the material in self-study. If you have passed the corresponding tests, we will gladly send you a certificate of attendance.

The following courses are offered on Moodle:

Information Literacy 1 – Search and Find E-Books and E-Journals
Information Literacy 2 – Research Strategies for Seminar Papers and Theses
Cite it Right
Reference Management with Citavi - Introductory Course
Reference Management with Citavi - Advanced Course
Reference Management with EndNote - Introductory Course
Reference Management with EndNote - Advanced Course

If you have any questions, please contact workshop@ub.tum.de