FAQs about corona and HAW Hamburg library services (Updated: 3 May 2022)
Contacting the libraries
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You can contact the libraries via phone (or email) during opening hours:
Contact information:
Design, Media and Information: +49.40.428 75 4631
Life Sciences: +49.40.428 75 6468
Social Work and Nursing: +49.40.428 75 7021
Business, Engineering and Computer Science 1 and 2: +49.40.428 75 3681
Or you can use our contact form.
What services are the HAW Hamburg libraries currently offering?
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You can find an overview of all the services and library access we are currently offering on the HAW libraries homepage.
Can I access the HAW Hamburg libraries digitally?
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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.
I am a student/employee at a private university. Can I use the HAW Hamburg libraries?
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Yes, as of 4 October 2021 this is now possible again. Due to a medium-term technical change, it is unfortunately not possible for external parties to access electronic publications.
How do I order an article through a document-delivery service?
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Are you an instructor or professor at HAW Hamburg?
Do you need specific articles for your teaching which (a) you can't access because the libraries are closed or (b) the libraries don't have in their collection? You can consult with the librarians in the individual libraries using ourCall-a-Librarian service.
The librarians will determine whether the article is already available electronically or order it for you at no charge via SUBITO.
Are you a student at HAW Hamburg?
You too can consult with a librarian to see whether a full-text version of the article you are looking for is already available through the HAW libraries. You can find the contact information for the librarians in the individual libraries underCall-a-Librarian.
Otherwise, you can order articles that are available electronically via SUBITO.
The articles you have ordered are generally delivered via email (PDF) directly to the address of your choice. There is a fee for this service. The price categories are graduated according to customer group, processing time and delivery method.
This is an external service. You do not need to have a library card to place an order. Additional information is available directly from SUBITO.
Copyright and online teaching: What rules do HAW Hamburg instructors need to observe?
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Current copyright law offers instructors a range of possibilities for using online resources.
All electronic materials from the HAW Hamburg libraries can be used for online teaching in the following ways:
- Option A: By providing links to electronic materials in the HAW libraries' collections (e.g. via the HAW Catalogue). HAW Hamburg members can access these items remotely using the VPN connection.
- Option B: By providing up to 15 per cent of a particular work (e.g. a copy or scan of part of a book) or a complete article from an academic journal as part of the teaching materials. This is permitted for a limited group of people where access is password protected (e.g. in an EMIL room).
We are currently making it a priority to procure electronic media for you. You can find more information under the relevant FAQs.
If you need additional items or assistance, please contact us using the contact form.
Can I still reserve and order printed books?
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Yes. The reserve and order functions in the HAW Catalogue were reactivated on 27 January 2022.
Items from the stacks of the Life Sciences library can also be ordered through the HAW Catalogue. These items can be picked up in the interim Life Sciences library, or you can request that they be sent to another HAW Hamburg library for pick-up.
Can I return borrowed items?
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Yes. Due to the current coronavirus situation, we strongly recommend wearing an FFP2 or medical mask while in the libraries. It is also still the case: no entry with typical symptoms of infection with the Corona virus. You can find more information about corona-related measures and regulations on the HAW Hamburg coronavirus updates page.
Outside of library opening hours you can also use the library returns boxes at the individual libraries:
- DMI Library – Library returns slot, Finkenau 35 (new building)
- LS Library – Library returns box, Ulmenliet 20 (to the left of the Mensa beside the blackboard and the cement pillars)
- S&P Library – Alexanderstrasse 1 (in the foyer of Haus A)
I am a member of HAW Hamburg and haven't activated my chip card for use as a library card. Can I still use the online services?
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You need to activate the chip card to borrow printed materials.
HAW Hamburg students, instructors and employees can access the electronic materials and services using their HAW account, even if they haven't activated their chip card. You can find more information under 'Can I access the HAW Hamburg libraries digitally?' above.
I am currently in quarantine and my library items are due. What should I do?
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If you are unable to leave the house because you are in quarantine, please check that you have taken advantage of the three possibilities for extending your loan. If this is the case or if your items are already overdue and nobody else can return them for you, please use the contact form to get in touch with the specific library and determine how to proceed.
You can find an overview of all the services and library access we are currently offering on the HAW libraries homepage.