You will need the free "RUB Bib" app to borrow items. A physical library card is no longer issued. Log on to the app with your RUB LoginID and the corresponding password.

In the app you can generate a barcode, which is valid for up to four hours. If you do not have a smartphone, you can obtain your barcode at the information/service desk during our service hours.

The barcode is assigned to your library account and must not be passed on to unauthorized persons. We accept no liability for loans made in your name due to the loss of this barcode. Please inform us immediately if you lose your barcode so that it can be blocked.

As soon as you have your barcode, you can use the green self-issue machines during the library's opening hours. You can decide whether a loan receipt will be printed out or sent to you by e-mail. If we issue items for you at the information/service desk, you will only receive a loan receipt by e-mail.

The following items can only be borrowed at the information/service desk (see service hours):

• Current editions of some legal commentaries
• Items for reading room use supplied via interlibrary loan
• Items you have suggested for acquisition

Information on the due dates of items you borrowed can be found in your library account or the RUB Bib app. It is the borrower’s responsibility to ensure that all library loans are returned by their due date.

To protect our users against fraudulent use, we only issue items to the owner of the barcode. However, if you want an authorized person to borrow something on your behalf, the following requirements must be met:

• The authorized person must present a power of attorney signed by hand. This power of attorney must name the authorized person and must be issued for the specific instance, i.e. list every item to be borrowed. The authorized person must provide photo identification.

• Members of the RUB's academic staff can grant an assistant a special power of attorney. Please send it to ub-information@rub.de. Authorized persons are noted internally in the system as "proxy users" while the power of attorney is valid and can issue items to the authorizer's library account using their own "RUB Bib" app as well as order items via interlibrary loan.
  Upon termination of the employment, the person granting the power of attorney must revoke it in writing. Please send the revocation to ub-information@rub.de.

If a loan is made by the authorized person, the person granting the authorization will receive an e-mail.

• Loan period
  Basic loan period = 28 calendar days
  Public holidays and days on which the University Library is closed for other reasons are automatically skipped.

• Manual renewal
  Before the loan period expires, you can repeatedly extend the loan period by 28 calendar days. Either present the book at the information/service desk on the ground floor or manually extend the loan period in your library account.
  There are no automatic renewals! If your book is reserved by someone else, an extension is not possible.

• Reminder levels
  Fees are incurred if the lending period is exceeded. All calendar days count when calculating the reminder levels!
  
  Example: The lending period ends on 11 May
  Reminder level 1 (deadline exceeded by a maximum of 10 days) = 12 May to 21 May
  Reminder level 2 (11 to 20 days overdue) = 22 May to 31 May

• Collection period
  8 calendar days (excluding public holidays): the exact date can be found in the e-mail sent to you.
  

  Important: Even in the case of interlibrary loan deliveries for the reading room (= not available for loan), the item must be credited to the library account within the collection period. Otherwise the material will be returned.

• Lending period
  28 calendar days (excluding public holidays)

  Exception: prior determination of the shortened loan period by the supplying library.
  In general, loan periods for interlibrary loans are always subject to change. The supplying library may reclaim items at any time without giving reasons.

• Extension
  Deadline extensions are only granted on request: by telephone on 0234 32 26461 or by e-mail.

• Returning media on site

  You can return media in the "Media Return" room in the University Library, left entrance area by the cloakroom lockers. Return machines and return boxes are available during library opening hours. You can also authorize a person you trust to return media. No special authorization is required for this.
  

  When returning items, you can decide whether a return slip should be printed or sent to you by e-mail. If the return is made at the information/service counter, you will only receive a return receipt by e-mail. In both cases, please check the return receipt for accuracy and completeness. It serves as proof that the item has been returned on time. The return can also be checked via the library account.

  Important: Items that have been delivered via interlibrary loan can be returned at the information/service desk (see service hours) or via the return box and not at the return machine. A return receipt will only be sent by e-mail when returning items via the information/service desk.

• Return by post

  If you are unable to return the media during the specified times or have them returned by a person you trust, you can also send them to us by post with the appropriate postage paid:
  
  Ruhr-Universität Bochum
  Universitätsbibliothek
  Abt. Benutzungsdienste
  z. H. Herrn Althaus/Herrn Krampe
  Universitätsstr. 150
  44801 Bochum

To place a hold on borrowed items, log in to your library account. Then click on the "Reserve" link in the full display for the desired title. As soon as the item is returned and ready for you, you will receive an e-mail notification and have 8 calendar days to collect the item. You will find the reserved books organized by shelfmark on the collection shelf next to the information/service desk.

Once the collection period has expired, the item will be returned to the shelf or made available for the next person who has reserved it. A reservation can be cancelled in the library account as long as the reserved item is not yet available for collection.

In the library account you can view loans and fees and extend loan periods. This requires a personal login with your LoginID and password.

RUB students and employees will find their RUB LoginID on the documents they receive when they enrol or start their employment. External users will receive a LoginID when registering at the University Library. An e-mail address is required for registration! A verification link will be sent to this e-mail address, which can be used to set a password for the library account.

Would you like to change your password?

If you know your current password, you can change it here. Log in with your LoginID and the password that is still valid and select "Change password". It can take up to 30 minutes until the new password is valid.

Have you forgotten your password?

RUB students and employees have two options:

• Do you have a mobile phone number stored in your account? Then you can reset your password yourself here.
• You do not have a mobile phone number in your account? In this case, please send the form with a copy of your identity card to the IT.SERVICES service centre. Please note the data protection information on the form.

This option is available to external users:

• External users can receive a verification code to set a new password. To do this, come to the information/service desk during service hours, call us on 0234 32 26461 or send us an e-mail: ub-information@rub.de

The library account is automatically blocked when the fee amount of 25 euro has been reached. In order for the borrowing, renewal and reservation functions to be reactivated, transfer the amount using the following details:

Ruhr-Universität Bochum
IBAN   DE19 4305 0001 0001 2200 11
BIC   WELADED1BOC
Note surname, first name
AND 1302110001*
*Intended use/financial centre

Please note: The interlibrary loan fee must be paid within 6 weeks. If this is not done, you will receive a reminder.