FAQ

Can I create a library account if I am not yet a student of the University of Wrocław?

Yes. Such persons can aquire a reading rooms' library card and use library resources locally. There are three types of reading rooms' cards available: for two-days (5 PLN), ten-days (10 PLN) and one-year (20 PLN).

I am a student. How can I subscribe for the University Library?

You must fill the registration form available on the Library’s website https://www.bu.uni.wroc.pl/en/ (the form is available in the Subscription to WUL tab), then go to the Local Lending Department (level 1) with your student’s ID cards, student's obligation card (can be collected from the Dean’s Office or the Institute Library) and identification document.
Attention: After submitting the form, no registration notification will be delivered to your mailbox.

What is the number and what is the User's password?

User's number is created from the prefix indicating the university (0900 for UoW) and the student ID number. The number preceded by 2 is for borrowin materials home, the number preceded by 3 is for ordering for reading rooms. The default password is the PESEL number. After the first login, you can change the password to your own (which is not necessary).

I forgot my account password. How can I recover it?

When setting up a library account, the password is always the PESEL number. If the User has changed the password and does not remember it, please contact the Local Lending Department.

Can someone borrow a book for me?

It is possible, but authorization is required. The authorization form is Appendix no. 4 to the Rules of Collection Circulation.

As an employee of another scientific institution, do I have the right to borrow books from the Wroclaw University Library?

Yes, but only from institutions listed in subscription Form no. 3. When registering with the Library, you will need a certificate of employment.

How long does it take to fulfill order for a book?

The waiting time for the ordered book is about two hours from the time the order is placed. In the case of a larger number of orders placed by Users, the time may be longer.

How long does an ordered book wait to be collected from the Lending Department and Reading Rooms?

Books not collected by the ordering person within three working days from the date of placing the order will be returned to the storage.

How long does an ordered book have to wait to be collected from book pick-up machine?

Ordered books must be collected from the book pick-up machine within 5 calendar days from receiving the email notification. If they are not collected within this time, they will be removed from the book pick-up machine and the order will be canceled.

When do I need to prolong my library account as a student?

The student account is valid for the current academic year, i.e. until September 30th. At the beginning of each academic year, the account must be prolonged. In case of additional questions regarding the library account, students can contact the WUL's Local Lending Department by phone or email (phone: +48 71 375 76 01, e-mail: sw.bu[w]uwr.edu.pl).

Where should I report the loss or destruction of a borrowed book and what are the consequences in such a case?

You should report this to the WUL's Local Lending Department. You can buy back the book indicated by the Library or you will be charged a fee for the destruction or loss of the book according to the WUL's price list: Point V, sub-point 3.

What should I do if I lose my library card?

This should be reported to the Local Lending Department in order to block the library account. For a duplicate card fee will be charged according to the WUL's price list.

How many books can I borrow and for how long as a UoW student?

10 volumes for a period not longer than 90 days. Details regarding limits can be found in the Rules of Collection Circulation [§ 43.1]. Other limits apply to students with disabilities and to people studying two faculties at the same time. There is a possibility of one prolongation of deadline for returning borrowed library materials.

What do the blue and pink labels on the spine of books in the Free Access areas mean?

Books in the Free Access areas that are marked with a blue label on the spine can be borrowed home, while books with a pink label can be used only locally in the library.

What does in the online catalog location next to the book's call number, e.g. English Philology, mean?

The location tells where a given book is available. This means that you should go to a specific UoW's departmental library (e.g. the Library of the Institute of English Philology). The home page of the University Library has a drop-down list of specialist libraries with their addresses.

How can I order a book to the Main Reading Room from the online catalog?

To order a book from the storages to the Main Reading Room, click the “Order” icon in the online catalog or the “To the Reading Room” icon next to the description of available items. Then the system will ask you to enter your User's data – library card number and password. When placing an order, use the library account number preceded by 3 - e.g. 30900 (for UoW).
To order books for the Local Lending Department, enter your card number, i.e. an eleven-digit sequence of characters starting with the number 2, e.g. 20900, and the six-character album/index/student's ID number.

What does Free Access mean in the online catalog?

Free Access is a space located on the 2nd and 3rd floor of the building, where books are arranged according to subject areas and topics. These books are freely accessible, you can browse and borrow them. However, a library card is required for this.

How can I find a book in the Free Access areas?

A book in the Free Access areas is searched for by its FA call number. After searching for the item in the online catalog, the information about the book contains FA call number, which is a sequence of characters that can be used to find the book on the shelf. Since the book collection has been arranged on shelves by subject areas, each of them has been assigned a letter that begins the location call number, e.g. the letter N – Art.

