How to use the library and the library services

Scroll down for information about these topics:
Library Services
Research and library inventory
In the library
Lending, Self-Service, Returning, Prolonging 
Reminders, fines and data protection

Eine weibliche Person lehnt an einem Bücherregal und liest ein Buch. Im Hintergrund sieht man die Bürotheke.
Home Steyr Campus Campus Services Library Steyr Using the library and library…

Library Services

Requesting/reserving borrowed and available media via PRIMO

All media can be requested/reserved in PRIMO.

  • How to order: Log in -> search for title and click on it -> Options: Request -> Choose "Steyr" -> Confirm

Please note the return date when reserving borrowed media.

Available items can also be requested and are ready for pick up in one working day. Orders received outside of office hours will be processed on the next open day.
You can of course independently borrow items from the reading room shelves during opening hours, no order required.

As soon as it the requested/reserved media is ready for pick up you will get an E-Mail notification.
The medium is available for pick up for 7 days at the self-service pick up station at the library.

Guest readers: Please request/reserve media via E-Mail.

Free book postage

All media has to be ordered via PRIMO.

  • How to order: Log in -> search for title and click on it -> Options: Request -> Choose "Steyr" -> In the field "Comments" please type in your current address -> Confirm

The medium will be shipped to you. There is no limit on how many books can be ordered.

Free page scan service

If you need a chapter or an article we are scanning them for you (up to 25 pages).
Place your order via PRIMO.

  • How to order: Log in -> search for title and click on it -> Options: Request -> Choose "Steyr" -> In the field "Comments" please let us know that you need a scan as well as the page numbers.

The Austrian Copyright Act applies: § 42a states that the digital copy may merely be used for research purposes or private and other personal use. § 42g allows to make the digital copy publicly available with a restricted group for teaching and educational purpose. This authorization does not apply to publications intended for use in classrooms or schools (text books). Using the digital copy for pursuing commercial purposes is strictly prohibited.

Research help and Research classes

The library staff is here to help you with any research questions, as well as citation questions.

Each semester the library offers research classes (in a EDV-Room) for students who are in the process of writing a thesis and/or want to know more about the research process.

We have summarized some information and tips for scientific work here.

Inter Library Loan and Document Delivery

Orders within the FH Upper Austria Campus libraries
You can order media from the FH OÖ Campus libraries (Wels, Linz, Hagenberg) to the Steyr Campus library.

Inter Library Loan (Books) - Austria and other countries
Media that is not in the FH OÖ print or electronic inventory can be ordered from nearly all other Austrian libraries and libraries outside of Austria.

Paper Order (Journal articles)
If a journal article is not available (print or online) at the University library, you can order it.
Cost: € 6,50 - € 15/Article (charge according to real cost)
Students can order articles for reduced prices on the platform SUBITO.

More information here.

Research and library inventory

Searching for Media in the library search engine (PRIMO)

The library search engine is called PRIMO and searches the contents of the databases licensed by the FH Upper Austria all at once (search field "Catalogue Plus"). Sign in to PRIMO at the top right with your FH Upper Austria access data to get full access to the content.
The sign in enables you to access all Online-Resources also from outside the FH IP-Range. You can also change the interface language to english if you are signed in.

Some databases are not or not fully searchable in PRIMO (information provided below the respective title on the database site).

Use "Catalog" to find:

  • Our print media (Books, Journals, Theses)
  • Licensed E-Books
  • Licensed E-Journals

Use "Catalog Plus" to find:

  • Our print media (Books, Journals, Theses)
  • Licensed E-Books
  • Licensed E-Journals
  • Full texts (e.g. articles) from our databases
  • Free Open Access Sources

Master-/Bachelor Theses in PRIMO

All approbated and non restricted Master and Bachelor theses are searchable through PRIMO.
You can search for a topic or study program (full wording) or the name of a thesis supervisor and limit your search on the lower right hand side: “Medium” -> “Dissertations” to filter only master and bachelor theses.
By selecting "Collections" at the top of the page, you can check out the theses sorted by Campus and study program.
MA/BA theses are only available in print format and can be borrowed.

