Fees, Costs, and Bank Information
Here you’ll find all the important information about fees and prices at the University and City Library of Cologne—from the annual library card fee and overdue fines to the costs of interlibrary loans, lost books, and services provided by the Digitization Center. You’ll also find out what payment options are available. If you have any questions, our team will be happy to assist you.
This is how you can pay:
-
in the Main Library at the cash machines with Girocard (EC card) or credit card (except American Express).
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in the Department of Human Sciences (HWA) cash payment of fees is not possible! Please transfer the outstanding amount.
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by bank transfer - please use this account number only for transfers to USB Cologne:
Universitätskasse Köln
Sparkasse KölnBonn
IBAN DE53 3705 0198 1902 4910 16
BIC COLSDE33
Reason for payment: Please be sure to include your user number so that we can correctly allocate your payment!
Important: If the hash (#) in your user number is not accepted in online banking, you can enter either a dash (-) or a space instead.
Annual Library Card Fee & Exemption Forms
|
Status |
Annual Fee | Documents for Exemption |
|---|---|---|
|
Students at the University of Cologne |
Not applicable | |
|
Employees of the University of Cologne |
Not applicable | Proof of employment |
|
Audit students at the University of Cologne |
Not applicable | |
|
Students at public universities in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia |
Not applicable | Student ID |
|
Staff at public universities in North Rhine-Westphalia |
Not applicable | Proof of employment |
|
Students at private universities in North Rhine-Westphalia |
20,- € | |
|
Students at universities outside North Rhine-Westphalia |
20,- € | |
|
Apprentices in a state-recognized vocational training program |
Not applicable | Proof of apprenticeship |
|
Private individuals |
20,- € | |
|
Teacher candidates in the preparatory service of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia |
Not applicable | Proof of employment |
|
Students in secondary levels I and II |
Not applicable | Student ID |
|
Minors (except students at the University of Cologne) |
Not applicable | Consent form (PDF, 41 KB) and photo ID of the legal guardian who signed the consent form |
|
Recipients of basic income support, Köln-Pass holders |
Not required | Proof of basic income support or Köln-Pass |
|
Employees of Max Planck Institutes based in Cologne, Cologne museums, and archives |
Not applicable | Proof of employment |
|
Members of the Cologne Library Society |
Not applicable | Proof of membership |
|
People with severe disabilities |
Not applicable | Disability ID card |
|
Replacement card |
€10 |
Overdraft Fees
Overdue fees are charged starting on the first day the loan period is exceeded. We charge the following fees per item:
- up to 10 calendar days: €2
- Up to 20 calendar days: €5
- Up to 30 calendar days: €10
- Starting on the 31st calendar day: €20
Tip: Avoid overdue fees by regularly checking your account for loans and using the renewal options.
Interlibrary Loan, Lost Books, Digitization Center Fees
Other fees and costs you may incur:
- Interlibrary loan requests for books and articles: €1.50 per request
- International interlibrary loan: Please inquire with the Interlibrary Loan service: fernleihe(at)ub.uni-koeln(dot)de
- Lost book: €25 administrative fee and full replacement cost of the book. Note: What should I do if I lose a book?
- Price List for the Digitization Center
Do you have questions about your fees?
Fees are calculated in accordance with the scale of fees of the University of Cologne.
Gebührenordnung (22.07.2014) (PDF, 120 KB)
Statt §2 (Grundgebühr) gilt die Ordnung zur Änderung der Gebührenordnung, Art. 1.
Ordnung zur Änderung der Gebührenordnung (23.1.2018) (PDF, 249 KB)