Can I order books from the Free Access areas?

Books from the Free Access areas cannot be ordered (the ordering icon does not appear in the catalog). In this case, you should check the status of the book, if it is available for borrowing home or only to use locally, it means that the book should be in the Free Access areas. You can come and use it.

Where can I find journals from a specific field of knowledge?

The Current and Archive Periodicals Reading Room on level 2 provides access to periodicals collected in accordance with the scope of disciplines represented at the University of Wrocław, with particular emphasis on the following journals: humanities, political science, law and economics, as well as national daily newspapers. They are available on the basis of free access to shelves. Archive issues and yearbooks should be ordered from the library catalogs (online or digital catalog). After using the periodicals, they should be returned to the librarian's desk. Collections available in the Reading Room can only be used locally in the Library.

I would like to look through the daily press. Where can I find it?

Daily press is available in the Current and Archive Periodicals Reading Room on level 2.

Can I borrow books via interlibrary exchange in the Library?

This service is intended for employees, PhD students and students of the University of Wrocław. The library brings publications that Wroclaw libraries do not have, mainly on topics corresponding to the scope of scientific disciplines represented at the University of Wrocław. The ordered items can only be used locally in the Main Reading Room.

Where can I check which library has the materials I am interested in?

To check in which Library a given item is located, it is best to use the National Library catalog, the catalog of collections of Polish scientific libraries such as NUKAT, or KaRo - Distributed Catalogue of Polish Libraries (Katalog Rozproszony Bibliotek Polskich). In the case of lack of books in Polish catalogs, you can also check in KVK - Karlsruher Virtueller Katalog.

Can a UWr graduate use licensed electronic resources offered by the Library?

No. Only authorized users have the right to access the licensed electronic resources of the Library: students, PhD students and employees of the University of Wrocław.

How to acquire access databases, books and journals online?

Students, PhD students and employees of the University of Wrocław can access electronic resources on computers working in the University of Wrocław's computer network. Outside the University's network, a proxy service must be used.

I have a problem with proxy configuration, what should I do?

The problem should be reported to the e-resources team at sin.bu[w]uwr.edu.pl, tel.: +48 71 375 75 18. Usually, however, the following help: retrying the configuration using a different browser; clearing cookies in the browser; restarting the browser; restarting the computer.

Can I search the online catalog for items that are also available in digital format?

Yes. Catalog contains information about books, periodicals, digital materials, and other resources available in the Library.

What is the Digital Library of University of Wroclaw?

The Digital Library contains scans of publications and documents that have passed into the public domain or are made available with the consent of the copyright owners. The resources available in the Digital Library are: manuscripts, old prints, contemporary books, scientific and historical periodicals, graphics, maps and archival documents.

How to use the Digital Library of University of Wroclaw?

The resources of the Digital Library of the University of Wrocław are available free of charge to users from all over the world. All you need is Internet access to browse and use publications. In most cases, browsing materials does not require registration. However, some specialist resources may be available only after logging in or from specific networks (e.g. internal university networks).

What is a Repository of University of Wroclaw?

It is the University's institutional repository that offers access to scientific papers, doctoral dissertations, articles, conference materials and other open access publications.

Is there a photocopying point in the Library?

The library offers the possibility of using independent, free scanning of library materials in the reading rooms on levels 2 and 3. Users also have the option of making their own paid photocopies.

Can I take photos of Library's materials?

Yes. Users have the right to take pictures of books and other library materials with their own camera free of charge, but in compliance with the following rules: 1. Materials may be photographed (copied) only in accordance with applicable law, especially copyright law, 2. Each time, materials may be photographed with the consent of the librarian on duty and without using a flash. It is not allowed to take pictures (copies) of rare items, old prints, Wratislaviana and collections in poor condition.

Do I have to leave my bag/backpack and outerwear in the cloakroom or locker?

Yes. Before using the library space, each User (except for those visiting only the Local Lending Department or those seated in the Library hall) should leave briefcases, handbags, bags, backpacks, laptop cases, etc. and outerwear in the cloakroom.

Can I bring food and drinks into the Library?

It is prohibited to bring and consume food and beverages, other than water in a small screw-top bottle, on the Library's building levels 1-3. It is strictly prohibited to bring food and beverages, including water, into the Special Collections' Reading Room.

Is there Wi-Fi in the Library?

