University Information and Library Service (HIBS) University Information and Library Service (HIBS)

HAW Hamburg members – employees, students and instructors – can access numerous online resources from the HAW network. This access is available even when you are not physically at the university:

1. VPN connection

Almost all of the e-media licensed for use at HAW Hamburg can also be accessed remotely using the VPN connection.

You can find more information about using the VPN connection here. If you have difficulties using the VPN connection or have questions about it, please contact ITSC_support (@) haw-hamburg.de. For questions related to our e-media resources, please use the call-a-librarian service (see above) or contact your library using this form.

Once you have connected to the HAW network using the VPN connection, you can search the HAW catalogue as you normally would and read full-text versions of online resources.
 

2. Shibboleth access

Shibboleth provides another way of accessing electronic resources. You can use your HAW account to log in, either via the Shibboleth portal at https://login.haw-hamburg.de or directly through the publisher listed in the HAW catalogue. A VPN connection is not necessary.

This service is currently under development.

Since 13 September 2021, the HAW Hamburg libraries have been offering limited self-service borrowing of print media. This service is now also available to everyone, including external library users (as of 4 October 2021).

The libraries are now open five days a week: Mon–Thurs, 9:00 am–4:00 pm; Fri, 9:00 am–2:00 pm. The Business, Engineering and Computer Science Library 1 (TW 1) is also open again as of 4 October 2021. The order and pick-up service for print items from TW 1 has therefore been discontinued.

This is how self-borrowing works:

• Please use the HAW Catalogue in advance to determine which items you need in order to avoid having to do a search at the library.
• To enter the library, please take one of the bags located at the entry and take it inside with you. If no bag is available, please wait until someone leaves the library and returns their bag.
• Please observe the requirement to wear a face mask, the physical distancing rules, and the usual hygiene-related measures. You can find more information about this on HAW Hamburg's general coronavirus information page.
• In the library, you can locate the materials you need and check them out yourself at the self-service checkout stations.
• In some cases it is possible to borrow reference materials upon request. Please ask us about this at the loans desk.
• Please do not take any books from the returns shelf. You can, however, return books here (via the returns shelf or returns bins).
• The book scanners, rooms for group work and all closed-off areas of the library are unfortunately not available for use.
• Please remember to return the bag when you leave the library.

As of 26 May 2021, library workspaces for studying are available in three of the HAW Hamburg libraries. This service is offered exclusively for HAW Hamburg students.

A limited number of individual workspaces (group study is not possible) are available and can be booked for Monday–Thursday between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm and Fridays between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm:

• TWI 1 (Berliner Tor 5) – 51 workspaces
• TWI 2 (Berliner Tor 7) – 30 workspaces
• S&P (Alexanderstr. 1) – 13 workspaces
• DMI (Finkenau 35) – 16 workspaces

In order to use the workspaces, you must fulfil the following mandatory requirements:

• A negative rapid antigen corona test result from a testing centre (must be less than 24 hours old)
• Or a certificate issued by HAW Hamburg (e.g. the self-testing centre at DMI) confirming a negative rapid antigen corona self-test result for the current day
• Or proof of completed vaccination
• HAW Hamburg's current hygiene rules must be adhered to in the libraries: Please wear a mask (surgical or FFP2) during your time in the library, including when you are at your workspace, and maintain a distance of 1.5 metres from others.
• Please also check in to the HAW Hamburg 'Darfichrein' contact-tracing app via the QR code in the respective study room.

A reservation gives you a workspace for a guaranteed period of six hours. Reservations can be made via a brief written request to the specific library using the library's contact form. Please include your library card number (on the back of your HAW chip card), as well as the date you would like to reserve the space for.

Unfortunately, the extensive building work currently underway in the Life Sciences Library means that no workspaces are available there at this time.

We are also unable to offer workspaces at the TWI 1 library (Berliner Tor 5) due to issues surrounding access to the library.

Due to an extensive renovation process, the Life Sciences Library is currently housed at an interim location ('Hausmeisterwohnung') behind the cafeteria. You can continue to borrow and return materials here. A small part of the collection is even accessible on site. However, most of the items from the Life Sciences library are only available via order through the HAW catalogue. The books ordered can be picked up the following day at the interim library (or on Tuesday if you order between Friday and Monday noon). We will hold the materials you order ready for you for three days.

Unforunately, we cannot offer library workplaces for study during the renovation period.

The renovations are expected to be complete at the beginning of 2022.

Do you need support finding literature for an essay, a presentation or your final thesis?

You can call our librarians and ask for their advice and assistance. The librarians in the various faculty libraries are available to help you by phone at the following times.

We look forward to your call and are happy to support you during this challenging time.

Many reputable resources are permanently available online, at no charge (Open Access).

We have compiled a list of Open Access resources which make it possible for you to access academic literature without registration, a VPN connection, etc.: Tips for finding Open Access resources (in German only).

The aim of Open Access is to make academic information available online on an ongoing and no-charge basis, i.e. without financial, legal or technical barriers. We have provided this list to support you in searching for, finding and using authentic Open Access offers – alongside those offered temporarily because of the Covid-19 outbreak.