If you miss a book in our holdings, you can place an acquisition request. All suggestions will be reviewed according to our collection profile. You will receive notice of the decision via email.

You can return books at the circulation desk in our library. If the library is closed you can also take them to the librarian, Katharina Kloock, in room 0.006.

Please set your cell phone on mute. Making or taking calls in the library is not allowed.

There are three computers with internet access in the library. Two Cip-Pools are located on the ground floor of the Philosophikum

A copy machine can be found in the foyer of the Philosophikum which can be used with a copy card.

The ground floor of the Philosophikum is wheelchair accessible. Unfortunately the other levels of our library are not. We are happy to bring books downstairs for use.

Here you can see a list of primary source databases and periodicals for American history.

The USB offers access to a multitude of databases, e-journals and e-books. They are free to use for external users at the computers in the library. Members of the University can access them from home via VPN or Proxy.

Our reading room is equipped with 40 places for individual study, 3 with computers for accessing the internet and electronic resources.

Copy machines (to be used only with a copy card) are located in the foyer of the Philosophikum.

To use a reading machine for microforms please contact the librarian.

Wireless-LAN is available for members of the University of Cologne.

The use of the library and lending is free of charge.

You are not allowed to bring food into the library.
Chewing gum is not allowed.
Water is allowed in resealable containers.

Questions concerning the library can be answered at the Circulation Desk. For assistance regarding research in the library, KUG, databases and other online catalogs please contact the librarian, Katharina Kloock.

Email: kkloock(at)uni-koeln(dot)de
Tel.: +49 221 470-3020

If you need an item that can’t be found in the libraries of the University of Cologne, you can order it via interlibrary loan. Your order will be made available to you at the University library.

KUG stands for Kölner Universität Gesamtkatalog (University of Cologne collective catalog) and contains media from almost all institute libraries at the University. It does include 70% of our holdings only. 
(An index card catalog with all holdings before 1992 can be found in our reading room.)

If you would like to check the holdings of every library at the University please click here. Make sure to check "Uni".

You are allowed to use your laptop in the reading room. Almost all of our desks are equipped with power outlets. WLAN is available to students.

The library is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

Please take a "Laptopkarte" at the circulation desk as a preventive measure against stealing. You have to return the card when leaving the library with your laptop.

To borrow materials readers need a UCCard or a library card from the USB. To register please bring your UCCard or your library card from the USB and your identity card.

Up to ten books at a time can be borrowed for two weeks. They can be renewed at the lending desk or please call 0221-470-3020. Books that were ordered by another reader cannot be renewed. Books checked out by another reader can be reserved.

• Journals, "Sonderdrucke" and sources can be used in the Reading Room only.
   
• Please contact the librarian for Microfilms, CD-Roms, and DVDs.
   
• Please contact the students assistants of the AGuF for borrowing books marked "AGuF".
   
• Please contact the librarian for materials marked "Schrank".

You can borrow almost all books.

We don’t lend journals, source and rare materials, and microforms.

There are five libraries within the School of History at the University of Cologne:

• Bibliothek der Abteilung für Alte Geschichte
• Bibliothek der Abteilung für Mittelalterliche und Neuere Geschichte, mit eingegliederter Abteilungsbibliothek für Nationalismusforschung
• Library at the Department of North American History
• Bibliothek der Abteilung für Ibero- und Lateinamerikanische Geschichte
• Bibliothek der Abteilung für Osteuropäische Geschichte
• Bibliothek der Abteilung Didaktik der Geschichte und Geschichte der Europäischen Integration

Through your library account in the USB you can see your lendings in our library.

To use the library facilities and to work with media in the reading room you won’t need a library card. Children and young adults under 16 need the company of an adult or the explicit permission of the head librarian.

For borrowing media you need the UCCard or library card from the USB. Residents of Cologne and students of a local university are eligible for a library card from the USB.  WLAN can only be accessed by students and faculty members of the University.

We offer library tours at the beginning of each semester. Anyone interested can join the tour without registration. Tour dates will be announced in the library.

If you need help finding material, please ask at the circulation desk or the librarian. We are happy to help!

Up to ten books at a time can be borrowed for a lending period of two weeks. They can be renewed twice either by calling or stoping by at our circulation desk.

Books that were ordered by another reader cannot be renewed.

Books checked out by another reader can be reserved, either online via the KUG or by calling or stoping by at our circulation desk.

Lockers for the storage of overclothes, bags, books and other things are located in the foyer of the Philosophikum. You have to bring your own lock.

Please bring only transparent bags into the library.

If your UCCard or library card is lost please contact the USB immediately to block it.

The library owns a number of microfilms and microfiches. Examples are: General records of the Department of State, COINTELPRO, Despatches from U.S. ministers, Papers of American presidents, Slaves narratives etc. Please contact the librarian for the use of a reading machine.

A selection of our new acquisitions is on display on the mid level in the library. A current list can also be found on the library's homepage.

For lending privileges you need to register at the circulation desk. Please bring your UCCard or library card and your identity card. You also need to fill out a form.

Books can be renewed twice via phone or at the circulation desk in the library. Renewals can be made one day ahead the expiration date.

Please contact the us if you need help researching any topic.

The library has three flatbed scanner which can be used free of charge.

Subject headings are a formalized way of of searching library catalogs. The right subect heading can help you get to information more quickly.

For example, the American Revolutionary War can be described using the following terms:

    American Revolution

    American Revolutionary War

    War of the American Revolution

    American War of Independence

    War of American Independence

    War of Independence

You could search the library catalog for all those keywords. Or, use one subject heading to find all of the library's materials about the the American Revolutionary War:

Nordamerikanischer Unabhängigkeitskrieg

Find books on your topic by using a keyword search to find relevant subject headings. For example, search the keyword "Nordamerikanischer Unabhängigkeitskrieg", in the library catalog. By clicking on one of the keywords for the first book, Die amerikanische Revolution, the subject headings lead to other relevant books on this topic.

We are always available to take your purchase suggestions or to discuss how library collections could be built to support a particular assignment, course, or degree program. Please contact the librarian or fill out the form on our website.

You can view and print out our usage policy and regulations here. (Only in German)

To use the collection no registration is necessary.