View literature on site
Some of our literature is only available for you to consult on site. However, you generally have the option of copying or scanning the content you require. Separate reading rooms are also available for particularly valuable or historical holdings. You can find an overview of the rooms and services on this page.
Main department
Universitätsstr. 33, 50931 Cologne
Renovation Work: The magazine racks in Reading Room VII will be temporarily removed. If you need current issues of magazines, please contact the circulation desk in Reading Room I.
Reading room / magazine display
The reading room (1st floor) contains general and special reference works, e.g. dictionaries, encyclopaedias, handbooks and introductory literature on all fields of knowledge. This collection is freely accessible and arranged according to subject groups. Some subject groups of the reading room area and the journal display (journal issues of our print subscriptions of the current volumes) are located on the 2nd floor.
Overview: Systematic catalog of the reading room
Location
Books in reading rooms I - VII, journals on the 2nd floor in reading room VII
Inspection
no lending, only copying/scanning possible
Book stock
General and special reference works (i.e. dictionaries, encyclopaedias, handbooks), introductory literature on all fields of knowledge, bibliographies
List of books
by subject area
Issue holdings
Current journal issues from all subject areas
List of issues
by shelf number (e.g. P1234), not by subject area
Opening hours
current opening hours
Reading room Historical Collections
Older and valuable holdings can generally be viewed in the Historical Collections Reading Room without special permission. In the case of particularly valuable or endangered items, the department decides on this request after consultation with the users. You will also find the University Archives library in the Historical Collections Reading Room.
Location
first floor
Inspection
usually 4 weeks from the day of loan, renewals and reservations are possible, files from the University Archives
Return
in the reading room Historical Collections
Opening hours
the current opening hours
Contact: Reading room
Phone: +49 221 470-3199
E-mail: sammlung(at)ub.uni-koeln(dot)de
Instructions for using the Historical Collections Reading Room (pdf, 207 kb)
2. Humanwissenschaftliche Abteilung (HWA)
Hauptgebäude Humanwissenschaftliche Fakultät, Gronewaldstr. 2, 50931 Köln
Human Sciences Reading Room
The Human Sciences Reading Room contains general and special reference works (i.e. lexicons, encyclopaedias, dictionaries), introductory literature, a special location with the most popular textbooks (including curative education) and journals on all human sciences subjects with the exception of curative education. You will find this subject in the curative education reading room.
Location
The Human Sciences Department is located on the campus of the Faculty of Human Sciences.
Overview: Site plan of the Faculty of Human Sciences, Building 216
Main building Humanwiss. Faculty
Building 2, first floor, opposite Aula III
Stock
Books: general and special reference works (i.e. lexicons, encyclopaedias, dictionaries), introductory literature, a special location with the most requested textbooks (incl. curative education)
Journal issues of the current year and all journal volumes from 2000 onwards
Listing
Books by subject area
Current journal issues on flap shelves by title
Bound volumes from 2000 onwards on the shelf by shelfmark (e.g. Z1234)
Inspection
Periodical volumes before 2000 from the stacks are available on request at the reading room counter without prior order.
Note
Journals and reading room media can only be scanned at the book scanner in the reading room. Short-term loans are not possible. Weekend loans of reading room media (not journals) are possible.
Opening hours
the current opening hours
Curative education reading room
In the reading room you will find journals, reference works and handbooks on special education, special didactics and related sciences. Corresponding works on all other human sciences subjects can be found in the Human Sciences Reading Room.
Location
The curative education reading room is located in the Department of Curative Education and Rehabilitation, Building 213(Map of the Department of Human Sciences, Department of Curative Education and Rehabilitation), first floor.
Stock
Books: reference works and handbooks on curative education, special didactics and related sciences
Periodicals: current journal issues and journal volumes on all curative education subjects
Listing
current journal issues in hinged shelves by title, journal volumes by shelfmark (e.g. B1234)
Inspection
Books, journal issues and journal volumes for scanning on site
Note
A scan tent is available for scanning.
Opening hours
the current opening hours
Campus libraries
There are around 100 other campus libraries at the University of Cologne. Here you can also consult literature on site.