Instead of using the Chat: Send an E-Mail to the Information Department

Info-Chat
You are here:

Dortmund University Library Regulations

This is an unofficial translation of the "Benutzungsordnung für die Universitätsbibliothek Dortmund" for the convenience of non-German speaking users. The "Benutzungsordnung für die Universitätsbibliothek Dortmund" is the sole authoritative and legally binding document.

In accordance with § 2 [4] Hochschulgesetz NRW (University Act of North Rhine-Westphalia), the Technische Universität Dortmund has decreed the following regulations for the University Library of Dortmund (Central Library, Departmental Libraries and the Library of the Department of Environmental Research):

§ 1 General

  1. The University Library of Dortmund is a central operational unit (in accordance with § 30 [1] Hochschulgesetz NRW, University Act of North Rhine-Westphalia). The services and facilities offered by the University Library of Dortmund primarily serve the needs of students and members of staff of the Technische Universität Dortmund, the Universities of Applied Sciences Dortmund, Bochum, Gelsenkirchen and Südwestfalen for research, teaching and study. The services and facilities of the University Library of Dortmund are also available to other users for academic research.
  2. The University Library of Dortmund provides these services by
    1. holding its collections on the premises of the Central Library and the Departmental Libraries (the Library of the Department of Environmental Research has the status of a Departmental Library),
    2. lending its book stock for use off the premises of the Central Library and the Departmental Libraries,
    3. making copies of originals from its stock,
    4. acting as an intermediary in procuring locally unavailable literature through interlibrary loans,
    5. providing reference service with our catalogue and bibliographic tools,
    6. providing internet access on users' notebooks and on library computers.

zurück zur Übersicht

§ 2 Admission to the Library

  1. The use of the library facilities and book stock on the premises of the Central Library and the Departmental Libraries is permitted to anyone of age without prior registration.
  2. Services specified under § 1 [2b-f] (borrowing, interlibrary loan service, etc.) are only available to registered users. Users have to register in person with the reader services department and will be asked to show a valid identity card or passport (users who only have a passport will be asked to provide official proof of residence). Upon registration, the user will receive his library card, which is only valid in connection with an identity card or passport and which is non-transferable. The library card has to be shown at every borrowing.
  3. Services specified under § 2 [2] are only available to students and staff of the Technische Universität Dortmund and the Universities of Applied Sciences of Dortmund, Bochum, Gelsenkirchen and Südwestfalen. Affiliation with the aforementioned universities has to be satisfactorily shown. Students must show their student registration card (or preliminary certificate of enrolment).
  4. In addition, services specified under § 2 [2] are also available to residents of Dortmund and the surrounding region. Persons under 18 years of age have to submit an absolute suretyship of a legal guardian and, on request, written confirmation by their school. The library reserves the right to decide about admission to registration.
  5. Lending service from the book stock of the University Library of Dortmund (§1 [2 b]) is also available to students and academic staff of other universities of North Rhine-Westphalia. Affiliation with these universities has to be satisfactorily shown. Students must show their student registration card. Their membership with the library is limited to 1 year and can be extended for another year at a time if the students provides evidence that he is still enrolled at a university in North Rhine-Westphalia. Students and academic staff of other universities of North Rhine-Westphalia may not, however, use the interlibrary loan service, they may not borrow items from the textbook collection and they are not eligible for extended loan periods at the departmental libraries. They may borrow a maximum of 20 items at a time.

zurück zur Übersicht

§ 3 Users' Rights

Users are entitled to use the services as specified in these regulations according to their respective user status as specified in these regulations. The University Library of Dortmund reserves the right to make separate arrangements with regard to internet access by users.

zurück zur Übersicht

§ 4 Users' Responsibilities

  1. Users must observe the Library Regulations, which are publicly posted, regardless of whether they hold a library card or not. Instructions by the library staff must be complied with.
  2. Coats, umbrellas, bags and the like must be deposited in a locker before passing the security barrier. For use of the lockers, the locker regulations apply. No further responsibility is taken.
  3. Users must remain quiet in all areas of the library, especially the reading rooms are intended for quiet study. No mobile phone calls are allowed once users have passed the security barrier.
  4. Smoking is not permitted in the library. Food and drinks must not be taken into the library.
  5. Library materials are to be handled with the utmost care. Loss of borrowed items must be reported immediately. If an item has been lost or damaged (e.g. written on, underlined,...) by a user, the user must pay full compensation, the amount and mode of payment are determined by the library.
  6. Users are asked to report the loss of their library card to the reader services department immediately.
  7. Changes of name or address must immediately be reported to the reader services department. Users who hold a library card in accordance with § 2 [3] must return their library card once they quit the aforementioned universities. This also applies to the users who hold a library card in accordance with § 2 [4] once they relocate from the region.

zurück zur Übersicht

§ 5 Inspection

Items brought into the library must be shown on exiting the library. Bags and other containers are subject to inspection by the library staff.

zurück zur Übersicht

§ 6 Opening Hours

The library determines the opening hours in co-operation with the commission of the Academic Senate. They are posted on the library bulletin boards and in the course catalogue (Vorlesungsverzeichnis).

