Rules and regulations governing access to and use of the collections of Poznań University Library

I. Registration and renewal of a library account

1. The collections of the University Library in Poznań (hereinafter referred to as BUP or the Library) may be accessed upon presentation of a valid library card – mobile student ID (mLegitymacja), the Electronic Student ID card (ELS), the Electronic Post-Graduate Student ID card (ELD), Reader’s Card – or a Visitor’s Card.
2. Library account registration and updates can be made at the Lending Library or Information Desk.
3. The requirement for setting up an AMU library account for research and academic staff members, PhD students and students of the higher education institutions grouped in the Poznań Foundation of Scientific Libraries (hereafter referred to as: PFBN) is the prior activation of the account at their home universities. Staff members of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN), the Institute for Western Affairs (IZ), and the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) are obliged to present documents proving their employment.
4. Each library card is valid for the current academic year and its authorisation expires on October 31st. The Visitor’s Card is valid for 48 hours and can be issued no more than once every 6 months.
5. Library registration and account renewal fee is listed in “Fees and fines at the library and information system of the University of Adam Mickiewicz in Poznań” (The Ordinance No. 117/2024/2025 of the Rector of the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań of July 14, 2025).

II. Availability in reading rooms

1.  The Library gives access to its collections at the following reading rooms:

1. 1.  The Humanities Reading Room (CNH);
   2. The Social Sciences Reading Room (CNS);
   3. Nova Reading Room. Comics and Periodicals Reading Room;
   4. Special Collections and Local Studies Reading Room (CZSiR);
   5. Research Reading Room (CPN).

2. All users are entitled to use reading rooms A-D upon presentation of a valid library card or Visitor’s Card.
3. Only academic staff members are authorised to use the Research Reading Room.
4. The following library materials are made available in the reading rooms:

1. 1. titles from reference collections;
   2. publications from the local and external stacks, after a prior request;
   3. works delivered through the Interlibrary Loans service.

5. In the Nova Reading Room, originals of valuable collections are available to:

1. 1. academic staff and individuals with a doctoral degree;
   2. PhD students and students – after handing in a recommendation letter from a promoter or academic supervisor;
   3. employees of scientific, cultural and educational institutions or publishing houses – after handing in a recommendation letter or certificate stating the topic and purpose of the research.

6. Readers who do not belong to any of the groups specified in point II.5 may use the valuable collections only with the approval of the coordinator of the Comics Reading Room. Readers may appeal the Nova coordinator’s decision to the head of the Special Collections Department.
7. The following collections are available at the Special Collections and Local Studies Reading Room:

1. 1. special collections (manuscripts, old prints, iconographic collections, cartographic collections, music collections, and social life documents);
   2. National Library Resources (Polish: NZB);
   3. Masonic collection;
   4. Regional Library Resources collection (Polish: RZB)
   5. Poznań University Library Archives;
   6. books published in 1801-1918;
   7. the CZSiR’s reference collections as well as the open stacks in the study rooms of the Special Collections Department.

8. In CZSiR, original materials from rare or highly valuable collections (including NZB) or in a poor state of preservation are available only with the approval of the head of the Special Collections Department.
9. It is advisable to contact the relevant department before requesting materials from the collections listed in section II.7. a-e.
10. Orders on items from collections specified in section II.7. a-e, placed by 2:00 p.m., will be processed the same day. Orders submitted after 2:00 p.m. will be completed the next day. No orders are fulfilled on Saturdays.
11. The reader may request up to 10 volumes or items from the collections defined in point II.7.a-f at a time. Requested library materials are held for the reader up to 14 days from the date of order fulfillment or the last day the materials were used.
12. No more than 5 volumes or collection units/items can be made available at a time. In justified cases (e.g. large manuscript legacies, archival materials) librarian may make less than 5 volumes or units available at a time.
13. At the reader’s request, at 6 p.m., librarian can move the collections specified in point II.7.g to another reading room of the University Library.
14. The following groups are entitled to use the collections of CZSiR, defined in point II.7.a-f.:

1. 1. individuals with academic titles or degrees;
   2. PhD students and students – after handing in a recommendation letter from a promoter or academic supervisor;
   3. scientific, cultural and educational institutions employees – after handing in a recommendation letter or certificate stating the topic and purpose of the research.

