An acquisition profile is a strategic concept that defines which media, subject areas, languages, and publication formats a library specifically collects. It serves to ensure quality, provide transparency for users and funding agencies, and facilitate efficient collection development.

You can download the acquisition profile of the Pforzheim University Library here: Acquisition Profile HS PF.

Students can submit their purchase requests (books and eBooks) to us using the DESI online form. Here you will find instructions on how to use the form.
The purchase requests are carefully reviewed by library staff and, taking into account the →acquisition profile and available funding, are issued as often as possible as official notifications. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact bibliothek(at)hs-pforzheim(dot)de (Library of Technology, Business, and Law) or gestaltung.bibliothek(at)hs-pforzheim(dot)de (Library of Design).

Faculty, researchers, and staff can submit their orders (books and eBooks) to us via the DESI online form. Please refer to the section “Important Notes for Faculty and Staff” in the instructions for using the online form.
Please continue to order journals and other media by email to bibliothek(at)hs-pforzheim(dot)de (Library of Technology, Business, and Law) or gestaltung.bibliothek(at)hs-pforzheim(dot)de (Library of Design).

Note: Delivery times vary greatly depending on the publisher, supplier, or country of origin of the items, but are rarely less than 7 business days.

See →Email

The call number is a unique identifier for a physical item, enabling it to be located on the shelf.

Library of Design:  It consists of the subject area as a letter abbreviation, the subtopic as a Roman numeral, and a sequential number. Example: KSO II 133.

Library of Technology, Economics and Law: Consists of the subject area in the form of an abbreviation and a serial number.

Example: wirt 5.85 2025 129(4)

All registered users may borrow materials.

University members can check out physical media at the →self-service checkout.

External users can only borrow items at the service desk. To do so, you must present an ID card or a →library card.

Important: Please note our →loan periods.

The university library’s website features two catalogs:

1. The online catalog searches for books and eBooks in the university library’s collection. It also allows you to request →theses, place holds on items already checked out, and place orders via the inter-library loans service. Course reserves can also be found here. You can also access your →user account through the catalog.
    
2. The Catalog Plus searches for books and articles in the university library’s collection and in several →databases.

If you prefer, you are welcome to store your bags in the lockers in the library foyer.

You will find seven lockers available in the Design Library.

In the Library of Technology, Business, and Law, you’ll find daily lockers in the foyer and some bag racks in the entrance area across from the service desk.

Please always take your valuables with you. The library assumes no liability for items left in the coat check.

The Design Library has two computer workstations and two computers for catalog searches.

The Technology, Business, and Law Library does not have any computer workstations. Three computers for catalog searches are available to all users in front of the service desk

Email
contact for the Library of Technology, Business, and Law: bibliothek(at)hs-pforzheim(dot)de
Library Design: gestaltung.bibliothek(at)hs-pforzheim(dot)de

Mailing Address
for the Library of Technology, Business, and Law: Library, Tiefenbronner Straße 65, 75175 Pforzheim
Library Design: Library Design, Holzgartenstraße 36, 75175 Pforzheim

Visiting address
for the Library of Technology, Business, and Law: Tiefenbronner Straße 65, 75175 Pforzheim
; Library of Design: Holzgartenstraße 36, 75175 Pforzheim, 1st floor

Phone
number for the Library of Technology, Business, and Law: +49 7231 28 6234
; Library of Design: +49 7231 28 6731

When using the library's collections and digital services, the Copyright Act—in particular Sections 53 and 60—must be observed.

Guidance from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research: Copyright in academic work.

A course reserve is a thematically organized collection of literature and materials related to a course that is made available for consultation for the duration of the semester. Items from a course reserve cannot be checked out.

In the Library of Technology, Business, and Law, the course reserves are located behind the periodicals shelf on the 3rd level.

The media in the university library belong to the public! To ensure that all our users can enjoy using well-preserved media, library materials must be handled with care.

Please check the item you wish to borrow for damage before checking it out and report any damage to the service desk if necessary. This will help you avoid unwanted costs should we need to replace the item.

The University Library offers all registered users free access to numerous databases covering various academic disciplines.

We have compiled a list of the most frequently used databases for you, organized by school.

You can view the full list here. 

See →Publishing (Electronic Publishing)

As a general rule, the university library does not accept donations or gifts of media.
In exceptional cases and after prior consultation with the library administration, gifts and donations may be accepted. Media that are already in our collection or that cannot be added to the collection for other reasons are made available to our students to take home free of charge.

The university library sends notifications, such as those regarding subject-specific information, loan expiration dates, overdue notices for reminder levels 1–3, items ready for pickup, pickup notifications, etc.. For university members, only email addresses from the @hs-pforzheim.de and @lb.hs-pforzheim.de domains are used.
External users must provide a valid email address when registering and are responsible for keeping it up to date.
Important: Failure to receive email notifications does not constitute grounds for the cancellation and/or refund of overdue fees.

