Coronavirus: FAQs on Current Services

Work spaces and Single Study Rooms at the Central Library and at all other library on the TU Campus cannot be used at the moment.

Self-service scanning is possible in the Copy Center (1st floor of the Central Library) and at the scanner in the basement. Copiers and printers are not available at the moment.

You can place a scanning request for journal articles and chapters from books that are only available in printed form in the Central Library, the Architecture Department Library, the Physics Department Library, the Economics & Management Library (DBWM) and Mathematics Library. This service is free for all TU members.

Please note that access to the respective library is only possible with a valid library card, TU student card or TU staff ID. Access is also possible to pick up an issued library card. Please show the notification e-mail for this purpose.

The library holdings of the University Libraries of the TU Berlin and UdK Berlin (located at Fasanenstraße 88) are directly accessible in the Open Access Area on the shelves and - as long as they are not reference holdings - can be borrowed. They no longer need to be ordered. Loanable items from the closed stacks must be ordered via the Knowledge Portal Primo. It is currently not possible to loan book locker keys at the Fasanenstraße 88 location.

Loanable items from the Architecture Department Library and the Economics and Management Library (DBWM) must also be ordered via the Knowledge Portal Primo und can be picked up at the individual library locations. Items from the Physics Department Library and Mathematics Library are accessible directly at the shelves. To reduce the time spent in the library, we recommend ordering in advance via the Knowledge Portal Primo.

Journals cannot be borrowed. TU Berlin members can continue to order scans of book chapters and articles of our printed journal holdings.

This is possible during our opening hours: 

• TU and UdK University Libraries at VOLKSWAGEN-Haus (Fasanenstr. 88)
• Architecture and Art Studies Department Library 
• Physics Department Library
• Economics and Management Library 
• Mathematics Library 

Once your order is ready in the for pick-up, you will receive an email explaining how and where to collect your items . You cannot collect your ordered items until you have received this email. Please note that your ordered items are only available for collection for 5 days.

All borrowed items can be renewed independently via your library account using TU-Login or UdK-Login as long as they are not pre-ordered or interlibrary loans.

From 1 February 2021 a renewal is also possible for book locker keys.

Reminders will be sent out for overdue loans, subject to a fee.

At the Central Library, you can return books either via the self-return machine or via the book drop box in the foyer (e.g. for AV media or interlibrary loans). Items from the Architecture and Art Studies Department Library, the Physics Department Library, the Mathematics Library and the Economics and Management Library (DBWM) can also be returned at the Central Library or directly at the specific library. At the return machine you will receive a receipt if required. If you return the item via the anonymous return box, you will receive a receipt by e-mail as soon as we have processed the item. Only the return of book lockers keys takes place directly at the circulation desk on the first floor.The return of library resources at the Central Library at VOLKSWAGEN-Haus is currently possible during our opening hours. To enter the building, you must show your library card. Please note that opening hours of the Department and Special Libraries may be different.

It is also possible to return books by mail. The return date is the date of the return transaction. The borrower bears the risk (see §16, para. 3 Rahmenbenutzungsordnung). As soon as we have processed the return of the books in our system, you will receive a return receipt. The postal address for the return shipment is 

Technische Universität Berlin
Universitätsbibliothek
z.Hd. Leihstelle
Fasanenstr. 88
(im VOLKSWAGEN-Haus)
10623 Berlin

You must show your library card to be permitted entrance to the building. You are required to wear a FFP2 mask. Please ensure that you keep sufficient distance from others. Sanitizer will be provided. Please do not visit the library if you show symptoms of a cold or feel generally ill. Please also note that for the collection, lending and return of library resources at the joint location of the University Libraries of TU and UdK in the VOLKSWAGEN-Building (Fasanenstr. 88), a maximum of 25 persons may enter the building at the same time. Please plan accordingly.

You report the loss using our online form "Lost a book?". If you have any questions, please contact leihstelle(at)ub.tu-berlin.de.

Please send an email to leihstelle(at)ub.tu-berlin.de.

E-Books and E-Journals

Use our electronic resources such as e-books and e-journals. As a member of TU Berlin, you can also retrieve these from home via VPN Client.

Search for them in the Primo Knowledge Portal. Using the new filter "media type" in the results list, you can quickly access electronic resources.

In our e-tutorial "How can I access e-books" we show you how to search for e-books quickly and efficiently.

Free electronic resources

Many publishers have reacted to the coronavirus crisis and are making articles, journals and e-books temporarily available on their platforms. Our Access to Free Electronic Resources  page lists these offers and other free e-resources.

Resources that are not available online

You can request journal articles and chapters from books that are only available in printed form in the Central Library via Electronic Copy Delivery Service. This service is free for all TU members.