Yes. Login details can be obtained in the reading rooms or in the Information Point and Local Lending Department.

Where is the book pick-up machine located?

The book pick-up machine is located inside the library building - service entrance for WUL's employees next to the library drop box. Please read the Rules for usage of the WUL's book pick-up machine.

Can books be returned during Library closing hours?

Books can be returned 24 hours a day using the Library's drop box. It is located inside the Library building - service entrance for WUL's employees and is available 24 hours a day, every day of the week.
Rules for using the Library's drop box and an instructional video.

How to check Impact Factor?

You can check the Impact Factor using the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) database. If you have any questions, please contact the Scientific Information Section sin.bu[w]uwr.edu.pl, phone: +48 71 3752 418.

Where to check your Hirsch index citations?

Citations and h-index can be checked in the databases: Scopus and Web of Science Core Collection.

How to automatically create a bibliography for a publication?

We suggest using a bibliography manager. Recommended bibliography managers include:

• EndNote (remote access setup required for home use)
• Mendeley (free)
• Zotero (free)

How can I create an ORCID account?

To set up an ORCID account, visit https://orcid.org/register. Brief instructions are available on the Library's website: Kurs: ORCID | E-learning Buwr (Polish version only).

What data do we qualify as research data to be collected and made available in research data repositories?

The types of data collected and shared are very different. Depending on the field of science and the research methodology adopted, these include:

• Numerical data
• Text documents, notes
• Audio and video recordings, photos
• Questionnaires, surveys, survey results
• Laboratory protocols, methodological descriptions, samples, artifacts, objects
• Content of databases (video, audio, texts, images)
• Mathematical models, algorithms
• Software (scripts, input files)
• Results of computer simulations

How should the principle “as open as possible – as closed as necessary” be interpreted with regard to research data?

In order to comply with the principle of "as open as possible - as closed as necessary", research data should be made available immediately after the project is completed or with the first dissemination of research results, e.g. during a conference, in an article or other form of publication. Opening of research data means that they are collected by repositories and made available for free to anyone interested. When some research data resources cannot be made available in an open model (e.g. due to copyright law, principles of commercialization of research results, patent proceedings), then an embargo should be imposed on such data, i.e. exclusion of data from open access for a specific period of time; so-called access "on request" is possible, i.e. based on the application and obtained consent of the author.

In what formats should research data be saved?

The formats of research data files can be of any type, but due to their universal access and openness, it is good to use formats that do not require commercial software to read the data. When planning data recording, the availability of open and closed recording formats should be taken into account:

• open formats are:
• for text files - csv, odt, ods, odp, rtf, txt, html, xml
• for graphic files – png
• for audio files – flac
• closed formats are used for:
• text files – doc, docx
• text and graphic files – pdf
• graphic files – tiff
• text files and database – xls
• for audio files – mp3

How detailed should research data metadata be?

This depends primarily on the research project manager and research team and their expectations regarding the scope of the characteristics of the research data. The issue of the level of detail of metadata should be consulted with editors and managers of the research data repository (data steward, data librarian, data curator). Basic data include: author, title, keywords, funding institution, scientific discipline, license, etc. Metadata is a tool that facilitates the identification, use and management of data, so all types of metadata should be included.

What is metadata?

Metadata is structured information used to describe information resources or information objects, providing detailed data on the attributes of resources or information objects, in order to facilitate their finding, identification, and management.
There are three main types of metadata:
Descriptive metadata - provides information necessary to find and identify a data set. They may include: title, data's author, abstract, and keywords.
Structural metadata - are used to describe relationships and dependencies between individual data sets and elements of these sets, for example, to facilitate navigation.
Administrative metadata - are helpful in managing a specific data resource. It contains information on how and when (i.e. date) the data was created, file type, and access information.

Who decides which metadata format to use?

The format of describing scientific data is not imposed from above by any specific institution. However, NCN recommends, among others, one of the popular and frequently used formats: Dublin Core (along with Data Cite and DDI). Ultimately, it is the research project manager who decides on it, together with the research team and the advisor (repository editor, data steward, data librarian).

Is the use (depositing and sharing) of the repository system on commercial terms?

The vast majority of repositories in the world do not charge users' fees. Use is based on an account set up in the system or agreements signed with the institutions where the scientists who deposit the data work.

What is the research data deposit process?

Depositing is placing sets of files containing data in a repository. The files are related – they relate to a single publication, scientific project, experiment. This connection is indicated by descriptions in metadata.

What is the FAIR principle?