In the ‘Events’ section, you will find not only →guided tours and training sessions but also other events organised or hosted by the library, such as (book) exhibitions, coffee lectures, talks, etc.
In addition, this section also lists events organised by external providers or institutions that may be of interest to researchers, lecturers and students.

Our users' feedback is important to us! We welcome praise, criticism, or suggestions, which you can send us at any time using the following anonymous form:

• School of Design
• School of Engineering and Technology, Business, and Law

Of course, you can also speak with us directly at the service desk or send an email to bibliothek(at)hs-pforzheim(dot)de (School of Engineering and Technology) or to gestaltung.bibliothek(at)hs-pforzheim(dot)de (School of Design).

See →Library Bylaws

Out of consideration for other users and the library’s collections, eating and drinking are not permitted on the university library premises. Only water in tightly sealable bottles is permitted as a beverage.

In the Library of Technology, Business, and Law, eating is permitted only in designated areas.

In the Library of Technology, Business, and Law, our “Rotunde” group study room is available to students. The study room is suitable for groups of 2 to 10 people and is equipped with a screen and a flip chart for collaborative work. For an introduction to using the equipment, please check in at the →service desk.

The reservation of a workplace is possible:
- only for users with an library account of Hochschule Pforzheim
- 4 days in advance until the morning of the reservation day, 7 am.
In the reservation calendar, select the day you want and click on the entry. Fill in the fields and send the reservation.
After 7 a.m. reservations for the same day can only be made by calling 07231 28 6234.

After your successful reservation, you will receive a confirmation e-mail.
If you do not need your workplace anymore, please cancel it. You will find the cancellation link in your confirmation e-mail

The room must be reserved during the lecture period. Reservations can be made starting 7 days in advance and up until 11:59 p.m. the day before. If you are unable to use your reservation, please remember to cancel it.

You can find all the information and the reservation calendar here.

External users may access the print collection on the library premises free of charge. Borrowing and the use of other services are only available after prior registration. An annual fee of 20 euros is charged for this. The library account is valid for 12 months and can be renewed by paying the annual fee again. Use of the library is free for students at other German universities, high school students, and recipients of social assistance or unemployment benefits.

To register, we require a valid photo ID with your current registered address as well as your email address. Please notify us of any changes to your information as soon as possible. Proof of eligibility is required for an exemption from the annual fee. Please bring this proof with you when you register.

Important: Minors must provide a written consent form signed by a parent or legal guardian. Please send the completed and signed consent form to gestaltung.bibliothek(at)hs-pforzheim(dot)de (Design Library) or to bibliothek(at)hs-pforzheim(dot)de (Technology, Business, and Law Library).

General library induction sessions, as well as research and database training courses, are offered on a regular basis. The dates are announced here.

Lecturers who wish to incorporate library induction sessions into their courses may contact Cristina Bacanu (Design Library) or bibliotheksleitung@hs-pforzheim.de (Technology, Business and Law Library) at any time.

The inter-library loans service allows you to access materials that the university library does not hold. This means you can order a printed book or an article from another library through the inter-library loans service. However, not all types of materials can be ordered through the inter-library loans service, such as loose-leaf collections or electronic resources.

Important: There is a fee of 3 EUR per interlibrary loan request for university members and 5 EUR for guests. The university library covers the costs of interlibrary loan requests for official purposes (staff/faculty).

You can find more information on this topic here.

For students, faculty, and staff, see →University ID Card.

External users can obtain a library card after registering in person at the →service desk. The card is valid for 12 months and can be renewed. Students from other German universities can apply for a library card free of charge.
External users who are not enrolled as students may use the print collection on-site. Borrowing and use of other services are only available upon payment of an annual fee of 20 euros.

External users cannot use our self-checkout machines. To borrow materials, you must present your library card or a valid ID card at the service desk. Further information can be found here.

Important: A valid email address is required for registration.

The Library of Things (BiDi) supplements the library’s offerings with a wide variety of useful items that can be helpful in everyday student life. Here, you can borrow practical items ranging from calculators and USB adapters to games.

With this service, we want to help you if you’ve ever forgotten something, but above all, we aim to promote sustainability and shared use: Instead of buying items you only need occasionally, you can simply and easily borrow them from us.

Here’s how it works:

• Just stop by and browse
• Borrow items as usual with your student ID at the lending counter
• Use, try out, discover—and then return them to the lending desk

Your opinion matters—submit anonymous feedback on the Library of Things now: https://forms.office.com/e/Wd9L6gNw3S.

The list of available items can be found in our catalog under the “Library of Things” tab. 

