FAQs

Who can become a member of the Library?

All members of the academic community of the University of the Aegean are entitled to a library card, in particular:

  • undergraduate students, postgraduate students, doctoral candidates
  • faculty and
  • administrative and other staff of the University of the Aegean

Moreover, the Library can also issue a member card to some special categories of users. In particular, the Library issues a member card to:

  • students and teaching staff who attend the University within the framework of inter-university cooperation programess (e.g. ERASMUS)
  • undergraduate and postgraduate students of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) who reside on islands with operating Units (Schools and Departments) of the University of the Aegean Library and
  • other visitors, provided that the Library Branch Head approves the membership request.

How to get a Library card?

To qualify for a Library member card, applicants must provide to the Library branch the following documentation:

  • a completed special application form for registration which the applicant can obtain from the Library branch or can download from the Library’s website
  • academic ID (for undergraduate or postgraduate students and doctoral candidates) or Identification Card (for other visitors)
  • recent passport-size colored photograph

Once the required documentation is submitted, Library staff reserves the right to verify information before creating an account in the Integrated Library System and issuing a member card, which is handed to the new Library member within a week.

I am not a member of the academic community of the University of the Aegean. Can I borrow library material?

The Library can offer lending services to some external users, too. In particular:

  • students and teaching staff who attend the University within the framework of inter-university cooperation programmes, obtain similar borrowing rights to students and faculty of the University during their studies at the University
  • undergraduateand postgraduate students of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) who reside on islands with operating Units (Schools and Departments) of the University of the Aegean Library and
  • other visitors. The Branch Head can, in special cases, lend Library material to persons who are not affiliated with the academic community of the University of the Aegean. Non-affiliated users must submit their Identification Card, and they are entitled to borrow Library items for a period of one (1) week.

What materials are available in the Library?

In addition to the books of the Main Collection that cover the thematic units of the study programmes of the University Units (Schools and Departments), the Library also provides: reference books (dictionaries, encyclopedias, manuals, indexes, bibliographies, yearbooks, catalogues, maps and atlases), items of the Gray literature Collection that are elaborated at the University Units (Schools and Departments (graduate and postgraduate theses, doctoral dissertations, technical or research reports), journal issues, audiovisual material, textbooks that are distributed to students through the EUDOXUS programme of the Ministry of Education, faculty notes, collections of rare and historical material, literary books, etc.

What are the library materials that I cannot borrow?

The following materials cannot be borrowed:

  • Reference books
  • Journal issues
  • Audiovisual material
  • Certain books that are in high demand by users for a specific period of time; this is decided at the discretion of the Branch Head and/or upon consultation with members of the Faculty
  • Material in damaged condition that needs preservation
  • Items of the Grey Literature Collection (graduate and postgraduate theses, doctoral dissertations, technical or research reports)
  • Rare material
  • New entries before they are fully documented and processed in the Library catalogues.

How can I find a printed item on the shelf?

To find a printed item on the shelf you need to know the call number, which can be found in the Library’s electronic Main Catalogue (Web OPAC). All printed items are assigned a unique call number, found on the spine of the book. Call numbers are a combination of the call number and three letters.

More information can be found on page:

Locating Materials

The book I am looking for appears to be available in the Library, according to the Library’s Web OPAC, but I cannot find it on the shelf. What should I do?

The actions a user can take if a printed item is not located on the shelf are to check:

  • the book carts, study tables (as another user might have left it there) and photocopy machines
  • if the call number is correct
  • if the item has been borrowed on not
  • if the item is on a waitlist
  • in special collections that are usually located in special areas of the branches

Users can always address the Library staff for assistance.

My professor has informed me there is recommended bibliography for my course at the Library. How can I borrow any of these books?

That material is part of the Library’s Main Catalogue, and can be easily located using the call number.

The Library Head can, upon agreement with members of faculty or in his or her own judgment, shorten the loan period of these books or exclude them from the borrowing procedure.

What is OPAC?