For resources not available at TU Central Library, use our free of charge Express Delivery Service. It also applies to journal articles and scans of book chapters. TU staff can place 50 orders per month, TU students up to 10 orders.

TU members can also order books and journal articles from other libraries free of charge via interlibrary loan.

Reference materials on site

Studying on site is not possible at the moment. However, you can scan single pages of books from the Open Access Area within the scope of copyright.

For articles from journals and for chapters from books that are only available in printed form in the Central Library, the Architecture and Art Studies Department Library, the Physics Department Library, the Mathematics Library or in the Economics and Management Library (DBWM), TU members can place a scanning request.

Items not in stock

For items that we do not have in stock, you can use the free Express Delivery service. It also applies to journal articles and scans of book chapters. TU staff can place up to 50 orders per month, TU students up to 10 orders per month.

TU members can also order books and journal articles from other libraries free of charge via interlibrary loan.

In databases you can search for resources independent of the holdings of the TU libraries. Depending on the type of database you will find journal articles, standards, book chapters, books etc. in the form of bibliographic references or electronic full text.

TU members can access licensed databases via a VPN client. Available databases can be found via the Datenbank-Infosystem (DBIS) of the TU Berlin. To find relevant databases, use e.g. the subject overview or choose the "erweiterte Suche" (advanced search) and select "Volltextdatenbanken" (full text databases). 

The current situation may require an alternative VPN access for accessing the electronic media. If you have problems accessing the library's electronic media, please use the server bib.vpn.tu-berlin.de.

Please write to info(at)ub.tu-berlin.de if you cannot access resources via this server.

On our page Access to Free Electronic Resources you can find a collection of freely available resources, including special offers from publishers and libraries during the Corona crisis.

Books and journal articles that are neither printed nor available online in the holdings of the TU Berlin can be ordered via interlibrary loan.

TU staff and students can use a form to suggest books for research, teaching and studies for items that are not in stock.

Yes, but registration is only possible via our online registration form. 

No, TU students can only borrow items once they are enrolled and have received their student card. All first semester students should be enrolled promptly.

Please notify the loss of your library card to leihstelle(at)ub.tu-berlin.de. If you would like to have a replacement library card issued, please fill out our registration form. A fee of 5 EUR will be charged for the replacement library card.

Please fill out our registration form for renewal.

If loan periods are exceeded, a reminder will be issued for which a fee will be charged.

Fees can be paid at the pay machine in the joint lending desk of TU Berlin and UdK Berlin (location Fasanenstraße 88) or by bank transfer to the following account.

Beneficiary: Technische Universität Berlin
Bank: Berliner Volksbank
IBAN: DE69 1009 0000 8841 0150 03
BIC: BEVODEBB
Please add (important): Zweck 01101 4611 0011 51410000 [and your User ID Number (12 digits, starts with 1690...)]

Please note: It may take one to two weeks until bank transactions are processed and fines are cleared from your library account. Your books will not be automatically renewed by paying your overdue fees.

Yes, interlibrary loans are possible. All information on interlibrary loan can be found here.

You can order copies of journal articles and book chapters via the Express Delivery Service. TU staff can place up to 50 orders per month, TU students up to 10 orders per month. This service is free of charge. The service is available only for ordering journal articles and book chapters and not for borrowing books.

Yes. For articles from journals and for chapters from books that are only available in printed form in the Central Library, the Architecture and Art Studies Department Library, the Physics Department Library, the Mathematics Library or in the Economics and Management Library (DBWM), TU members can use the free Scanning Request Service. The desired articles will be scanned and made available for download for 14 days.

Please choose one of the 3 publication forms according to § 9 of the Doctoral Regulations of the TU Berlin and then proceed according to the checklists on the website of the University Library's Dissertation Office. After successful publication you will receive a preliminary receipt for presentation in your Faculty Service Center. Please understand that the procedures currently take a little more time.

The Open Access team is working from home and can continue to be reached. Applications for the publication fund will be accepted. However, please expect delays to invoice processing.

You can continue to access your belongings in the book lockers and trolleys. The loan periods of the book lockers and book trolleys of the Central Library, the Department Libraries of Architecture and Physics, and the Mathematical Library were automatically extended until 1 April 2021, unless there was a restriction (e.g. account blocked or library card expired).

From 1 February 2021 you can renew book locker keys as well as all other media via your library account using TU-Login or UdK-Login, as long as they are not reserved. A new loan of book locker keys of the University Libraries of TU Berlin and UdK Berlin (location Fasanenstraße 88) is currently not possible.

Currently we only offer online courses. You can find all current courses and self-learning material under Library Courses & Learning Offers.