Information on the new library management system

What will change with Alma from 6 September:

Passwords

With the changeover to Alma, passwords already assigned have been replaced.  Your password now consists of your date of birth with six digits (DDMMYY).
A separate PIN is required for the self-issue machines. It consists of your date of birth with four digits (TTMM).

We recommend that you change the password and the borrowing pin under "My account" in the university catalogue.

Order/Loan

• You will be notified by e-mail as soon as ordered items are ready for collection.
• You cannot order borrowed media at the reading room counter.
• Loan and return receipts are sent by e-mail. You will receive an individual receipt for each book borrowed/returned. We cannot influence this automated service.

Renewal

• You can renew borrowed books as often as you like until the maximum loan period of 6 months has been reached.
• The loan period for books that are available for consultation in the reading room is a maximum of 2 months.
• Periodicals can be renewed under the same conditions as books.
• A total account renewal is not possible.

Interlibrary loan

Students at other public universities in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia can also order interlibrary loans.

Information for employees of the University of Cologne

• When borrowing, the entire loan period of 18 months is directly allocated, but at most until the end of the ID validity period.
• Interlibrary loan fees are free.

Information for users of library cards beginning with S

The validity of existing library cards beginning with S will expire on 15.8.2024 or 15.9.2024. In future, the library card will no longer be valid indefinitely, but for one year.
As your books will no longer be renewed automatically, please check the renewal conditions on our website.

Do you have questions?