OPAC stands for the Library’s Online Public Access Catalogue.

How can I borrow Library materials?

A requirement to exercise the right to borrow Library materials is to possess a Library member ID. A printed item can be located using the Library’s electronic Main Catalogue displaying information regarding the location, the availability and the call number. Searching the Library’s Main Catalogue is possible through the Library Terminals that are available in every branch. Next, users can follow the borrowing procedure at the Library’s circulation desks.

More information can be found on page:

Borrowing Policies

How can I renew a loan?

Renewal requests can be carried out in-person, by presenting a valid Library ID at the circulation desk of the Library Branch. Alternatively, they can be effected by phone or by e-mail provided the users give their Library ID details and identify the material to be renewed.

More information can be found on page:

Renewals

Can I borrow or return materials, at anytime during the Library opening hours?

Users can borrow or return materials at the Library Branches anytime during opening hours.

How do I reserve a book?

Users can make hold requests in-person at the circulation desk of the Library branch, by presenting a valid Library ID and identifying the material to be reserved.

More information can be found on page:

Reservations

Can I borrow materials located in other Library Branches?

The University of the Aegean Library enables users to borrow material that is located in any of its branches (Lesvos, Chios Rhodes, Samos, Syros and Lemnos) through Interbranch lending.

More information can be found on page:

Interbranch Loans

Can I find and borrow a book that is not part of the Library’s collection?

The interlibrary service of the University of the Aegean Library and Information Centre enables users to borrow materials that are not available in the Library collection from other Libraries and Information Centers. Interlibrary loans are performed between Libraries and Information Centers and not between the lending library and the user.

More information can be found on page:

Interlibrary Loans

Can I find journal articles that are not included in the Library’s printed and electronic collections?

The University of the Aegean Library allows users to order copies of journal articles from other Greek Libraries, given that it belongs to the National Network of Scientific and Technological Libraries (NNSTL), which is a network of Libraries that supports interlibrary loan of articles from journals of their collections. The operation of the National Network of Scientific and Technological Libraries (NNSTL) is based on the Interlibrary Loan System that has been developed by the National Documentation Centre and the use of the online database of the National Collective Catalogue of Scientific Journals (ESKEP) of Greek scientific and technological libraries. The National Network of Scientific and Technological Libraries (NNSTL) counts 148 library-members from all across Greece.

More information can be found on page:

Ordering Articles

Does the Library have photocopiers and how can I use them?

Every Library Branch has a photocopier for library users. Library users can make copies of the material they are interested in (excerpts of books etc.), including non-circulating materials (journal articles, excerpts of items of gray literature etc.). Copying is subject to copyright or other intellectual property rights.

More information can be found on page:

Reproducing Items

How can Library staff help me?

Library staff offers help to all users and provides information regarding the following issues Library staff offers help to all users and provides

  • Directions to ensure that users can make the best utilization of the library, and training to users on how to find materials on the shelves
  • Help and guidance when users search the Library’s electronic catalogue (OPAC) and the Library’s printed catalogues of materials
  • Help and guidance in using the Library’s electronic services
  • Tips on completing ordering applications for articles, bibliography, etc.
  • Help and guidance in using the Library’s resources and equipment.

Where do I find information about the Library’s services?

For detailed information about the services that the Library offers to users, please contact the Library staff or browse through the Library Portal.

What is the HELLANICUS Institutional Repository?

The Library’s HELLANICUS Institutional Repository (http://hellanicus.lib.aegean.gr) is a service for depositing digital documents, which are produced by the Institution’s academic community as a result of its scientific and research activities and which, as a rule, are not commercially available.

What is the main aim of HELLANICUS Institutional Repository?

The main aim of the HELLANICUS Institutional Repository is to collect, organize, publicize and maintain the scientific work of the academic community members in a way that ensures an easy and seamless access to it. Examples of this work include scientific articles - published or not - seminar lectures, textbooks, teaching material, dissertations and PhD theses, multimedia material and videotaped lectures.