UL: Information for external users
The Duisburg-Essen University Library is open to all interested users -
whether you are studying at another university or would like to research privately.
We have compiled all the important information for you here.
Current info on registration & use
Access to the branch libraries
You do not need a library card to enter the branch libraries.
You can enter the branch libraries without registration or prior appointment during opening hours.
Register & lending
You need a library card to borrow media.
If you would like to register for the first time, please complete the online registration form.
You will receive your library card at the service or lending desk during service hours.
Learning in the library
In all branch libraries you will find both individual study places to work quietly and group work areas and rooms to study together.
Registration or booking is not required.
WLAN / eduroam
Members of institutions that participate in eduroam can use WLAN access at the UDE. The university ID of your institution is required.
Retrieving e-media at PC workstations
External users can access the Primo catalogue and licensed electronic resources (e-books, e-journals, databases) without logging in at some PC workstations in the branch libraries GW/GSW, LK, BA and MC.
Access to electronic media from home, e.g. via VPN, is not possible and is only available to UDE members for licensing reasons.
Printing, copying, scanning
Printing from files stored on USB flash drives is possible at all photocopiers. You will need a copy card, which you can buy from the machines in the branch libraries GW/GSW and LK.
Literature research
Tips & tricks
Primo, the catalogue of the UL
In Primo, you search the local library catalogue and other electronic sources in an integrative user interface.
Campus delivery service
All lendable and available media can be ordered from the branch libraries on the other campus via campus delivery service at no charge.
Interlibrary loan
Literature which is not available at the Duisburg-Essen UL can be ordered via interlibrary loan. For each order, a fee of 1.50 € is due.
Databases
Databases and various electronic resources are available only to UDE members due to license agreement reasons and are available at some PC workstations in the branch libraries GW/GSW and LK without limitation.
You need articles?
For many of the articles available through the library, free author's versions exist (pre-prints are often referred to as "working papers").
In some cases, the published versions are even "open access", i.e. free of charge for readers.
Search options:
- Restrict the number of hits in Primo to online available and Open Access.
- Filter in the database overview for full text databases that are freely available on the web.
- Use special search engines to find open-access publisher or author versions:
- Google Scholar: search engine for scientific articles
- IDEAS: search engine for economic Open Access articles
- Open Access Button: search engine for the open-access version of a specific essay
- Dissemin: search engine for the open-access version of a specific essay
- OADOI: add the DOI of a specific article behind the following URL to find the Open Access version
- Unpaywall: this browser add-on shows you if there is a freely available version of an article
You would like to read e-books?
More and more often books are published in "open access", i.e. free of charge for readers.
In addition, individual chapters can often be read online.
Search options:
- Restrict the number of hits in Primo to online available and Open Access.
- Use special search engines to find Open Access books:
- Use those chapters that you can read online for free:
- Google Books: search engine for books