Textbook Collection

The textbook collection of the Law Library is located on the 1st floor, staircase 1 (anteroom to reading room no. 12).

Please note that all reservations/requests you make (including reservations/requests for books shelved on other floors) are prepared for collection at the textbook collection.

Eligible for borrowing:

• Students of other Austrian higher educational institutions
• School students of Austrian schools, apprentices
• Academic staff of the University of Vienna
• Associated researchers und lecturers of the University of Vienna
• Diploma/Master/Doctoral candidates of the University of Vienna
• Staff of the University of Vienna

Not eligible for borrowing (or only for day loans):

• Annual card
• Monthly card
• Retired member of university staff
• Members of institutions
• Members of the Alumni Association of the University of Vienna

Holdings of the textbook collection

From the textbook collection, you can borrow collections of legislation and textbooks for all examination subjects. The textbooks and collections of legislation that are available at the textbook collection are listed on a board at the lending desk. On u:search, you can find all titles that are available.

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Opening hours of the textbook collection (during the semester)

Please note: We can only process your applications, loans and book returns at the textbook collection 15 minutes before the Library closes (i.e. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 15:45, Monday and Thursday at 18:45). Outside of the textbook collection opening hours, you can return the books at the respective libraries on other floors.

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Returns box

Please only use the returns box to return Law Library books outside of opening hours (i.e. from 22:00 to 9:00). The books in the returns box will only be recorded as returned on the next day if the Library is open. Therefore, we might charge you with reminder fees and overdue charges even if you leave the book in the returns book on the day it is due.

Special opening hours apply during semester breaks and holidays. Please see: Opening hours

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Library card

You need a library card to borrow books from the Vienna University Library or to use books/journals kept in closed stacks. The following people are eligible for a library card:

• Adults with place of residence in Austria
• Persons older than 15 years and/or schoolchildren who submit a written declaration of consent and a declaration of liability signed by their parent(s) or legal guardian(s)

Special provisions apply for foreign visiting academics who do not have an Austrian proof of residence in Austria.

How do I get a library card?

Students and employees of the University of Vienna:

If you have a u:card, you already possess a valid library card.

If you do not have a u:card yet, please go to the library card counter at the lending service of the Vienna University Library or at another special library that issues library cards. You have to present your student ID card or an official photo ID card. For students and employees of the University of Vienna, the library card is free of charge.

External library users and members of other universities:

To get a library card, please complete the initial registration web form. For further information about the initial registration, please read our user guide.

Members of other universities and other academic institutions

After having completed the initial registration, please go to the textbook collection and present an official proof of residence, an official photo ID card and the completed form “Nachweis für die Erteilung des Status Mitarbeiter/in österreichischer Institutionen” (proof of employee user status at an Austrian institution). The library card is free of charge.

External library users can apply for an annual library card that amounts to € 15.00. After having completed the initial registration, please go to the textbook collection and present an official proof of residence, an official photo ID card and the completed form “Antrag auf Ausstellung eines Bibliotheksausweises” (application for a library card). You can borrow books from the textbook collection for one day only.

Loans in the name of others or the circulation of borrowed books are prohibited. The owner of the library card is liable for returning all borrowed books. In case of damage or loss, the owner of the library card has to replace the items.

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Reserving books from the textbook collection

In case a book you need is currently borrowed by another user, you can make a reservation for the book.

The Library works with an automated lending system. You can reserve books or renew loans at the computers provided for this purpose at the special library or at any other computer that is connected to the Internet.

Please log in to u:search using your u:account (click the button “Sign in”). Next, search for the book you need. You can use a wide range of filters (e.g. title, author name, creation date, signature, etc.). Click the title of the book to view the details of the book, then click “Available: ...” and “Request/Reservation”. As soon as you have made your request, you will be listed on the waiting list for the book. As soon as you are the next in line to borrow and the book is available for collection, we will notify you by e-mail or by post. Once the book is available, we keep it ready for you to collect for the next five opening days.

At the special library, you can only place reservations on books that may be borrowed for use at home. You cannot reserve books that can be borrowed for one day only.

Please do not forget to sign out afterwards (click the button “Sign out”).

Maximum number of loans per user

You can borrow up to 50 items from the holdings of the Vienna University Library. At the Law Library, you may only borrow up to 20 items (textbook collection, libraries on different floors, Schenkenstrasse).

Loan periods

The maximum loan period at the textbook collection is 56 days.

If only a small number of copies is available, an item may be borrowed for one day only. You have to return them by 11:30 on the following working day (except for Saturdays). For example: If you borrow a book on Friday, you can keep it until the next Monday at 11:30. You cannot borrow the book again on the day on which you returned it.

Borrowed books have to be returned unsolicited, at the latest on their due date.
Please read our information about reminder fees and overdue charges for books that have not been returned on time.

Renewing loans

You can renew your loan for another 56 days, unless other users have reserved the item. (You cannot place a reservation on an item that you are currently borrowing.)

To renew your loans, please check the due dates of your loans (see below) by clicking “My loans”. A list of all your loans is displayed. Choose the item you want to renew and click “Renew”. As of this moment, the loan is extended by another 56 days. You cannot renew the loan again. If you click “Renew all”, all your loans will be extended by another 56 days, regardless of the dates on which you have borrowed the items.

Checking your loans

We recommend that you regularly check your loans to avoid having to pay overdue charges or reminder fees. You can see a list of all the items that you are currently borrowing and their due dates. Please go to u:search, the search engine of the Vienna University Library.

• Log in to u:search using your u:account.
• To check the due dates of your loans (see below), click “My Loans”. You will see a list of all the items that you are currently borrowing. Next to each item you can see its due date. (You can also renew your loans on this page. You cannot renew loans for overdue books or books that have already been reserved by somebody else.)
• To log out, please click “Sign out”.

If you have any questions about borrowing books, please consult the textbook collection staff.
E: entl.rewi.ub@univie.ac.at