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About us

The University Library caters for the literature and information needs of the European University Viadrina. It is funded by the university, sponsors and donations. It also acts as a general academic library, serving both the city of Frankfurt (Oder) and the surrounding areas.

The library is organised as a single-tier system in accordance with Section 77 of the Brandenburg Universities Act. It comprises a central library holding the entire stock, with a few exceptions, which are arranged systematically and are for the most part freely accessible.

The library provides services for the approximately 60-strong teaching staff at the university as well as around 5,000 students. Conventional media holdings comprising 571,819 volumes and 1,016 current periodicals are available to meet the needs of research and teaching at the university. 

The university’s specialised profile presents the library with specific challenges. In recognition of its European focus in teaching and research, the European University Viadrina was granted the status of a European Documentation Centre (EDC) by the European Union. The EDC is managed by the University Library. In addition, the Viadrina University Library is collaborating with the University Library in Poznan to expand the library of the Collegium Polonicum located in the neighbouring town of Slubice as part of the joint German-Polish project of the same name. Both university libraries organise numerous joint cross-border projects and regular events.

Library operations are largely automated and based on the SISIS - SunRise integrated library system. The Acquisition, Cataloguing, Online User Catalogue (OPAC) and Loans modules are in use. The database covers the entire stock of media. The full information about each item, from acquisition to loan status, can be accessed via the database. The library system is integrated into the university’s in-house network so that the library catalogue (OPAC) can also be accessed from outside the library. The University Library is an active member of the Cooperative Library Network Berlin-Brandenburg and the OPAC is also integrated into this regional bibliographical and search system.

Extensive alterations to the main university building have provided the extra space needed by the library which now has 408 study places, 70 network computers with access for internet searches and one computer workstation for visually impaired users.