Borrowing and user account

The following user groups are entitled to borrow items and to use the document delivery service (LLD) (PC/Wi-Fi use is possible for GmbH employees and external persons via project number):

• Terms of use of the library system of the University of Heidelberg (in German)

• Implementing rules (PDF file) of the faculty library of the Medical Faculty of Mannheim (in German)

Please fill out the registration form at the library and ask for your library card at the counter.

An explanation of how to change your password can be found in the section below: "How do I manage my account?"

Note: To register, please bring your employee ID card, a certificate of enrolment or your identity card/passport.

In general, you can borrow books, textbooks (only for students of our faculty), theses (dissertations/postdoctoral theses) and CDs/DVDs. Single journal issues and volumes are generally not borrowable.

After searching in the online catalogue, you will receive information on the location (class mark, branch office) and status (borrowable, borrowed up to ..., orderable, not borrowable) of the individual copies in the respective detailed display. If required, a signpost link is available.

Once you have found the desired item, please bring it to one of the self-checkout stations. There you can use your library card and password to check in books and CD-ROMs/DVDs to your user account and, if you wish, receive a receipt showing the return date ("loan period") and the short title of the item.

If the desired item is not available in the main library but in an institute, a clinic, in the closed stacks, or is on permanent loan (extended loan period), please order the item by following the tab Reservations/Order in the online catalogue. Information for non-students can be found in the following section "What to do if an item is borrowed".

If an order is available on the freely accessible pick-up shelf, you will be notified by e-mail. Orders from the closed stacks are available the following working day (Mon-Fri) without extra e-mail notification. You can borrow these items within 7 days after notification via a self-checkout station. Please inform us if you no longer need an item.

Note: Items from institutes/clinics and permanent loans can be borrowed for a maximum of 4 weeks and cannot be extended.

To reserve borrowed items you can click on the tab Reserve/Order and the link in the detailed view of the online catalogue. Enter your user number and password. You then have the option of entering a special expiration date (until when is your reservation useful?).

Please delete any reservations that are no longer required from your user account (submenu Reservations, Cancellation of Reservation).

If a reservation is available on the freely accessible pick-up shelf, you will be notified by e-mail. You can borrow these items within 7 days of notification (the period may be extended due to public holidays). Please inform us if you no longer need an item.

Note: If you are not a student and cannot reserve or order items because there are borrowable copies available in the textbook collection (only for students), please register in the online catalogue via the link Register (top right). The system will then activate the Reserve/Order function.

The standard loan period is 4 weeks. After that, you can renew an item twice via your user account. This is possible from 10 days before the end of the loan period at the earliest until 1 day before the end of the loan period at the latest (for 4 weeks each time - provided that the items are not reserved). As a rule, you will receive an automatic advance reminder by e-mail 7 days before the end of the respective loan period (due to public holidays, the end of the loan period may be later than 7 days).

If you need items for more than 3 months, they can be booked back at the circulation desk and borrowed again directly.

Note: Items from institutes/clinics and permanent loans can be borrowed for a maximum of 4 weeks and cannot be extended.

To return borrowed items, please use our automatic book return station. Location: Entrance hall Haus 42, between the library entrance and the left locker block.

Instructions on how to return books can be found on the device.

Note: You do not need a library card to return books.

Use of the library and the borrowing of media are free of charge. Charges apply only in certain cases:

• if items are returned late
• for interlibrary loan requests (not for UMM staff)
• if library property is lost or damaged
• for services such as printing, photocopying or scanning (not for faculty staff and PhD students)

Late Return of Media Items

The following charges apply per item in the event of a late return:

• €1.50 a few days after the loan period has expired
• €3.00 after a further week
• €6.50 after a further week

Notifications are sent out for the first three fee tiers (the first and second by email, the third by post).

Please ensure your email address and postal address are always up to date. Late payment charges will still apply even if you do not receive a notification due to out-of-date contact details.

Suspension of the library account

Your library account may be suspended if you have outstanding fees for more than 90 days or if the fees exceed €20. Whilst your account is suspended, you will not be able to borrow items, renew loans, place holds or place orders.

Interlibrary loans

A fee of €1.50 applies to each interlibrary loan request. The interlibrary loan service is free of charge for staff at University Medical Centre Mannheim (UMM).

The fee usually covers the cost of obtaining and returning the item. Additional costs may arise in individual cases, for example for large numbers of copies, special delivery methods, international orders or postage charges.

Loss or damage

• Loss of library card: €5.00
• Loss or damage to library property (e.g. media, trolleys, IT equipment or keys): reimbursement of repair or replacement costs.

Lockers

A deposit of €1.00 is charged for locker keys. If the key is not returned by the deadline, the deposit will be forfeited.

Printing, Copying and Scanning

There may be a charge for printouts, copies and scans. You can find information on current prices on the "Printing, copying, scanning" page.

Pay outstanding fees

To find out how to pay any outstanding fees, please see "How can I pay the fees?".

Legal notice

By using the library, you agree to comply with Heidelberg University’s current fee regulations. The full text of the regulations can be found on the Heidelberg University Library website at https://www.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/de/ueber-uns/zahlen/rechtliche-grundlagen/gebuehrenordnung (German) or at the circulation desk.

You can pay the fees at the pay machine.

If your card is blocked due to older or high fees, you can only have it unblocked after the fees have been paid in full.

You can also pay your fees by bank transfer to the following account:

Recipient: Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim
Bank: Landesbank Baden-Württemberg
IBAN: DE40600501010004616342
BIC: SOLADEST600

Payment reference: Library, user umber 50…*

* Please always enter: "library" and your user number in the field "Payment reference". The eight-digit user number is printed on the library card.

If you have lost or damaged a borrowed item, you are obliged to pay appropriate compensation according to § 11 of the user regulations (in German).

Note: Please do not buy the damaged or lost book yourself, but contact us.

Click on the Account tab at the top of the online catalogue or on User Account on our homepage and log in with your library ID.

On the Account details tab you can see your borrowed items, fees incurred and, if applicable, your borrowing history. Here you can renew or cancel items on your own.

On the User details tab you can change your e-mail address.

For students: Please use your administrative mail address (...@stud.uni-heidelberg.de) for the entire duration of your studies. Please inform us immediately of any changes of term, address (upon presentation of your identity card or registration certificate), or name (contact).
You can also specify here whether your borrowing history should be saved. Please note the data protection information (pdf file) on borrowing history (these are also stored in the user account).

Under Change password you can set a new password with six or more alphanumeric characters.
 

Our Books page describes the two catalogue apps (search and account) for Android and iOS.