15. Readers who do not belong to any of the groups specified in point II.14 may use the collections only with the approval of the head of the Special Collections Department. Readers are allowed to appeal the head’s decision to the Library’s director.
16. Readers who access the collections defined in section II.7.a-f should fulfill the following conditions:

1. 1. document the right to access the collection according to point II.14;
   2. fulfill the questionnaire;
   3. place the order correctly;
   4. sign the usage record, if attached to the item;
   5. handle the accessed special collections with particular care.

17. Adolescents over the age of 16 may access the collections in the reading rooms after enrolling at the library in the presence of their legal custodian, who has provided written consent for the child to use the library on their own.
18. All types of special collections dated up to 1850, books published from 1851 to 1918, National Library Resources and Regional Library Resources can be accessed only on site, in the Special Collections and Local Studies Reading Room, under conditions that ensure special protection and security of the collections made available. A user can request up to ten volumes to the reading room at a time, but can use five volumes. After their return, the user may access the next five volumes. The total number of volumes on the reader’s desk should not exceed five.
19. Periodicals dated from 1851 and publishing series, except those published in Poznań and the Greater Poland region, stored in the stacks of the Special Collections Department, are made available in the Humanities Reading Room and in the Research Reading Room, in justified situations – in the Special Collections and Local Studies Reading Room. A user can request up to ten volumes/items of periodicals to the reading room at a time, but is limited to five volumes/items. After their return, the user may access the next five volumes. The total number of periodicals on the reader’s desk should not exceed five volumes/items.
20. Items from the stacks can be ordered to reading rooms electronically or by making requests on call slips.
21. On completing a request for library materials to reading rooms through the online system, the user is notified accordingly in their library account in the online catalogue and/or by an email message.
22. Delivery of the library materials from the external stacks takes place on the indicated day of the week.
23. Delivered library materials remain available for 6 days.
24. Materials ordered by reader to the reading rooms are added to the reader’s account. Once the reader has finished using the materials, the librarian returns them to the stacks.
25. At the reader’s request, librarian may extend the return time for the requested items that are made available in reading rooms.
26. Publications requested to the reading rooms will be made available in the reading rooms only. They may be taken out only for photocopying purposes on the premises of the Library.
27. The following library materials are not made available for photocopying:

1. 1. all prints in a poor state of preservation;
   2. bound newspapers;
   3. book publications and journals published before 1953 (with the exception of prints in a good state of preservation – for research purposes only and with the consent of the head of the Circulation Department);
   4. in the Comics and Periodicals Reading Room, Nova – originals of valuable collections (in justified cases, the Nova’s coordinator may grant permission for photocopying);
   5. in CZSiR – originals of valuable collections defined in section II.7.a-f (in justified cases, permission for photocopying may be granted by the head of the Special Collections Department);
   6. doctoral dissertations.

28. 28. Electronic resources and microfilmed documents (microfilms, microfiches) are made available in reading rooms that are equipped with appropriate technical facilities. Original copies of microfilmed or digitised works are not made available.
29. Users will be charged for photocopies of prints and printouts from electronic resources. Free digital copies can be made using appropriate facilities on the premises of the Library.
30. Copies of microfilms, scans from microfilms and microforms can be made exclusively by the Library’s Digitization Section at the request.
31. Printed doctoral dissertations, submitted and defended at AMU until November 2009, can be made available exclusively on the premises of the Library, in the reading rooms. Doctoral dissertations in electronic form are stored and made available online via the AMUR Repository, on computers in the Humanities Reading Room.
32. Using digital camera for personal photographs of library materials may be permitted with the approval of a librarian on duty. Photography of doctoral dissertations is forbidden.

III. Library lending

1. Library resources can be borrowed through a standard, deposit-based and recommendation-based loan system.
2. Books processed in the library system and available for checkouts are ordered via the online catalogue.
3. Books that have not been processed in the library system, but are available for checkouts, are ordered by BUP’s digital card catalogue (or by filling in request slips). Following the cataloguing procedure (up to 3 working days), books may be collected at the Local Lending Library.
4. At the reader’s request, the librarian may provide a printout of their current loans.
5. The reader is obliged to check their library account via the online catalogue.

III. a. Standard loans

1. Standard loans and checkouts of library materials can be done in the Local Lending Library.
2. Users entitled to check out books in the standard mode as well as detailed rules and regulations for loans are listed in section III.19 of “Rules and regulations governing the use of the library and information system of the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań”.
3. The following books can be checked out in the standard mode:

1. 1. books from the stacks published in or after 1953;
   2. books from the stacks published in or after 1971;
   3. books from the Student Library (excluding copies marked “not for circulation”) – available on site, no ordering required.

4. Requested library materials can be collected personally or by an authorised person, who should present the requesting user’s library card.

