Resources and Technical Services

How to ..

Scan documents or books

Free scanning at the book scanner

Scanning is available free of charge to everyone using the dedicated book scanners. You will find them in the main university building at the Library Service Center (BDZ), in units D1, U0 and V1, as well as in the Interim Building (IUB) and in the library in building X (see site maps of the departmental libraries for the exact locations). A UniCard or login is not required to use the service.

Here’s how it works:

• Switch on the scanner (on the right-hand side) if it is switched off.
• Tap the screen once briefly to deactivate the screensaver if necessary.
• Read and confirm the information on copyright and data protection by selecting "Accept".
• Place the book or document on the tray in the correct position. If it is a book, it may be advisable to tilt the tray inwards on both sides – this protects the book and helps keep the pages open.
• Select the format on the display.
• You can then start the scanning process. This can be done using the button on the display, the scan button on the device or the foot pedal under the table.
• Make sure that the red focus laser is aligned with the document to be scanned.
• To create searchable text PDFs (accessible), use the "OCR" function. This can be found in the "Transfer" section.
• Once the scan is complete, you can either send the scanned pages directly to your smartphone via Scan2Mobile or save them to a USB stick. Under "Transfer", select your preferred option and follow the instructions.
• Please note that you can scan a maximum of 100 pages at a time. For more than this, you will need to start a new scan.

Scanning at the multifunction devices

Students can use the printers in the library or in the BITS Space (B01-005) to scan documents.

This is how it works:

• Hold your UniCard up to the reader. You will be automatically logged in.
• Select "Scannen" (Scan) on the display.
• Place the document(s) on / in the scanning unit of the multifunction device.
• The scan will be automatically sent to your personal university email address. This cannot be changed. The subject and file name can be edited, and further settings can be made if required.
• Select "Scannen starten" (Start scanning) to send the documents as a PDF to your e-mail address.
• When finished, select "Abmelden" (Logout).

Save files

At the library's PC workstations, you can access the e-resources we have licensed (databases, e-journals, and e-books) and selected academic websites even with a guest account and save content to a USB drive. You'll find the guest login on the monitor of each computer.

This is how it works:

• Open the web page or PDF file in the browser and insert a USB flash drive into the USB port on the side of the screen.
• To save a web page or PDF file you have opened in the browser, click on "Datei" in the menu bar at the top left and then on "Seite speichern unter". Select your USB flash drive as the save location (usually drive D) and click "Speichern". After saving, click on the "USB flash drive icon" at the bottom right and select "[device name] sicher entfernen". You can now remove the USB flash drive.
• Other files (Word, etc.) can only be opened on the computers in the library using the personal login credentials for university members (BITS login). In this case, right-click on the link leading to the file and select "Ziel speichern unter".
• Some databases offer their own export functions. In some cases, however, not the complete texts are saved/sent, but only a link to the text. Therefore, if possible, use the function as described above.
• Alternatively, you can make a screenshot. This saves a copy of the browser window as an image file. Only the part of the page that you currently see in the browser window is saved. If the page is longer than the browser window, you may need to take multiple screenshots. To create a screenshot and save it to a USB flash drive, click the "Print" button at the top right of the keyboard and then click the "Folder" icon at the bottom of the screen (usually the second from the right). Now drag and drop the file(s) onto your USB flash drive.

If you have any questions, please contact the staff at the Service Desk in the Library Service Center.

Print

Cost-free printing service for students

Bielefeld University students can create print jobs at all public PC workstations in the library and print them out free of charge. Printing is only possible in black and white on DIN A4 paper. This service is not available to non-students – please use the scanners, for example.

This is how it works:

• Log in at any PC workstation in the library with your BITS-Login name and BITS-Password.
• Select the document to be printed and press the key combination Ctrl+P.
• Select the printer “studiprint” in the print menu and send the print job.
• Go to one of the printers and hold your UniCard up to the reader. The printers can be found in the library in the Library Service Center (BDZ) and the units D1 and V1, as well as in the library in Building X (see site maps of the departmental libraries for the exact locations) or in the BITS Space (B01-005).
• You will be automatically logged in. The print jobs will be displayed. The printout can now be started.

After printing, the print job is deleted immediately. Each print job can therefore only be printed once. Unfinished print jobs are automatically deleted after 2 hours.

You can only print up to 200 pages per day.

