Assistance in dealing with e-books

Help with the handling of our approximately 1 million e-books.

Useful link for members of the University of Cologne: VPN instructions of the Regional Computing Centre (RRZK)

What are e-books?

As e-books we offer you digital books mainly in PDF format. HTML or ePub formats are also available in some cases. You do not need an e-book reader to use them. All you need is a computer (desktop PC, notebook, tablet or smartphone) with a browser, Internet access and PDF reader.

How can I find e-books?

In the UCL-Portal on our homepage you will find - besides the printed literature - also all our e-books. The online resources can be identified by the globe symbol in the hit list. If you only want to see online resources, filter the search result and limit the type of access to "online". You will find the link "E-Book in full text" in the detailed display of the individual hits. This leads to the e-book provider. On the respective platform you can read the e-book online, and if necessary download parts or the complete text.

• Cologne University Catalogue

You can also access the e-books directly via the platforms of the individual e-book providers. There you will also find titles for which no license has been purchased. You will then be unable to use them. The accessible titles are often marked green or with an open lock or key symbol.

E-book providers by subject area (German)

Where and how do I have access?

Use our e-media from outside via VPN - only possible for students and employees of the University of Cologne.

How can I use, read, print and save e-books?

In any case, you can read the e-books online. Unfortunately, the download and printing options are not uniformly regulated, as we purchase e-books from almost forty different providers. Every provider or publisher of our commercially purchased e-books uses very different formats and licensing conditions. As a library, we unfortunately have little or no influence on this. As a rule, parts of the e-book can be saved and printed, some providers also offer complete works.

Some providers restrict access to one or a few users at a time, require personal registration or block e-books for a certain period after they have been called up.

The special features of the individual providers can be found in this list:

Special features of e-book providers (German)

Can I use e-books from other libraries or library networks?

No. In the UCL, you only have access to the e-books for which the UCL has purchased a license. E-books that you have only found in other libraries or library networks are not accessible.

You can access e-books from the ZB MED, recognisable in the USB portal by "Online resource (ZB MED - Information Centre for Life Sciences)", via a free virtual user card from the ZB MED.