III. b. Deposit loans, recommendation-based loans

1. Book loans and returns of library materials in the deposit and recommendation-based mode can be done in the Local Lending Library.
2. Eligible users entitled to check out books in the deposit or recommendation-based mode as well as detailed rules and regulations for loans are listed in section III.19 of “Rules and regulations governing the use of the library and information system of the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań”.
3. The following books can be checked out in the deposit or recommendation-based mode:

1. 1. books from the stacks published in or after 1971;
   2. books from the Student Library (excluding copies marked “not for circulation”) – available on site without a prior request.

4. The collection of the requested library materials is to be made in person after paying a refundable deposit, serving as security for their safe return to the Library, or upon presentation of a recommendation signed by a research staff member of AMU.
5. The minimum deposit fee for one copy is 50 zloty. The amount of the deposit is to be determined each time by the librarian, based on the value of the book and the number of copies available in the Library’s collection; it may be a multiple of the minimum required deposit.
6. Following the return of library materials on their scheduled return date, and at the user’s written request submitted in person in the Local Lending Library, the deposit shall be handed back in cash to the user, depending on the availability of funds, or to the user’s bank account within 14 business days.
7. Returning the borrowed library materials not later than 21 days from the due date and paying the fee for their return after the due date will allow the reader to have his/her deposit returned. If this deadline is exceeded, the deposit will be forfeited to the Library.
8. The reader does not acquire ownership of the damaged or lost object.

IV. Return of library materials

1. All readers are obliged to return borrowed library materials on time. For exceeding the return date of each volume in the standard, deposit or recommendation-based mode, the Library charges a fee calculated for each day of delay.
2. Return of library materials and payment of overdue fines can be done in person or by an authorised individual who should present the requesting user’s library card.
3. Readers receive email reminders about the upcoming due date of borrowed library materials.

V. Electronic book requesting

1. Remote ordering service is available for readers who have a valid library account and are entitled to the loan service.
2. The option of ordering a book from the stacks is indicated by the active “request” button at the item in the online catalogue.
3. On completing a request, the user is notified in their library account in the online catalogue and/or by an email message.
4. The ordered book is waiting for collection for 6 days. After this time, the request is automatically cancelled and the book is returned to the stacks.

VI. Loan renewal

1. Readers can extend the borrowing period remotely – in the online catalogue or directly in the lending library, upon presenting the books. It is not possible to extend the library loan by telephone.
2. Extension of the loan period is possible within 7 days before the due date (return date).
3. Renewal of a borrowed copy is only possible if:

1. there are no overdue fines on the reader’s account;
2. the item in question has not been earlier reserved by another reader.

VII. Electronic reservation service

1. Items currently borrowed can be reserved for loan electronically.
2. Following a reservation request, the returned book is waiting for collection for 6 days. After this time, the reservation is automatically cancelled.
3. The reader cannot make a reservation on an item that he or she currently has on loan.

VIII. Library Clearance Statement. Clearance slips

1. Electronic library clearances for AMU students and PhD students are issued and settled by the AMU affiliated unit libraries in the USOSweb system.
2. The Library can sign clearance slips provided there are no obligations towards the libraries cooperating within the PFBN. Clearance statements are issued to PhD students and students of the institutions of higher education grouped in the PFBN based on a library card or a personal ID card.
3. The reader may appoint a person to collect the signed clearance slip on his/her behalf. The appointed person should present the written authorisation.

IX. Interlibrary loans

1. For scientific and research purposes, the Library can provide access to the collections of other libraries in Poland and abroad (except for the libraries located in the city of Poznań), through the interlibrary loan service.
2. All readers, except those with the Visitor’s Card, are allowed to use the interlibrary loans service.
3. The condition for delivering library materials from another library in Poland is a prior statement that the materials in question are not available in any other Poznań-based library, and in the case of materials from a foreign library – the lack of their availability in the resources of Polish libraries.
4. Materials from Comics and Periodicals Reading Room Nova can be borrowed through the interlibrary loans with the exception of originals of valuable collections, provided that a copy is available.