These are guidelines related to the proper preparation of research data for sharing. The FAIR principle (acronym for Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable).
According to the FAIR principles, research data should be accessible to both humans and machines (computer software), i.e.:
Findable – easily searchable and found; provided with metadata (which enables finding by both humans and machines) and permanent identifiers (e.g. DOI); indexed in publicly available databases,
Accessible – available to everyone; they do not require additional tools or software, direct access to the data is provided by a unique identifier; if it is not possible to obtain the data itself, metadata should be available.
Interoperable – ata should be described in an appropriate standard and using the correct methodology (proper dictionaries); readable by humans and computers; possible to combine (exchange) with other data sets.
Reusable – made available for multiple use under an appropriate license, taking into account an embargo or grace period; metadata contain information about the author and place of creation of the data, are constructed according to generally accepted standards specific to a given discipline and type of data.
A detailed description of FAIR Data is available on the GO FAIR website.

What is opening of research data?

Opening of research data involves making them available in repositories or on other platforms for sharing the content of results, scientific work, for their reuse, free of charge, without technical and legal barriers, but subjected to the need to respect intellectual property rights. Opening of research data is a process required by institutions financing research tasks. Opening of data is also intended to support the processes of repeating research and verifying research results.

What are datasets?

Datasets are packages of research data and metadata; they contain the broadest possible spectrum of research data and information about research data. They present research data in the context of conducted research, experiments, conclusions derived from them, reports and publications.

What is a Data Management Plan?

A Data Management Plan (DMP) is a document that provides information about the plans for creating research data and how it will be managed throughout its life cycle. A research data management plan includes the following topics:

• what data will be produced or collected (file format and type, amount of data),
• how the data will be organized and described (methodology, standards, metadata),
• ethical and legal issues (intellectual property, copyright, classified data),
• how the data will be shared (how, when, to whom),
• which data will be stored long-term (the issue of how the data will be stored and protected).

The DMP document is developed in connection with a specific research project. It indicates the person responsible for managing and sharing data. The DMP is a requirement of granting institutions, including the NCN.

Who/What institutions require the development of a Data Management Plan?

A Data Management Plan is required by organizations, institutions and agencies funding scientific research, including:

• National Science Centre (Narodowe Centrum Nauki - NCN)
• Ministry of Education and Science (Ministerstwo Edukacji i Nauki - MEiN)
• Medical Research Agency (Agencja Badań Medycznych - ABM)
• European Commission (EC)

For explanations and examples of DMP documents, please refer to the Horizon Europe program websites, DMPTool, DMPonline, Digital Curation Centre.

What is anonymization in the context of research data?

Data anonymization consists in the permanent and irreversible processing/transformation of personal data in order to effectively prevent the assignment of information to a person and to eliminate links between personal data and the data subject.

What is DOI?

DOI (Digital Object Identifier) – a unique identifier for various digital objects (publications, data, websites) that are available on the Internet. DOI is assigned to individual digital objects deposited in repositories. DOI is a permanent designation of an object that is independent of its location on the network, i.e. the URL address at which such an object is currently available. DOI definitely differs from URL addresses. URL addresses can change, while DOI identifiers remain forever assigned to a digital object.

Is assigning a DOI free of charge?

Assigning a DOI identifier is free of charge from the point of view of the depositor (the person submitting data to the repository), while the repository as an organization bears the costs of purchasing a pool of DMP identifiers for the digital objects of its repository.

Are there requirements for citing research data?

Repository editors usually suggest the format for citing data and provide this information on each dataset/repository page. For example, the RepOD repository allows you to generate bibliographic data for a dataset in EndNote XML, RIS, and BibTeX formats. It is recommended that, in the case of datasets with multiple versions, you indicate in the citation which version of the dataset is being cited.

Under what legal principles are research data shared?

Following the principle that research data should be "as open as possible – as closed as necessary", it is recommended to choose one of the open Creative Commons licenses.

Who decides on the type of license under which research data are shared?

The type of license is decided by the author/holder of research data. The National Science Center obliges researchers to share data associated with scientific articles in accordance with the terms of the Creative Commons Public Domain license (CC0 license) or Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY license).

What is open science?

Open Science is a concept that encompasses various practices of sharing research results, strengthening scientific cooperation, exchanging information for the benefit of science and society, and opening up the process of creating and communicating scientific knowledge.
Open Science is also a responsibility to society, as it ensures equal, wide access to the latest, peer-reviewed knowledge.
The European Commission identifies three main pillars on which open science is based: open scientific communication, open research data and open access to publications.