Borrowing and Ordering Documents
Table of contents
- Who Can Use the University Library Zurich?
- Where to Register?
- Why Do I Need a swisscovery Account?
- How Can I Reset or Change my Password?
- Where Can I Inform about My New Address?
- When Do I Need a Library Card?
- Which Library Cards are Accepted?
- What to Do if You Lose Your Library Card?
- How Long Can Media Be Borrowed?
- How to Order Media?
- Where to Pick up Ordered Media?
- Where to Pick up Items from the Cooperative Storage Library?
- Where to Return Borrowed Media?
- Can Loaned Media Be Reserved?
- What to Do if You Lose a Borrowed Item?
Who Can Use the University Library Zurich?
Individuals over the age of 16 can register.
A library card is required to borrow media.
Where to Register?
Individuals
Registration is free of charge. Anyone wishing to use the services of University Library Zurich needs a SWITCH edu-ID account to register with the SLSP.
without SWITCH edu-ID account
If you do not yet have a SWITCH edu-ID account, the first step is to create a SWITCH edu-ID account via SLSP registration platform.
with SWITCH edu-ID account
If you have a SWITCH edu-ID account, log in with your SWITCH edu-ID account via via SLSP registration platform.
Our instruction explains which steps are required for your registration.
Institutions
Institutions must submit the institutional account application using the form on the SLSP registration platform.
Why Do I Need a swisscovery Account?
With the registration, you will receive a user account.
You need the login and password of the account to order and reserve media via swisscovery.
In the user account you can:
- view loans, orders, and fees
- renew loan periods
How Can I Reset or Change my Password?
If you have forgotten your password, create a new password on the SWITCH edu-ID website. You can also change your password via the SWITCH edu-ID website.
Where Can I Inform about My New Address?
Change your address in your SWITCH edu-ID account.
When Do I Need a Library Card?
As a holder of a library card accepted in the SLSP system, you can borrow media directly at self-checkout stations or the counter.
Which Library Cards are Accepted?
The following library cards can be used at the UB:
- SLSP library card
- UZH Card
- Student Card of the Careum Bildungszentrum
- BibliOpass library cards
You can obtain an SLSP library card from all libraries, that are connected to the SLSP system, which lend media. The library card is free of charge.
What to Do if You Lose Your Library Card?
If you have lost your library card, delete the card number on the SLSP library card management website. You obtain a replacement card at any SLSP library. The replacement card is free of charge. You can also enter the ID number of the new library card on the website mentioned above.
How Long Can Media Be Borrowed?
| General loan period | 28 days |
| Maximum loan period | 6 x 28 days |
| Renewal: automatic | 5 x 28 days |
Loan periods can be renewed manually via user account.As a general rule, renewals are only possible, if there are no other reservations for the item and the maximum loan period of 6 x 28 days has not yet been reached. If an renewal is not possible, the media item must be returned.
After the loan period has ended, you will receive a free reminder by E-Mail asking you to return the item.
When the loan period expires, borrowers are automatically noted as overdue and the dunning procedure is activated. Details are regulated by the Terms of use (PDF, 294 KB)of the University Library Zurich (German only). After a recall, a maximum of three reminders are sent at intervals of at least one week. The third reminder will be sent by mail. Non-deliverable callbacks and reminders will not be accepted as a reason for late returns.
How to Order Media?
Loanable media can be ordered via swisscovery. You can choose whether you want to pick up ordered documents or receive them by mail. Please note that postal delivery is a fee-based service.
Our instruction explains how you can order documents via swisscovery.
Anything that can't be ordered or downloaded via swisscovery can be obtained from the University Library document delivery service.
Use the order form tailored to your needs:
Order form for UZH members of the MeF, MNF and Vetsuisse
Where to Pick up Ordered Media?
UB ZB courier (free of charge)
Media from the University Library can be ordered for pickup to select University Library locations as well as to the Zentralbibliothek Zurich:
UB Asian and Oriental Studies (RAA)
UB English Linguistics and Literature
UB German Studies & Nordic Language and Literature
UB Popular Culture Studies & Film Studies
UB Romance Language and Literature
UB Slavonic Studies, General and Comparative Literature & Comparative Language Science
UB Social and Cultural Anthropology & Sociology
SLSP courier
The SLSP courier is an alternative to the document delivery service of the UB.
Media listed in swisscovery that is not available at the Univerity Library Zurich or the Zentralbibliothek Zurich can be ordered via swisscovery for pick up at the ZB or the ETH Library. This service costs CHF 6 per item. Orders via the document delivery service of the UB for out of house media cost CHF 12.- per item.
Where to Pick up Items from the Cooperative Storage Library?
Pick-up locations for deliveries from the cooperative storage library are:
UB Germanistik & Skandinavistik
Deliveries from the Cooperative Storage Library are free of charge for UZH members.
Where to Return Borrowed Media?
UB-ZB courier (free of charge)
Loaned media from the University Library Zurich can be returned to the following locations as well as to the Zentralbibliothek Zurich:
UB Asian and Oriental Studies (RAA)
UB English Linguistics and Literature
UB German Studies & Nordic Language and Literature
UB Popular Culture Studies & Film Studies
UB Romance Language and Literature
UB Slavonic Studies, General and Comparative Literature & Comparative Language Science
UB Social and Cultural Anthropology & Sociology
SLSP courier
Media obtained via the SLSP courier can be returned to the ZB Zurich or the ETH Library. The ZB has a return machine on Chorgasse, which is accessible around the clock with a valid library card, even on weekends.
Postal delivery
Media can also be returned by mail. The costs are to be paid by the borrowing party.
Can Loaned Media Be Reserved?
Loaned media can be reserved. You will be notified when the reserved media is ready. Media are made available for pick up for one week until they are returned to the library for the use of the public.
Reservations for a specific point in time are not possible, however, the item will be made available as soon as possible. When ordering, a time window can be set with an end date by which the document is no longer needed.
What to Do if You Lose a Borrowed Item?
Report the loss of loaned media to the UB immediately. The effective acquisition costs, a handling fee plus dunning charge will be charged. You can find the complete overview of fees in the appendix of the Terms of use (PDF, 294 KB) of the University Library Zurich (German only)