X. Book dispenser machine

1. AMU students, PhD students and staff members who have valid library card (mLegitymację, ELS, ELD) and a library account free of any overdue fines and without exceeded book limits are entitled to request and collect library materials using the Book-O-Mat.
2. The book dispenser machine is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including the days when the Library is not operating.
3. Books from the Library’s local stacks as well as publications from the outer stacks may be ordered to the book dispenser machine.
4. Before the visit to the Library, in order to check out books via the book dispenser machine, the user should order chosen books in the online catalogue, and indicate the pickup location of requested publications “Book-O-Mat” or “Book-O-Mat – access for people with disabilities”.
5. Book pickup is possible only after receiving an email notification with the following message: ”Requested books are ready for pick up from Book-O-Mat”. Users are requested to collect the books within 2 days.
6. During the pickup, the following message may appear: ”Borrowing unavailable. Check out your Reader’s account or contact the lending library.”. This message informs you about your invalid library account, due payments, or book limits exceeded. To sort out any questions, contact the Local Lending Department.
7. Only books from the stacks of Poznań University Library can be returned using the Book-O-Mat. Books from AMU faculty libraries and other libraries cannot be returned using the Book-O-Mat.
8. Placing books in the book dispenser machine does not constitute the actual return of books from the library account. The actual return of publications will be registered by a librarian and will take place after the lending library opens.

XI. Access to Library’s computer network

1. The computer network at the BUP is composed of stations, peripherals and network devices. The network is part of the AMU-NET university ICT network administered by the AMU Center for Managing the Infrastructure and Telecommunications and IT Projects. Access to the network is offered to all users entitled to use the Library’s collections.
2. The BUP computer network is dedicated strictly to scientific and research purposes. All users are obliged to comply with the legal regulations, accepted social behaviours, good practices and ethical norms.
3. Library users are entitled to:

1. 1. use the stationery computers intended for BUP readers;
   2. work on their own laptops, using the wireless EDUROAM network;
   3. access the BUP electronic resources accordingly to “Rules and regulations governing the use of the library and information system of the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań”;
   4. save files to their private data carriers;
   5. make printouts from the Library collection or the Internet (excluding collections protected by copyright) for a fee detailed in the “Fees and fines at the library and information system of the University of Adam Mickiewicz in Poznań”

4. The library users are not allowed to use the BUP computer network to:

1. 1. infringe good reputation of AMU;
   2. spread political, religious or other propaganda;
   3. download and distribute materials containing pornographic, racist, criminal, hacking or similar content;
   4. perform commercial activity;
   5. gain unauthorised access to protected resources;
   6. share, copy and distribute materials protected by copyright;
   7. infringe network security structure, crack passwords, eavesdrop or intercept transmitted information, distribute computer viruses.

5. It is also forbidden to:

1. 1. plug in private computers to wired network;
   2. conduct any actions that may cause damage to hardware elements, software or disrupt the network operation;
   3. spread spam;
   4. install software on desktop computers;

6. Any computer malfunction should be immediately reported to a librarian on duty.
7. BUP staff members are entitled to:

1. 1. limit the amount of accessed resources and time by the computer;
   2. modify and delete data stored on workstations following the completion of the user’s work on a given day;
   3. monitor the user’s work, and in the case of violating the rules listed in point 4 demand immediate termination of current work and departure from the computer site.

8. In case of a violation of the above rules resulting in material damage, the user bears full responsibility in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Civil Code.

XII. Research information services

1. 1. Advanced search queries are provided by the Library to academic staff members of the University.
2. Search queries for AMU academic staff, with the exception of works performed within grants, are free of charge. Charges for executing library search queries for other academic staff members are determined according to the operative “Fees and fines at the library and information system of the University of Adam Mickiewicz in Poznań”.
3. The Library provides free of charge information on its catalogue contents and verifies the bibliographic data of items in its collections to users.
4. The Library provides free of charge individual training sessions on electronic information sources for its users, upon prior arrangement with the Research Information and Knowledge Transfer Department.
5. The Library provides free of charge group training sessions on electronic information sources for AMU academic staff and PhD students, upon prior arrangement with the Research Information and Knowledge Transfer Department.

XIII. Final provisions

1. Users who violate the provisions of the Regulations and the rules of use of BUP resources and services may be subject to sanctions in the form of temporary or total suspension or cancellation of access to facilities, services, and borrowing privileges.

1. 1. If any reader does not abide by the library rules, the Library may issue a written warning Library notice twice.
   2. A warning, in duplicate, signed by the librarian and the reader, in the presence of another BUP employee, will be handed over to the reader and, for information, to the head of the Circulation Department.
   3. The second written reminder results in the temporary or total cancellation of the right to use the Library.

2. In matters not covered by these rules, the relevant provisions of the “Regulations for the use of the library and information system of the University of Adam Mickiewicz in Poznań” and “Code of Conduct of the University Library in Poznań”.