FAQs about requesting books

Click the “Locations” tab in the relevant entry in the results list on u:search. You will see all libraries that have a copy of the relevant book. The list also specifies whether the relevant copy is currently available or not. For further information about the copy, please click the + to the left of the library name. “Item in place” under “Status” means that the book is currently available at the relevant library. However, if you see “On loan until ....” under “Status”, the book is currently borrowed and due to be returned on the date specified. The information “loan” does not tell you whether the book is currently available at the library.

Open the search engine u:search and log in (u:account / UB account UserID).

Search for a book and click the “Locations” tab under the book of your choice in the results list. You will see a list of all libraries that have a copy of the relevant book. You can request copies kept in closed magazines that are not open to the public online or – if they are currently borrowed – place a reservation. You can see the link “Request” or “Reservation” in the relevant entry. If you do not see a “Request” or “Reservation” link, you cannot request the copy online. In this case, please contact the relevant library.

If you would like to borrow a book from a multi-volume publication, please note that you have to select the volume of your choice before you can request the book.

Please make sure that CapsLock is not activated and check whether you have saved a wrong password in your browser.

If the error still occurs and you have forgotten your password, please contact the ZID Helpdesk and provide an official photo ID. For further information, please go to http://zid.univie.ac.at/passwort/ .

You cannot use the ID number ($A number) to log in. Please use your u:account UserID or the ID of your UB account.

Requesting a book:
You can borrow media that are currently not borrowed by somebody else. Status in the user account: Requested
You will receive a notification as soon as the book you requested is ready to collect.

Reserving a book:
You can reserve media that are currently borrowed by somebody else.
Status in the user account: x. person reserving this item, on loan until DD Month YYYY

Ready to collect:
You will receive a notification e-mail as soon as the book you have reserved is returned to the library or ready to collect.
Status in the user account: Ready to collect until DD Month YYYY

You can request or reserve a maximum of 50 books per day online. Note that books that are ready for collection are included in this count.

For requests and/or reservations at special libraries, please ask the employees at the relevant special library.

If you would like to request books kept in the old stocks, please select the “Special Request” tab in u:search.

Please contact the relevant library if you want your request to be processed faster. You can also send an e-mail to helpdesk.ub@univie.ac.at.

The number of books you are allowed to borrow at a special library depends on the relevant library and your user status. Please read the information provided under the Lending Service tab on the website of the relevant special library.

The book you are interested in may probably not be borrowed. If available, check the status information and proceed as described above.

If the entry lacks the “Locations” tab, there are no copies available for this entry. This is the case with:

• the top-level entry of multi-volume publications (i.e. you did not select a specific volume from the publication)
• publication series and
• periodical publications (e.g. newspapers, journals).

Please note the relevant icons (“Multiple Versions”, “Publication Series”, “Journal/Newspaper”) displayed left of the title in the results list on u:search.

This may have several reasons:

• You have already requested or reserved the maximum number of books.
• You want to request a book from the textbook collection or the open stacks even though there is a copy available in the open-shelf area.
• You have requested a book that is subject to special terms of usage.

The library deletes your request if the book is not on the shelf. In this case, the library cannot process your request.

The library has to delete your requests. Otherwise, you would soon reach the order limit and could no longer request any books.

Open the u:search search engine and log in (u:account UserID/ UB library account UserID).

Click “My Account” under the “Menu” tab in the red bar in the upper right-hand corner. Next, click “Requests” in the menu bar. You now see a list of your requests and reservations (the status bar specifies if it is a request or a reservation). Click “Cancel” in the relevant entry and confirm by clicking “OK” in the pop-up window.

You can order the book from another library in Austria or Europe via an inter-library load order, or send us an acquisition suggestion.