Registering, borrowing, renewing

Register with the NEBIS network (Network of Libraries and Information Centers in Switzerland): registration form

Have your user account activated
Arrange to have the Customer Service at the ETH-Bibliothek InfoCenter or at your home library activate your user account.

Change of address
You can update your User account yourself or notify Customer Service of any changes of address.

Ordering
Order documents and copies via the Knowledge Portal.
You can reserve documents that are currently on loan.

Notification
Check in your user account whether the document is ready for you.
You will not receive a notification unless the book has already been loaned out or your pick-up location is different from the location of the book.

Notification by SMS
Receive information via your mobile phone. We will send you a message as soon as the documents are ready for collection.
You can set up this service on the registration form or in your user account.

Delivery of documents

• Free delivery by courier for members of ETH Zurich, ETH Alumni and the ETH Board
• Free delivery by courier service to your home library
• Delivery by post (chargeable): Fees (pdf, 106 kB)

Delivery time

• Within ETH Zurich: 1 hour to 1 day; depending on the location of the document and your pick-up location
• Within NEBIS network: 2 to 3 days

Period for collection
The documents will be held for you for 7 days.

Extending the period for collection
Contact the circulation desk before the end of the period for collection.

Collection

• In order to borrow a book, you must present a valid library user card.
• Documents belonging to ETH-Bibliothek (ETH-BIB, excl. Special Collections) and ordered no later than 1 hour before the ETH-Bibliothek circulation desk closes may be collected the same day.

Postal delivery of documents
If you would like the documents you have ordered to be sent by post, please contact Customer Service.

Returning at the circulation desk
You can return documents at the circulation desk at the ETH-Bibliothek or any library in the NEBIS network (exceptions: the Sozialarchiv SOZARCH, the Museumsgesellschaft MUG, and Zürcher Hochschule der Künste ZHDK-MIZ) .
A confirmation of the return will be issued on request.

Return by post
If you would like to return documents by post, we recommend sending them by registered post. The ETH-Bibliothek is not responsible for any loss, delay or other difficulties which may arise during transportation.
Documents must be handled with care and returned undamaged. The most recent borrower will be held liable for any damage.

The loan period for borrowed documents can be extended twice automatically, unless they have been reserved. If a document is still not required by other users after then, you can renew it yourself online.
Extending the loan period online.

You can extend the loan period for documents borrowed via the interlibrary loan system via the Interlibrary Loan Office.

Books, volumes in a series, microfiches, language courses

28 days / 140 days
28 day loan period
140 day maximum renewal period
168 day maximum loan period

Different loan periods apply to the Baubibliothek:
14 days / 70 days
14 day loan period
70 day maximum renewal period
84 day maximum loan period

Different loan periods apply to the GESS-Bibliothek:
30 days loan period
The loan period cannot be extended.
Loan period for members of the department: 360 days

Journals

3 days / 15 days
3 day loan period
15 day maximum renewal period
18 day maximum loan period