Print-Journals in PRIMO

Print-Journals from the current year are available in the Reading Room ("Lesesaal"). Older print-Journals are held in the "Magazin" and can be ordered via PRIMO.
To scan articles, a book scanner is available in the library.
Teaching and administrative staff of the Steyr Campus can "subscribe" to each of these print journals. For a list of all current print journals contact us! The most recent issues will be available for borrowing at the library after they are returned.

E-Journals in PRIMO

Most of our E-Journals and their contents are searchable in PRIMO "Catalog Plus"and can be downloaded via the respective database.
Use the filter options on the right hand sind of the PRIMO search engine to filter your search results.

E-Books in PRIMO

To filter your search to only show E-Books choose “Medium” -> “E-Books”.
There is no lending involved, you can download the E-Books and keep your digital copy.

Databases

Electronic media (E-Books, E-Journals etc.) are searchable through PRIMO, but separate databases contain the fulltexts of the books and articles. You can search in the respective database directly as well, but please note that with this method, you are only searching in this one database and not our full inventory. A list of all databases, the direct links as well as information about remote access can be found here.

Acquisition of Media

The full-time and part-time employees and lecturers of the Steyr Campus can make acquisition proposals within the framework of the budget available per study program for literature procurement (by e-mail to bibliothek@fh-steyr.at). Each proposal must be approved by the respective program director.

Steyr Campus students can submit their suggestions/requests to the heads of their courses, who will then forward them after approval by the head of the degree program.

In the library

Finding books in the library

There are two “Standorte” (locations) where physical media is kept:

Lesesaal” (library) = the medium is located at the library and free for you to take out
Magazin” (archive) = the medium is located at the library archive and has to be ordered

Ordering Magazin media is possible through the search engine or with the library staff.
The media will be ready for you within one weekday at the self-service pick up station at the library.

Every book has its own call number, which indicates where the book can be found in the shelves.
In the search engine you can find this number by looking at "Description".

Example: QP 700 H239 (2) -1 +2

QP 700 = Thematic section and subgroup
H239 = Name of the author (alphanumeric abbreviation defines the order in which the book is put within the specialist group)
(2) -1 +2 = (Edition) -Volume +Copy

Finding master/bachelor theses in the library

MA/BA theses starting from the 5 most recent years are available directly at the library reading room ("Lesesaal")
All older theses must be ordered from the “Magazin” (archive) via PRIMO.

In PRIMO please read the “Details” when clicking on a thesis title. There you can see the study program and year of the thesis. This is how you can find your thesis in the shelves.

Physical Workspace and some key rules

The library offers 27 work and studyplaces (with and without PCs), which can be used during the opening hours. A part of the desks can be moved into a group working space, but we ask to maintain a quiet working atmosphere.
For louder group work there are spaces available in the other floors of the FH III building. To keep your valuables safe there are 15 lockers directly in the library.

The library and its working space are used for study. All users are asked to maintain a quiet and considerate atmosphere. Keep your devices in a quiet setting and don't telephone inside the library.
Please don't bring bigger bags, trolleys or backpacks inside the library. You can use our lockers to keep them safe. Eating whole meals, food with a strong odor or food that generally interferes with the operation of the library, as well as taking beverages into the library without a cap, is not permitted. The lid of beverage containers must be resealable and must always be closed during transport and storage.

Good to know: You can borrow headsets at the library office if you need to listen to something.

Scanning of printed resources - Bookscanner

To make high quality scans of print books/journals, the library offers a book scanner. USB Sticks can be borrowed at the library office.
Please note the Austrian Copyright Act: § 42a states that the digital copy may merely be used for research purposes or private and other personal use.  § 42g allows to make the digital copy publicly available with a restricted group for teaching and educational purpose. This authorization does not apply to publications intended for use in classrooms or schools (text books). Using the digital copy for pursuing commercial purposes is strictly prohibited.

