Who can become a user of the Central Library of the Czech Technical University?

User of the Central library can be every employee and every student of the CTU or any representative of professional public. Users are registered in the library system using their student’s or employee’s identity card (or passport). External users will be issued a library card based on their personal identity card submission.

The above mentioned user categories have different rights for accessing library collections, electronic information resources, and library services. The particular users’ basic rights and responsibilities are defined by the Library and Lending Code.

Every registered user signs the User’s declaration before the first borrowing. By signing the declaration he/she agrees with the library borrowing conditions. Users also register their 4-digit PIN code (Personal Identification Number) which protects their personal account in the library system. The issued library card and PIN code are accepted at any branch of the Central Library. However to be allowed to use services provided by each branch of the Central library it is necessary to be registered also at the particular branch of the CTU Central Library.

How do I find Central Library of the CTU in the National Technical Library building?

You enter both libraries through the same entrance from the main hall. To pass through the carousel use your CTU student or employee card. External users who are not registered in the National Technical Library must have visitor’s card issued in the Visitor Centre which is located in the entrance hall. Then they can pass through carousel to the library premises.

The main circulation desk of the Central Library of the CTU is located on the 2nd floor where you can borrow books stored in closed stacks, following your online reservation. Another circulation desk is located on the 5th floor in the CTU Central Library room. There you have access to open stacks but not all books are available for borrowing outside the library follow staff information.

How can I borrow books?

First you have to be registered in the branch of the CTU Central Library which holds the requested book. You need your student’s or employee’s CTU card or your personal identity card. You have to set your PIN code (Personal Identification Number) which protects your user’s account.

In the Central Library of the CTU located in National Technical Library building is possible to borrow books in two ways:

• In In the library located on the 5th floor. These books, stored in open stacks, can be borrowed straight at the desk in this library room. Please note, that not all these books are available for borrowing outside the library room, but just to be used within the library. It is possible to reserve these books if available in the library system. Books marked “To study room” can not be reserved.

• Library funds located in closed stacks can be borrowed only following your reservation through the library system. Such reserved books are available to pick up at the main desk on the 2nd floor

Where to return books?

5 days before an expiration of your loan, you will receive a notification email.

The borrowed books must be always returned to the library where you borrowed them.

• at the main desk on the 2nd floor (CTU Central Library - Dejvice)

• in bibliobox near the entrance NTK 3, outside opening hours (applies only to documents that were borrowed from Dejvice Library)

• in local CTU libraries (FTS, FNSPE, FBMI)

How can I reserve a book?

You must be registered in the Central Library (in any branch) to be able to make online reservations in the library system.

To make your reservation in the library catalogue follow the following steps: Open the library catalogue and register into the library system (use the bar code from your student, employee or library card and your PIN code). Search for the requested title in the library catalogue and view holdings (all items) bellow in the title record. If the item is marked as “on shelf”, click on the button “Request” on the left side. Follow item status, loan date and location (branch library) of the book to be sure where to borrow the book: The label “To study room” means that the book can not be lent outside the library, “On shelf” means that the book can be borrowed outside the library, “Deposited” means that the book is stored in a departmental library and it is not possible to lend it directly from the Central Library, “date of loan period e.g. 31/12/2009” says that the book has been lent until the date mentioned but it is possible to make reservation.

You will be informed by e-mail when your requested books are prepared at the library circulation desk (mind the location - library branch and circulation desk). It is advised to make your reservations sooner you have to count with some time necessary for request fulfilment and wait for the e-mail confirmation. It is not possible to cancel your request once you have received this e-mail confirmation. If you do not want to borrow the item anymore, just send e-mail at knihovna@cvut.cz.

Your requested books will be prepared in the library branch where it has been stored. You have to pick it up within 5 business days from the e-mail confirmation otherwise it will be returned to the stacks or lent to the next user. It is not possible to change the place where you can pick up your books however you can set up the last date you wish to pick it up.

You can make reservation only of books marked in the library catalogue as On shelf“, or “Due date” column contains specific date until the book will be lent. The number of reservations is limited to 10 books at once.

Reservation system is used to be closed during vacations particular terms are always displayed on the Central Library website.

Where to pick up a reserved book?

If you have made a reservation request (using your user account), you should receive a notification email confirming that your book is ready.

The reserved documents can be picked up at the main desk on the 2nd floor (applies to the CTU Central Library - Dejvice) or in the local library where they were reserved.

opening hours

What if I can not see the button "Request" in the title record ?

There might be 3 reasons for this:

• You are not logged in the reservation system - verify if you did not enter to the catalogue as Guest (Host). Click on the button “My library card” at the upper bar. Your account will be displayed if you are logged in, if not, identification page will offer you to log in.

• You can request reservation for books allowed for lending outside the library only. Check the item status it should be “On shelf”, or “Due date” column contains specific date until the book will be on loan. Books with status “Deposited” and “To study room” can not be reserved.

• Reservation system might be closed for some time (mainly during vacations) see information on the website of the Central Library.

How do I cancel my reservations?

Log in the library catalogue using your card barcode and PIN code. Click on the button “My library card” at the upper bar and open your user account. Display hold requests, click on the number of the book record on the left side and delete.

You can not delete your request if you have received an e-mail confirmation of your request fulfilment. If you do not need the book indeed contact librarians by e-mail at knihovna@cvut.cz.

How do I extend loan period of my borrowings?

Log in the library catalogue using your card barcode and PIN code. Click on the button “My library card” at the upper bar and open your user account. Display “Loans” and click on the number on the left side and confirm. The due date and listing of the items will change - ordered by date of loan period.

Renewal (prolongation) system detects reservations so that you can’t extend your borrowings when the book has been reserved by another user. Renewal period depends on the loan term of the book but up to the limit of 30 days. Users’ account in the library system must be valid at least for the next 180 days (30 days for external users) if they would like to renew their loans.
If you can’t extend your loan periods because of your account validity, contact the librarians personally at the main desk or by e-mail: knihovna@cvut.cz.

Could I get a notification on the forthcoming end of loan period?

The library system distributes alerts on the forthcoming loan period automatically by e-mail 5 days before the end of the loan period. If the user doesn’t return the book to the day of expiration, the 1st reminder will be sent by e-mail. The 1st and 2nd reminders are sent by e-mail, the 3rd reminder will be printed and sent by post as a registered letter.

The library system uses the university e-mail addresses of students and employees. Therefore we recommend the users to use these addresses or to redirect their university address to another address they use. External users are required at registration to provide library with their e-mail address for sending alerts, reminders and reservation confirmations.

Why wasn’t I notified to return my loans?

Possible reasons why you didn’t get alerting e-mail:

• You don’t use university e-mail start to use it or redirect it to another e-mail address you use.

• Check the spelling of your e-mail address you have redirected this is a common error.

• Your mailbox has been overloaded check your e-mails to recover your mailbox.

Why do not some services within the library catalogue work while I am logged in?

Users’ accounts can be blocked for different services for several reasons:

Renewals (prolongations):

• Validity of your registration in the library system is over or will end before date to which your loan would be renewed ask librarians for prolongation of your registration.

• Loan period ends within 30 and more days it is possible to renew loan period only from the 29th day before the loan period expires.

Reservations:

• Validity of your registration in the library system is over or will end within the next 180 days which is the longest loan period possible ask librarians for prolongation of your registration.

• You have requested more than the maximum of 10 books at one time.

• You are trying to request the same title again.

• Your e-mail address fails in your registration ask librarians to check and fill in your correct e-mail address.

Loans:

• Validity of your registration in the library system is over or will end with in the next 180 days which is the longest loan period possible ask librarians for prolongation of your registration.

• You have interrupted or stopped your study ask librarians to issue a new library card of external user.

• You didn’t pay fees or charges to the library go to the main desk of the library branch you have the debt to pay it.

• You have borrowed 30 titles at one time that is maximum of possible loans from all Central Library branches (10 from one branch).

What shall I do when I have forgotten my PIN code?

You can’t change your PIN code yourself. Visit any of the Central library branches and ask for changing. This service is charged according to the pricelist.

Where can I find records of theses?

Records of diploma works and theses at the Czech Technical University published until 2006 are searchable in the Central Library catalogue only if they were delivered to the library (sometimes they are stored only at the departmental libraries).

Database of diploma works and theses (grey literature) published after 2006 is accessible within the Central Library catalogue. Database records also include information about access to the works.

In Czech Technical University Digital Library are then stored and accessed records and full texts of diploma works and theses in electronic form.

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