The University and City Library of Cologne offers you an extensive range of digital resources for study, research and teaching. This includes over three million e-media - including e-books, e-journals, e-newspapers and a large selection of academic databases.

You can access all electronic resources conveniently via the Cologne University Catalog to research all electronic resources.

Access to the e-media

In the Cologne University Catalog , you will be shown a list of hits after your search using two different traffic light symbols:

Titles marked with a green traffic light symbol are free e-media or Open Access publications that can be used freely by anyone, regardless of location.

Titles marked with a yellow traffic light symbol have been licensed, i.e. purchased from the USB for a fee, and are generally available to all library users. However, you must be on the Uninetz to access these media.

• Students and members of the University of Cologne can access the e-media both within the university network and from outside via VPN. You need a student or staff account and the free additional VPN client software.
• All other users have access to the e-media within our premises: either via Eduroam or at Internet workstations in the Main Department and the Human Sciences Department. A valid library card is required.

Our range of e-media

National licenses of the German Research Foundation

They provide students, academics and private individuals interested in science with access to databases, electronic journals and newspapers as well as e-books. In addition to freely accessible electronic publications throughout Germany, there are also offers for which individuals can register for use:
Information on registration and registration of private individuals

Please note the publishers' terms of use

Access to full texts is only permitted for employees and students of the University of Cologne. External users may only view licensed media in the library. Downloads and printouts are only permitted for personal use and for research purposes. Sharing with third parties and systematic downloads (e.g., entire journal issues or via robots) are prohibited and may result in the blocking of university access.