Lending Desk

The conditions for lending and use are stipulated in the terms of use of the Württembergische Landesbibliothek (Württemberg State Library).

The library fee rules of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry for Science, Research and Art also apply.

You require a library card to request works from the repository and to use the Internet stations. This can be obtained from the Lending Desk on presentation of your valid German ID card or passport together with your confirmation of residence from the registration office. Other documents, such as student ID cards or driving licences cannot be accepted for authorization of use. Minors also require a declaration of consent from a legal guardian.

You can also print out the online registration form (registration form for minors) and present it in person on registering.

The first time you log into your library account, you must enter a new password.

A fee is charged for using the library. The fee is €30 for an annual card and is payable on receipt of the library card. The fee ist €8 if the library is used for less than 3 months.
The following persons are exempt from the fee: those in education (schoolchildren, students, trainees) and minors, as well as institutions of the State of Baden-Württemberg and their employees using the library in the course of their work.
Persons performing national service (civilian or military) or voluntary service, unemployed persons and those receiving social welfare benefit pay €15 for an annual card. Please present corresponding documentary evidence when registering.
For further information, please refer to the library fee rules (Bibliotheksgebührenverordnung).

Using the e-mail administration in your library account, you can enter your e-mail address. We will then be able to inform you promptly of the arrival of works that you have reserved or requested via interlibrary loan. You will also receive a reminder by e-mail just before the loan period expires. Overdue notices for the 1. to 3. of fines will also be sent by email.

This notwithstanding, we would ask you to inform us promptly of any change of address so that we can contact you in writing if necessary.

You can extend the validity of your library card at the Service Desk in the lending area on payment of the usage fee. If you are still eligible for the reduced fee or exemption from paying the fee, please produce documentary evidence to this effect once again.

In accordance with the Danish datamodel the library card contains the following information: reader account number, identification number of the library card (unique worldwide and unchangeable), institution code of the WLB, countrycode for Germany as well as a code specifying that it is a library card rather than a medium.

No further user data will be stored, i.e. personal data or borrowed media cannot be inferred.

Loss of the library card must be reported at once, by e-mail, fax, telephone or in person, in order to disable your account and protect it against misuse; you may be held liable for any damage resulting from the loss.

We charge €5 for issuing a replacement library card.

The WLB houses approx. 6 million media items which - with the exception of the non-lending collections - are kept in closed repositories and must be requested by computer.

To do so, first find out the call number, i.e. the number indicating the location of the medium, in the online catalogue and then request it via the online catalogue.

The copy information shows you whether the medium

• is available,
• can be reserved, if it is not available,
• is held at a specific location (e.g. reading room, reference library information desk) and what its call number is,
• can only be viewed in the reading room.

You can collect the requested items from the pick-up area where it will be held for you for one week.

Please present your library card when collecting items.

You may reserve a medium that is currently on loan.

As soon as the item is returned, you will be notified by letter (postage €0.70) or by e-mail that it is being held for you for one week in the pick-up area.

Reservations can also be cancelled via your library account (function: Display or delete reservations).

The loan period is generally 28 days.

When a book is issued to you, you will receive a note specifying the call number and the loan period. In your library account you may extend the loan period, as often as you like, for an extra 28 days each time, provided that the medium has not been reserved by another user and that the maximum loan period of 112 days has not yet been reached.

Should you still require the item beyond this time, you can present it at the Service Desk in the lending area to borrow it again.

You can return your books - without having to wait - at the book return desk in the lending area.

If you are unable to return your books in person, please send them to the following address:

Württembergische Landesbibliothek
Leihstelle
Konrad-Adenauer-Strasse 10
D-70173 Stuttgart

In this case, you will receive overdue notices for which a fine is charged.

The amount of the fine is determined in accordance with the library fee rules and is currently €1.50 per item for the first overdue notice, €5.00 for the second notice and €10.00 for the third and all subsequent notices.

An account can be disabled for one of several reasons:
e.g. a third overdue notice has been issued, your address has proved to be incorrect or there are currently accrued fees payable in excess of €10.

While your account is disabled you will not be able to borrow any media.

In all cases, it is advisable to clarify the situation with the staff at the lending desk in order to have the account unlocked.

We can reset your password at the service desk. Please be sure to have your library card and your ID card or passport with you.