Using the library inventory

We ask you to use the library inventory with care. Markings and notes inside books are not allowed. If a book is damaged when borrowing, please let the library staff know. Items that are lost or damaged whilst borrowed have to be replaced by the library user.

Access and staff hours

Campus Steyr students and staff can access the library during the specified hours with the University ID Card.
Guest readers can access the library during the office hours.
See the main library page for the current hours.

Accessibility

The Campus Steyr library is accessible by lift (3rd floor of the FH III building) and is step free.
A wheelchair accessible toilet is available on the 2nd floor of the building.
The library staff is always happy to help get books from high shelves, or from less accessible areas. All media can also be ordered online via PRIMO and picked up at the self-service desk pick up or directly at the library office. Free of charge book postage and scan service are available (see top of this page).

Lending, Self-Service, Returning, Prolonging

Picking up reserved media at the self-service pick up station

To pick up your media click “Pick up” at the terminal. Type in your ID-Number (Student/Staff-ID or Guest user ID)
The designated box then opens! Please take your medium and close the box.
The medium is now booked on your account automatically, you can take it with you.

Lending periods

The lending period can be found by clicking on your needed medium and looking under the point "Policy" 

All media in the library on the Steyr campus can be borrowed for 28 days and extended as long as there is no reservation.

Lending and returning media

Option 1: Self-service desk

Choose “Checkoutand type in your ID-Number.
Put your media on the white shelve and wait for the titles to appear on the screen.
As soon as all titles are successfully booked, choose “Print” to get a confirmation slip.

Choose “Checkin”, put your media on the white shelve and wait for the titles to appear on the screen. As soon as all titles are successfully booked, choose “Print” to get a confirmation.
After the return is complete, put the returned media on the red book trolley.

Option 2: Library staff
During the office hours lending and returning is of course also possible with the library staff.

Option 3: Returning media via the book return box
At the right hand side of the main entrance to FH III a book return box is available. The returned media will be booked for you on the next day.

Option 4: Lending and returning media via mail order (post)
Returns by post are not paid for by the University.

Mail order

FH Students and staff who can't come to the library directly, have the option to have media sent to them via mail (post) from the Steyr Campus library for free.

Please order any media you need via PRIMO, and provide your current adress.

Renewing media

Students:
Renewing the lending period of media is possible 4 times via the personal account accessible through the library search engine.
The last possible date to renew by yourself online is the return date.

Renewing is not possible:

  • when the due date has already passed
  • when there is a reservation on the book
  • when there are open overdue fines

It is possible to prolong media via E-Mail more often, as long as there is no reservation.

Professors/Lecturers/staff:
Media is prolonged automatically unless a reservation has been placed. If this is the case we ask you to return the medium.

Reminders, fines and Data protection

Reminders and overdue fines

3 opening days before the return date a reminder E-Mail is sent to you via E-Mail.
This is followed by 4 more reminders (1st reminder: 1 opening day after the due date, 2nd reminder: 7 opening days after the due date, 3rd reminder: 14 opening days after the due date, 4th reminder: 21 opening days after the due date) Opening days = Monday to Friday

The overdue fines for Students are € 0,10 / medium and day, starting with the second overdue day.
Fines can be paid in cash with the library staff or via card at the self service desk (max. up to 25 €). Bank transfers are not possible!

Paying overdue or inter library loan fines

Option 1: self-service desk
You can pay your fines with NFC (card or phone) at the self-service desk.
Please choose “pay fee” and type in your ID-Number or scan your ID-Card (when activated at the library office). Hold your card or device to the designated reader to pay.

Option 2: with the library staff
You can pay your fines in cash during the office hours.

Data protection

You can find more information on the FH Upper Austria data protection site here: