The forms at a glance:

• OPUS-HSO | Merkblatt für Studierende
• OPUS-HSO | Publikationsempfehlung für Internetveröffentlichungen
• OPUS-HSO | Nutzungsrechte
• Formular für die Abgabe der gedruckten Abschlussarbeit (Bibliothek/Archiv)

OPUS-HSO is the platform on which electronic publications by members of Offenburg University of Applied Sciences can be published. These can be theses by students or scientific publications by members of the university.

The prerequisite for the publication of documents in full text in OPUS-HSO is the transfer of usage rights, with which you agree to the electronic publication of your document.
Certain requirements apply to theses - see information sheet. They are generally published on the university network. A publication recommendation from the supervisor is required for publication on the internet.

Publication in OPUS-HSO only takes place after grading and, in the case of internet publications, after the publication recommendation has been received (possibly after a blocking period has expired).

The VPN client (with standard profile) is required to access the theses stored in the university network in OPUS-HSO. An additional login to the platform is not required.

Your thesis is blocked? Please print on the first pages of your thesis this non-disclosure notice:

This thesis contains internal, confidential information of xxx (company name). No part of it may be disclosed to third parties, other than the thesis supervisor(s) and authorized members of the examination board. Publication or reproduction of any part of it is prohibited. Any exception from this regulation requires the approval of xxx (company name).

Maximum embargo period: 5 years (valid for all study programs, exceptions possible)

News and updates from the library can be found under News. We will inform you about updates in the use of the library, about registration and cancellation of licences and other news of interest to you.

How to log into OPAC?

Are you a member of the Offenburg University of Applied Sciences?
-> Student, Professor, Staff, Lecturer

Members of the university can easily log into their OPAC-account using their campus account login details. More information about the campus account (e.g.: changing the password) can be found on the university’s IT Service Centre website.

Since August 2015, the OPAC login was set up via Shibboleth. This means that, once you’re logged in, your user data will remain stored until the browser is closed! It’s not enough to just end your OPAC session by clicking the “Quit” icon or simply closing the tab. The advantage is obvious: Once you’ve logged into the OPAC, and are trying to access eBooks from publishers also using Shibboleth (single sign-on), the login process does not need to be repeated. It’s sufficient to follow the registration procedures of the individual publishers, usually by selecting “Institutional Login” and “Hochschule Offenburg”. For publishers not offering access via Shibboleth, please use VPN to access our licensed electronic resources.

Important: Don’t forget to close the browser when using a shared computer!

Please acknowledge and accept the terms of use in order to get full access to the OPAC.

 Problems logging in?

Login for external users (default settings):

Note: You can change your password via your library account using the password reset feature.

For help and support contact the library staff.

Do you have login problems? It is likely that, not all the required information is being transferred to the system. Select “Attributfreigabe für diesen Dienst widerrufen" (revoke attribute sharing for this service), see Screenshot.

Do your login problems persist? Please contact our library staff.

The self-service checkout station provides members of the university with the ability to checkout library materials without the assistance of library staff. This service is not available to external users.

Optional: Select „Sprache ändern“ to change the user interface language from German to English.

Select “borrow items”.
Press your Oscar card flat against the card reader (Karte…) to open your library account.
Place your items on the glass surface below the screen to start the checkout process.
A green checkmark will appear beside all correctly scanned items.
Complete the checkout process by touching the “finish“ button.
The following message appears on the screen “have you finished?”.
To finish the checkout process choose either “Yes with receipt” or “Yes without receipt”.
A printed receipt lists all the checked out items and their due dates.

tems borrowed using the self-service checkout station can be returned using the library’s automated return system.

The following items can only be checked out and returned at the library’s circulation desk:

• Closed stacks collection
• Interlibrary Loans
• Magazines

Please contact library staff for assistance.

Books and other borrowed materials can be renewed online via the OPAC feature "My account" unless an item was requested (reserved) by another person.

Items can only be renewed a limited number of times. For more information see Loan Periods.

Once the renewal limit is reached, items must be returned to the library circulation desk to have them cleared from your library account. Items may be immediately checked-out again, restarting the renewal cycle.

During university opening hours, university members can return items using the return machine located to the left of the main entrance at the Offenburg campus library. You will need your OSKAR card to return items.

Items borrowed through the self-service checkout station can be returned using the return machine.

Items borrowed at the service desk must be returned at the service desk.

External users without a guest card can return items at the service desk during opening hours.

At Gengenbach campus, borrowed items can be returned during opening hours using the return machine inside the library.

Updated 07/2024

Automated e-mail notifications from the library to your university e-mail account include:

• reserved item is available for pickup
• interlibrary loan is avaliable for pickup
• due date reminder (sent two days before item is due)
• fine notice for overdue items

Note: E-mail notifications will be sent to your university e-mail account!

If all copies of a particular book are checked out (indicated in the OPAC as "Checked out - Due on:..."), you can place a reservation via the OPAC catalogue by clicking the "Order" button. You will receive an e-mail notification when your reservation becomes available.

An item's expected due date is displayed immediately behind its availability status (e.g.: Checked out - Due on: 25.07.2013). Availability of an item also depends on the number of people ahead of you in the reservation queue. The longer the reservation queue, the longer the waiting period.

Tip: Older editons are worth a look! If current editions are checked out, it is likely the library may have previous editions. Changes may be so minor that you really don't need to wait for the newer version.

Use the OPAC "My account" feature to look at your loans and fees, renew books and other items or cancel reservation requests.

At the Offenburg Campus Library, ordered items will be placed on the pick-up shelf for your convenience. Once your items are ready for collection, you will receive an automated email notification containing your pick-up code. This code is essential for locating your order on the pick-up shelf.

Important: Don’t forget to check out your books!

Books ordered through interlibrary loan (ILL) must be picked up at the service desk.

At the Gengenbach Campus Library, all ordered books, including interlibrary loans, must be picked up at the service desk.

Updated 09/2024

You will receive an automated email notification containing your pickup code when your items are ready for collection.

The pickup code starts with the last two digits of your student ID and includes a combination of letters from your first and last name.

At the Offenburg Campus Library, ordered books will be placed on the reservation shelf, sorted by pickup code.

Important: Don’t forget to check out your books!

Books ordered through interlibrary loan (ILL) must be picked up at the service desk.

At the Gengenbach Campus Library, all ordered books, including interlibrary loans, must be picked up at the service desk.

Updated 09/2024

Can't find a book in our library? Use in our OPAC the button "Book Suggestion".

If you have suggested a book, we will automatically reserve you for the very first loan! As usual, you will receive an e-mail notification from us as soon as you can pick up the book.

Books that the library already has as e-books will not be purchased additionally in printed form.

An overview of available electronic journals (eJournals) can be accessed using the Electronic Journals Library (EZB). The EZB displays journals licensed by the University of Applied Sciences Offenburg as well as license-free journals. Access from outside the campus via VPN or Shibboleth.

Important information for external users:

• Electronic resources can be accessed locally within the library; remote access is not available
• WLAN access via eduroam: Eduroam (education roaming) is a service that allows guests from eduroam-enabled institutions to securely access the Internet while visiting other eduroam-enabled institutions. Simply log in using the credentials provided by your home institution. More Infos
• Borrowing films or electronic devices is not permitted
  Updated 11.2023

Standard setting for external users:

The password can be changed at any time in the library account.

Questions about the login? Please contact the library staff.

Books not available at the University of Applied Sciences Offenburg libraries can be ordered through our interlibrary loan service. Printed copies of jounral articles can also be ordered. Interlibrary loan service charges apply regardless of outcome. Please note the following gudelines!

A non-refundable, standard service fee of 1.50€ will be charged to your library account regardless of the outcome. Once an interlibrary loan request has been submitted it cannot be cancelled

1. Check our electronic catalogue OPAC whether the book is avalilable in one of our libraries.
2. Once you confirmed that the book is not in our collection, click the External Sources/ILL" button. Select at least one of the displayed catalogue options (You search in...").
3. Select the required book title from the search result list and click the "Proceed to Interlibrary Loan" button.
4. Log into your OPAC account and complete the interlibrary loan request form displayed on your computer screen. To order part of a book (chapter or article - max. 10%), fill out the section "If PAPER-COPY is requested: details to the chapter/part of the book". Important: To order an entire book, leave this section blank. You must select a pick-up location from the "Place of issuance" drop-down menu. All other fields are optional.

The average delivery time for an interlibrary loan request is 10 days. Please note: In rare cases, delivery of loan requests is not possible. Need a book fast? Try subito. subito provides a quick, fee-based document delivery service.

You will receive an e-mail notification once the book has arrived and is available for pick-up at the circulation desk. The lending period and renewal options depend on the lending library and will be advised at the point of collection.

• Books and magazines available in our libraries (including items currently on loan and items from our reference collection)
• Magazines
• Loose-leaf publications
• Theses and research papers (interlibrary loan only in exceptional circumstances)
• Patents and DIN-Standards

Note: You can also request a copy of an article through our interlibrary loan service.

Print jobs can be sent from any computer located on campus or from your personal workstation (using VPN and the appropriate printer driver) to any copier located on campus. Printer drivers are available through the follow-me-interface. You can retrieve and print your documents using your OSKAR card. Please visit the Campus-IT website for detailed instructions.

At the Campus Offenburg Library, three computers are available for students to use with their campus login credentials. The Campus Gengenbach Library offers one computer for the same purpose. Print jobs sent from these computers can be retrieved using your OSKAR card.

Current printing costs using your OSKAR card:
Black & White – 0,08 EUR (A4)
Colour – 0,18 EUR (A4)

At both locations, additional computers are available for use without requiring a personal login. Print jobs can be submitted from these computers using the following methods:

-Print a document using the print function of the respective program. To retrieve the print job, you will need our library card. For assistance, please contact library staff at the information desk.

Current printing costs using the library card:
Black & White – 0,10 EUR (A4)
Colour – 0,30 EUR (A4)

-Print a document using the iPrint Portal. The iPrint Portal is exclusively for retrieving print jobs using your OSKAR card, which requires your campus login. Please note that the iPrint Portal processes PDF files best; it is recommended to convert your files to PDF format before printing. See instructions for more details.

Updated 9/2024

Both libraries are equipped with a colour photocopier.

Note: If necessary (e.g. if a student forgets their student ID card), students can borrow and use the library card for copying. In such cases, employee + external user fees will apply!

The copier can be used as a scanner and printer. Visit the university website and check out the Oskar section for more details.

Updated 09/2024

Both university libraries offer the use of a high-quality, touch-screen book scanner.
Alternatively, you can create scans using the photocopier. These scans can be accessed through the Follow-me-Interface or sent directly to your email as attachments.

Updated 09/2024

Hochschule Offenburg
- Library -
Klosterstraße 9
77723 Gengenbach

Telefon: 07803 9698-4413

E-Mail: bib-gengenbach@hs-offenburg.de

Please observe the loan periods! The library's notification system is automated and cannot be influenced individually by our staff. 2 days before the due date you will receive a free reminder via email. The fines for overdue items are prescribed by the fee statutes of the library, and they are expensive!
 

First notice: €1.50 per medium
Second notice: €5.00 per medium
Third notice: €10.00 per medium
Overnight loans: €3.00 per day and medium

The first overdue notice is sent by email. All additional overdue notices are sent by post, at intervals of seven days; overnight loan notices are fined daily at 12 o'clock.

Failure to respond to the third notice will automatically result in a final notice that may be inforced by a bailiff. Don't take a chance!

All fines become effective as soon as an overdue notice is issued. Overdue notices are also issued during semester breaks!

Lockers are for the temporary storage of all your bags and belongings. Baskets are provided for carrying your books and other learning materials. Lockers are cleared each morning by library staff.

Close the locker:
1. Put items in the locker
2. Enter any 4-digit code
3. Close the door and slowly turn the lock to the left

Open the locker:
1. Enter 4-digit code used to close the locker
2. Turn the lock to the right

Important: Remember your 4-digit code and locker number. Forgot your 4-digit code? Please contact staff at the circulation desk. Please clear your locker before you leave the library. Lockers that have not been cleared will be cleared by staff the next morning.

The library in Offenburg has a total of 180 study spaces.

Need a place to practice a presentation or to work on a group project? Group study spaces are located at Mühlbach-Saal and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. All group study spaces are equipped with a wall-mounted monitor to make it easy for a study group to share a laptop or tablet display. Feel free to hold small group conversations. Enjoy bottled water (no food or snacks permitted).

Need a quiet place to study or work on a research paper? Quite study spaces are located at Kinzig-Saal. Work silently - no talking or whispering allowed. Silence phones, laptops, noisy headphones, and other loud devices. Enjoy bottled water (no food or snacks permitted).
 

You can either check study space availability using the library’s interactive touch-screen kiosk or this link. The group study area is located in Mühlbach Hall; the single study carrels are located in Kinzig Hall. The capacity utilization indicator has a high accuracy and low latency rate. Not every person visiting the library takes up a study space. Hence, the capacity utilization indicator may show that the library has reached full capacity, but it’s possible that as few study spaces are still available.

The database Nautos contains standards and technical guidelines. Offenburg University of Applied Sciences has the following standards available in full text:

• DIN-Standards (all valid German standards, with the exeption of the VDE-Standards)
  For more information see Standards
• VDI-Guidelines
• AD-Code leaflets

Access via DBIS - Nautos.

Off-campus access possible using VPN (with Standard-Profil)

Opening hours are subject to change. For up-to-date information, please visit our library homepage.

Lecture and examination period

 

Lecture-free period

Our online catalogue OPAC contains records of all media (books, dissertations, movies, eBooks, tutorials, printed editions of standards).

The following functions are available:

• Search and browse the entire collection of our libraries in Offenburg and Gengenbach
• Renew borrowed books
• Reserve books currently on loan
• Order books from the university library Offenburg

Additionally, OPAC provides unrestricted search access to other catalogues. The SWB and ZDB catalogues can be used to order books and/or copies of magazine articles via interlibrary loan.

Offenburg Library: The media in the reading room are systematically arranged according to the "Regensburger Verbundklassifikation" (RVK). This means that all related books are next to each other, allowing you to browse through the books.

Gengenbach Library: All media are freely accessible. The line-up is based on a roughly systematic classification.

To find a specific book in the reading room, first check in the OPAC whether the book is in our collection. The location/collection/signature indicates where you can find a book on the shelf. For Offenburg, the following applies: You can only access books in the reading room if they are marked with Library Offenburg AND Reading room location. All other books must be ordered via the OPAC (see ordering books from the stacks).

You can reserve borrowed books.

Printed Journals
The libraries offer many leading, subject-related print jounals to complement the university's degree programs. Older, separate issues of journals are collected and sometimes bound togehter into one volume. All jounals, with the exception of the current issue, may be signed out for one week.

Overview of currently available journal subscriptions:

• Offenburg Library Journals
• Gengenbach Library journals

eJournals
Overview of all currently available e-Journals:

• Electronic Journals Library (EZB)

The Electronic Journals Library (EZB) includes all licensed journals from Offenburg University of Applied Sciences as well as all journals freely accessible through the Internet.

Search for Articles within Journals
Searching for a specific article within a journal? Use the Database Information System (DBIS). DBIS provides access to and use of many research databases in all subject areas.

The OPAC offers various search options to browse the film collection of Offenburg University.

1. Want to see an overview of our entire film collection?
   Click "Media List" in the navigation bar and select "Films" from the dropdown menu.
   
    
2. Searching for directors or actors?
   Use the "Author (Personal name)" field in the advanced search. In most cases, entering the surname is sufficient.
   
    
3. Searching for film titles:
   a) Enter keywords from the film title in your basic search. Narrow the search results by selecting "Films" from the “Types of Material” filter. Note that the “Films” filter only appears if the results list includes films.
   
   
   b) In the advanced search, refine your search to include only films (Blu-Ray, DVD, video cassette) by selecting “Films” as the media type and entering the film title or author (personal name).

Please note: Available films are NOT ordered like books. You can reserve films that are checked out, except for those on permanent loan to professors (due date: January 1, 2030).

Updated 10/2024

You’re looking for standards? All German DIN-standards and VDI-guidelines can be accessed in full-text through Perinorm. The database does not include VDE-electrical standards. VDE-standards can only be viewed on designated computers at the university library in Offenburg. Please contact library staff for more information. The library does have some standards available in print format. They can be found in our online-catalogue OPAC. Search the catalogue using the standard’s document identifier. Ordering standards follows the same procedure as ordering books.

Didn’t find what you were looking for? Some standards may have been published in DIN-Handbooks, which are part of our library collection. Consult the Beuth-Publishing Catalog to check if and in which DIN-Handbook the required standard may have been published. Look out for the link ">>Also included in". If this link is NOT displayed, the standard may not yet have been published, including as part of a DIN-Handbook. Next, search for the DIN-Handbook in our OPAC catalog. Should the OPAC search be unsuccessful, please feel free to contact us - under certain circumstances, standards can be purchased for our library collection.

On the university's video portal you can find the library's teaching videos on various topics:

•     Literature management with Citavi
•     Literature research
•     E-books and VPN
•     Standards and patents

The video about E-books and VPN is available in English, all other videos are in German only.
Are you missing a topic? Would you like more videos on library content? Then write to the library.

The presentations are in German.

• Presentation "Studienanfänger*innen Campus Gengenbach"
• Presentation"Studienanfänger*innen Campus Offenburg"
• Presentation "Literaturrecherche"
• Presentation "Zitieren"

In addition to the general library introduction, there is also the option of receiving training on literature searches in databases and an introduction to the literature management programme Citavi.

Please contact Petra Möhringer.

Open Access - Frequently Asked Questions.
Updated 03.2022

Copyright Law in a Nutshell - University of Regensburg
Updated 03.2022

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network and is used to access the university network from off-campus locations.

VPN variations:
- WebVPN: no installation required; you simply resume your work in a new browser window
- VPN: download and installation required

For more information, please visit the IT Service Centre website - Servicekatalog - Campus-Netz - VPN.

Remote access to electronic resources (eBooks and eJounals) is available only via VPN!
Never worked with eBooks? You must know that (german language)!