The Pforzheim University Library Regulations consist of two parts: the User Regulations and the Fee Regulations. The User Regulations govern the responsibilities of the university library as well as the rights and obligations of users. Among other things, the User Regulations cover opening hours, admission to use, borrowing procedures, etc.
The Fee Regulations govern the amounts and conditions of fees charged for certain services provided by the university library, such as late fees, interlibrary loan fees, replacement costs, etc.

By entering the university library’s premises or using its online services, users acknowledge the library regulations (§ 3, para. 1 of the User Regulations).

The Library Regulations can be downloaded here.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the library administration at any time.

During service hours (see →Opening Hours), there are always qualified staff on hand to assist you with any queries you may have regarding the use of the library.

Whether you wish to return items, register, collect reserved items or borrow items such as storage media, calculators or extension leads, the team at the service desk will be happy to help.

See → cloakroom.

The loan period for eligible items is:

• 30 days for standard loans
• 70 days for students in the School of Engineering and Technology, Business, and Law who have registered a thesis with the Registrar’s Office
• 7 days for final theses from the School of Engineering and Technology, Business School, and Law
• 1 to 3 days for the Library of Things

Items that cannot be checked out include newspapers, journals, and other particularly relevant literature. In most cases, these items are marked with a red dot.

If there are no holds on an item, the loan period can be extended (→renewal)

If you have lost an item you have borrowed, please contact the library immediately. We will then assess how the item needs to be replaced.

Please note: Items that are not returned within 10 calendar days of the fourth reminder will be considered lost. The cost of replacing the item will be charged to the user (see Library Regulations, Fees Regulations §5).

Items left behind in the university library will be held at the service desk for 3 months. Please get in touch with us if you are missing anything!

If you are a student in the Business School or the School of Engineering and Technology and are currently working on your thesis, the library’s media storage service is available to you. This service allows you to safely store media at the library if you plan to work there regularly.

Please note the following:

• Please send an informal confirmation from your supervisor stating that you are working on your thesis to bibliothek(at)hs-pforzheim(dot)de
• Registration with the Registrar’s Office is not required
• Lockers can only be reserved for six months at a time
• A one-time six-month extension is possible without providing proof
• You must check out media items through your library account. The standard loan conditions apply (→Loan Periods). Please remember to return or renew the items on time.
• Items that cannot be checked out may not be stored in the locker
• Bound theses may be stored for a maximum of 7 days
• The locker is not freely accessible; please check in at the circulation desk
• After 6 months, the course will be cleared out

On this page, you'll find the latest announcements and news from the university library. Last-minute changes to →opening hours and notices regarding service restrictions are also posted here.

See →Publishing (Electronic Publishing)

The university library is open as follows:

You will find the following equipment in the university library:

1. Multifunction printer (Library of Technology, Business, and Law, Level 3)
2. Multifunction device (Library of Design, reading room)
3. Book scanner up to DIN A2 (Library of Design, Reading Room)
4. Book scanner (up to DIN A3) (Library of Design, Reading Room)

Members of the Pforzheim University community have several options for publishing their research findings electronically:

1. OPUS HS PF
Both theses and scholarly publications (articles, monographs) can be published on the university’s publication server. These can be made available either exclusively on the university’s intranet or also on the Internet.
Important: Approval from both advisors is required for the publication of theses.

2. DEAL
Eligible authors can publish in all hybrid journals from the publishers Elsevier, Springer Nature, and Wiley at no additional cost.
For publications in Gold Open Access journals from these publishers, eligible authors pay the list price of the Article Processing Charge (APC) minus a 20% discount. APC fees are billed centrally and allocated to the author’s cost center or the project’s cost center.

3. Publish & Read
Eligible authors can publish in all hybrid journals from Emerald, Sage, and Taylor & Francis at no additional cost.
For publications in Gold Open Access journals from these publishers, eligible authors pay the list price of the APC minus a discount of 15% or 20%, depending on the publisher. Here, too, the APCs are billed centrally and allocated to the author’s or the project’s cost center.

Further information on open access publishing at HS PF and the transformation agreements can be found here.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Students can submit their purchase requests (books and eBooks) to us using the DESI online form. Here you will find instructions on how to use the form.
The purchase requests are carefully reviewed by library staff and, taking into account the →acquisition profile and available funding, are issued as often as possible as official notifications. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact bibliothek(at)hs-pforzheim(dot)de (Library of Technology, Business, and Law) or gestaltung.bibliothek(at)hs-pforzheim(dot)de (Library of Design).

Faculty, researchers, and staff can submit their orders (books and eBooks) to us via the DESI online form. Please refer to the section “Important Notes for Faculty and Staff” in the instructions for using the online form.
Please continue to order journals and other media by email to bibliothek(at)hs-pforzheim(dot)de (Library of Technology, Business, and Law) or gestaltung.bibliothek(at)hs-pforzheim(dot)de (Library of Design).