zurück zur Übersicht

§ 7 Borrowing

  1. Any item in the Central Library and the Departmental Libraries to which § 7 [2] does not apply can be borrowed for use off the premises of the library.
  2. The following items cannot be borrowed: journals, items from the reference library (Handbibliothek), unbound editions (e.g. loose-leaf-editions), maps, unpublished writings of all kind, microforms, items from the reserved book collection (Semesterhandapparat) and particularly old or rare books (Rara).
  3. If users exceed the loan period (see § 9), a fine will be charged in accordance with the University Act of North Rhine-Westphalia (Hochschulgesetz NRW) in connection with the effective statutory order and administrative regulations.
  4. Reservation of borrowed items is possible. The library reserves the right to limit the number of items users may reserve.

zurück zur Übersicht

§ 8 Textbook Collection

Items from the textbook collection can only be borrowed by students of the Technische Universität Dortmund and of the Universities of Applied Sciences Dortmund, Bochum, Gelsenkirchen and Südwestfalen.

zurück zur Übersicht

§ 9 Loan Periods

A. Central Library

  1. The loan period for professors, academic staff and students of the graduate colleges of the Technische Universität Dortmund and of the Universities of Applied Sciences Dortmund, Bochum, Gelsenkirchen and Südwestfalen may borrow items from the Central Library for 130 days (excluding weekends and public holidays). If an item is requested by another user, it must be returned within 10 days after the recall notice has been sent, provided that the minimum guaranteed loan period of 20 days has been exceeded.
  2. In all other cases the loan period is 20 days (excluding weekends and public holidays). After the loan period has elapsed, it is extended once automatically and once on request, for another 20 days at a time, provided that the item has not in the meantime been requested by another user. If an item is requested by another user, it must be returned within 10 days after the recall notice has been sent.
  3. If an item has already been requested by another user on borrowing, the loan period is limited to 10 days without an option extend the loan period.
  4. Disabled users with severe impairments may be granted loan status specified under § 9 [1].

B. Departmental Libraries

  1. The Departmental Libraries are reference libraries.
  2. Professors and academic staff of the Technische Universität Dortmund may use items from their own or adjoining Departmental Libraries for up to 130 days (excluding weekends and public holidays) and items from other Departmental Libraries for up to 20 days in their office. However, the items must be immediately returned if they are requested by another user or for internal revision. Users have to make sure that during their absence, items kept in their offices are accessible to authorised agents in case they must be returned.
  3. § 9 B [2] also applies to emeritus professors and retired members of staff.
  4. In all other cases, a maximum number of 5 items may be borrowed towards the respective closing time of the Departmental Library and must be returned on the morning of the next day (short loan, excluding weekends and public holidays).

zurück zur Übersicht

§ 10 Interlibrary Loans

  1. Items needed for academic work which are not in stock can be ordered by the reader services department through the national interlibrary loan system or through international lending (for refunding of expenses see § 15). Users who are not specified under § 2 [2-4] cannot use the interlibrary loan system.
  2. The library may determine separate regulations and fees for express document delivery services.
  3. On request, the library lends items to other libraries. In exceptional cases, this also applies to reference collections such as the Departmental Libraries.

zurück zur Übersicht

§ 11 Reference Service

We supply information orally or in writing free of charge, as far as possible. However, we charge information transactions in writing and information from databases.

zurück zur Übersicht

§ 12 Copy Service

The library provides copies of originals from our own book stock and from interlibrary loans if copies cannot be made on the publicly available copy machines. An order form is available at the reference desk. Users must not make copies of old and valuable books themselves. Users must comply with the provisions of any relevant legislation as relates to copyright.

zurück zur Übersicht

§ 13 Information Centre for Technology and Patents

These regulations also apply to the Information Centre for Technology and Patents, unless the relevant "Regulations of the Information Centre for Technology and Patents" provide differently.

zurück zur Übersicht

§ 14 Exclusion and Restricted Use

  1. If the loan period is exceeded by more than 30 days (excluding weekends and public holidays) or overdue fines are not paid, the user will be excluded from borrowing from the Central Library and from the Departmental Libraries ten days after a notification has been sent. The user will be excluded from borrowing until obligations have been met and/or fines have been paid.
  2. In case of non-compliance with the library regulations, the Director of Library Services may temporarily exclude a user from borrowing or grant a user restricted use of the library only. Severe violation of the library regulations may result in a permanent exclusion from the library. The decision lies with the Head of the Technische Universität Dortmund (Rektor). Severe violations notably consist in repeatedly damaging or purloining books. A permanent exclusion from the library may also result if users repeatedly and maliciously disrupt the work of and/or harass library staff. A permanent exclusion must be preceded by an administrative procedure.
  3. By an exclusion, users' responsibilities as specified in the library regulations remain unaffected.
  4. Against these notifications, users may file an objection with the Head of the Technische Universität Dortmund (Rektor).

zurück zur Übersicht

§ 15 Fees and Fines

Fees and fines are imposed in accordance with the relevant University Act of North Rhine-Westphalia (Hochschulgesetz NRW) in connection with the effective statutory order and administrative regulations. In accordance with these regulations, the library may, upon request, reduce or waive fees.

zurück zur Übersicht

§ 16 Assent and Coming into Effect

These regulations come into effect on the day of their publication in the Official Announcements (Amtliche Mitteilungen) of the Technische Universität Dortmund and replace the library regulations of June 4th 1997. They are moreover to be publicly posted on the premises of the library.

Issued on the basis of the decision of the Academic Senate of the Technische Universität Dortmund of December 12th 2005.

Dortmund, December 20th 2005

Head of the Technische Universität Dortmund (Rektor)
University Professor
Dr. Eberhard Becker