Issuing

In the open stacks and textbook collection, you can remove the selected books from the shelf yourself. When leaving the rooms, please present the books with your library card to the staff at the issue desk to have them booked to your library account.

Books which you have requested via KatalogPlus are generally made available in the self-collection area on the ground floor. The status of the request will then be displayed as provided in your library account. When you pick up the books with your library card they will be checked out for you; you will then find these books in your library account under the heading "Loans".

Please note our opening hours.

Requests

Large parts of the holdings are shelved in areas not open to the public (closed or off-site stacks). In order to use these items, you must log in to KatalogPlus and request them. We can usually have your order ready for you within one working day (Mon–Fri) in the self-collection area (ground floor) or at the manuscript reading room desk (level +01); if the item has to be retrieved from off-site stacks, it may take one or two working days longer.
Not all media from the inaccessible stacks can be requested via KatalogPlus; this applies in particular to older journals and microfilms. If no request option is available for the relevant volume/year or copy in KatalogPlus, please use the Special order service Central Library.

If a book that you want is on loan, you can also make a request using KatalogPlus. As soon as it is returned, we will set it aside for you.

We will always notify you by email as soon as your request is available. In the self-collection area the books will be available for loan one week from the delivery date. At the manuscript reading room desk, you can access the requested works for four weeks.

Loan period

The best way to find out the loan conditions for your user group for your desired media is to consult the information in KatalogPlus once you are logged in.

The loan period in the lending network is generally four weeks, but can often be renewed.

We will send you a reminder 5 days prior to the end of the loan period.

If the loan period is exceeded, fees will be charged for each book. If you exceed this period by more than 40 days or for more than 10 books at the same time (50 books for academic staff), your library account will be blocked for borrowing.

Please note that overdue charges are applied regardless of the dispatch and receipt of reminders!

Renewing items

The loan period of a book can be extended at any time, provided that no request has been made by another user and the maximum loan period (basically 6 months in the lending network, 12 months for academic staff) has not been reached. Even items whose loan period has already been exceeded can usually be renewed retrospectively; however, the fees incurred for exceeding the loan period will not be affected.

You may extend the loan period yourself online via KatalogPlus. You can renew certain books or all renewable books in your library account.

Loan periods are automatically extended for academic staff of the University of Münster.

Media provided in the (manuscript) reading room will be removed after a maximum of 4 weeks or extended only in individual cases upon request.

Notifications

Notifications are always sent by email. Information regarding your library account (e. g. available media, upcoming due dates, late returns, or unpaid fees) and general usage information (e. g. deviating opening hours, service restrictions and special services) will be sent to the email address(es) registered at the ULB. Therefore, please make sure that your email address(es) – viewable via your library account in KatalogPlus – is/are up to date. If you need to request a change, please contact ulb@uni-muenster.de.

Library account enquiries

You can log into your library account via KatalogPlus in the top right-hand corner. It provides information on what you have borrowed or requested and whether fees are due. Your returns will be logged and saved in your borrowing history for a period of 6 months.

Returning items

  • in the Central Library: Books and other media can be returned during the entire opening hours at the return desk in the foyer or – if this desk is not occupied – at the open stacks’ issue desk. You can also use our "Bücherbox" (book box) in the ground floor reading room, Mon – Fri from 5:30 p.m. and Sat/Sun during the entire opening hours.
  • in the lending network: Books from the Central Library, the Medical Library, the Social Sciences Branch Library, the library of the Institute of Educational Science and Communication Science and the Centre for Dutch Studies / Branch Library can also be returned at the return desks of those other libraries.
  • by post: In exceptional cases, you may return books to the ULB by post (please send them to Krummer Timpen 3, 48143 Münster). The postmark date is deemed the date of return. Please note that you bear all risks associated with postal dispatch; we therefore recommend that you use an insured parcel service. Please also include a note with your name, user number and the shelfmarks of the returned books in the package.

Attention: In case of loss or damage of borrowed books, you are obliged to pay damages. Please fill out a loss and damage form at the loan desk to report any loss or damage and confirm that you will pay for those. Thus, you can avoid a dunning procedure and possible blocking of your loan authorization.

Fees

The use of the ULB is generally free of charge. Fees are charged only for exceeding the loan period, loss or damage to a book/item/library card and for special services. If your fees exceed 50 euros, your library account will be blocked for borrowing.