Note: Delivery times vary greatly depending on the publisher, supplier, or country of origin of the items, but are rarely less than 7 business days.

Students at Pforzheim University are automatically registered with the university library. Professors and staff members must register at the →service desk during their first visit. The →university ID card serves as a library card.
For external users, see →Guests.
All user groups have access to their own →user account.

The university library sends automatic email notifications 7 days before the due date.

Important: Please note that the reminder email is an additional service. Loan periods must be observed regardless of whether the reminder email is delivered. Failure to receive the reminder email does not constitute grounds for waiving overdue fines.

See →VPN

You can easily renew your borrowed items—provided they are not on hold—through your →user account. Alternatively, you can renew them at the service desk, at the self-checkout kiosk, or by phone or email.

The loan period can be extended as follows:

Design Department

under construction

Technology, Business & Law Department

Borrowed items must be returned at the service desk during opening hours. They will be checked out immediately.

Outside opening hours, the return box is available. This is located to the right of the library entrance.
Important: The return box is not emptied until the next working day, at which point the returned items are checked out.

Library users can reserve items that have already been borrowed via the →catalogue. As soon as the item you have reserved is returned and ready for collection, you will receive a collection notification by email. You can also check whether the book is ready for collection in your →user account under ‘View or delete reservations’.
The reserved item must be collected from the circulation desk at the specified branch within seven calendar days. Detailed information on reservations can be found here.

Note for library staff: A reservation cannot be made at the copy level, but only at the title level.

A self-service checkout is available in the Library of Design. Here, you can borrow, return and renew items yourself at any time during opening hours, and view your account. To do this, place your ID card on the card reader; your account will then open and you can simply place the items (max. 5 items at a time) in the centre of the table. As soon as green ticks appear on the display, the items have been checked out. Please then close the account by pressing the green ‘End’ button.

A self-service checkout is available in the Library of Technology, Business and Law. Here, you can borrow and renew items yourself at any time during opening hours and view your account. To do this, place your ID card on the card reader; your account will then open and you can simply place the items (max. 5 items at a time) in the centre of the table. As soon as green ticks appear on the display, the items have been processed. Please then close the account by pressing the green ‘End’ button.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

The university ID card serves as a library card for members of Pforzheim University. It allows you to borrow and return materials on your own using our self-checkout system (self-return of materials is only available at the Design Library). 

Find out everything you can do with your university ID card here.

See →Library Bylaws.

Submission of a thesis is mandatory for students at Pforzheim University. These theses are collected at the university library. The theses can be found in our →catalog.

• Printed theses are not available in the open-stack section and must be requested via the catalog.
  School of Design: Theses cannot be checked out and may only be viewed within the library.
  School of Engineering and Technology, Business School, and Law: Theses may be borrowed for 7 calendar days. Renewals are not permitted.
   
• Electronic theses can be sent to you as PDF files via email. To receive them, you must order the desired thesis through the catalog.

How to order theses: see →Reservations.

Every registered user has access to their own user account. The account allows users to view the →loan periods for borrowed items and renew them if necessary. Existing →reservation requests are listed and can be deleted if they are no longer needed. You can also view notifications and your current account balance.

To log in to your user account, you’ll need your university ID number and your password. The ID number looks like this:

• Students: three zeros + Student ID number + one zero (example: 0002928270)
• Faculty and staff: the ten-digit number on your university ID card (example: 0000001110)
• External users: a capital G followed by the nine-digit number on your library card (example: G123456789)

If you did not actively change your password during your first login, the default password (date of birth in the format DD.MM.YYYY) remains valid.

Important: For security reasons, we strongly recommend that you change the default password after your first login.

To access the university library’s digital resources from home, you must first establish a VPN connection; you can then access the resources via your browser as usual.

Instructions on how to set up the VPN can be found on the intranet (for staff) or on E-Campus (for students). Please note that setting up multi-factor authentication is required for the VPN connection. If you need assistance, please contact Campus IT.

Important: Guests can only access electronic resources whilst in the library.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

There are various Wi-Fi networks at Pforzheim University:

hsx: This is the main network for members of the university community. Authentication takes place directly via the Wi-Fi network, so no VPN connection is required.

Eduroam: The network run by the Education Roaming initiative enables members of participating institutions to access the internet. Students and staff at Pforzheim University can therefore also log in to the eduroam network at other institutions – for example, at the University of Karlsruhe or the University of Stuttgart.

Further information on the Wi-Fi networks can be found on the intranet (for staff) or on e-Campus (for students)

Please remember: Before you leave the university, return any borrowed materials and settle any outstanding fees, if applicable.