Explanation of page limit

For sustainability reasons, the limit is intended to reduce paper and toner consumption, which is caused by large print jobs with many pages. Very large print jobs also block the devices for a very long time and lead to waiting times. This procedure is initially being trialled to determine whether this will be the final solution for limiting.

Notification if the limit is exceeded
If the daily limit is exceeded when a print job is sent, a pop-up notification is displayed on the Windows PC. In addition, the PaperCut printing system sends an e-mail to the university e-mail address.

Explanation: Daily limit ≠ 200 sheets of paper
The daily quota is 200 pages per person. For the system, this means 200 printed pages, but these may not be equal to the sheets of paper used.
Example:
If the "double-sided" option (recommended setting) is used for a print job of 10 pages, these are printed on 5 sheets of paper. However, 10 pages will then be deducted from the daily quota.

Printing larger scale (A3) / in colour / large amounts / bind or laminate / for External Users

If you would like to print in larger scale (DIN A3), in colour, or particularly large amounts and/or would like to bind or laminate printed materials, the "Zentrale Vervielfältigungsstelle" (ZV) offers the appropriate options.

This service is also available to people who do not study at Bielefeld University.

You can either bring the file(s) on a USB flash drive to the ZV and have them printed on site, or send them in advance to zvstelle@uni-bielefeld.de. Please specify the desired paper format in the email and whether you would like a colour or black-and-white printout.

Prices are available on site.

Printing at the workplace / from mobile devices

Employees of the Central Administration or the Faculty of Medicine can print from their workstation or mobile devices (smartphone, tablet) with the support of the print management software "PaperCut". You can find further information and installation instructions on the BITS website.

Copying

Copying is no longer possible at the University.

View microforms

Microforms can be viewed and scanned free of charge at the Library Service Center using specialised equipment and saved as PDF files onto a USB stick. Staff at the service desk in the Library Service Center will be happy to provide you with support to use this equipment.

Here’s how it works:

• Switch on the scanner and insert the microform.
• Launch the programme on the desktop.
• Click "Start".
• Format: Select the type of microform (e.g., 35 mm fiche/film…) and click "Autofokus".
• Draw the frame: either automatically or by clicking the mouse.
• Click "Warenkorb" to save the currently framed page there.
• Click the "Live" camera icon to scan further pages.
• You can save under "Ausgabe". There are three different ways to save:
  • Plug the USB flash drive directly into the PC.
  • Select "alle speichern" in the lower-right corner.
  • Click "Suchen" and select the USB flash drive.
  • Give the file the desired name. The file name must not contain any special characters.
  • Save the file.
• Finally, click "Sitzungsende".

Use the SMART Board

In order to offer student learning groups a modern media-supported presentation, learning and working environment, we have equipped various discussion rooms with SMART Boards.

We offer two types of SMART Board (the room numbers are given in the respective instructions):

• The SMART Board 7000/R (White) is an interactive whiteboard with an Android interface. The device can be operated directly from the screen, and digital content can be written on at the same time with the appropriate pens.
  Manual for SMART Board 7000/R (PDF, in German only)
• The SMART Board 8000i-G4 (Black) is a combination of an electronic whiteboard and a computer desktop. It can be operated directly from the screen, and digital content can be written on simultaneously with the appropriate pens.
  Manual for SMART Board 8000i-G4 (PDF, in German only)

Get an assigned desk (Tisch-Apparat)

If you are working on your bachelor's, master's, or doctoral thesis, you can have an assigned desk (called a "Tisch-Apparat") set up in most departmental libraries. To do this, you will need a certificate from your lecturer or the examinations office to present to your departmental library. You can find the template for the certificate online or get it from your departmental library. You can compile a maximum of 20 titles at a specific desk in your departmental library for a limited period of time.

Students with disabilities (GdB of at least 50) may also have a desk-mounted phone with a desk-mounted cradle installed. No additional documentation is required beyond the disability ID card.

The titles you compile as a "Tisch-Apparat" are usually not available for loan during this time. The books can be viewed and scanned by others at any time.

The following items are not permitted:

• issues of periodicals
• current volumes of periodicals
• reference works such as dictionaries or specialist encyclopaedias
• items from special collections, such as test procedures or old stock

In all departmental libraries it is possible to borrow a lockable mobile filing pedestal (regulations, in German).

To ensure a smooth process, please make an appointment with your contact person in advance. Bring the following with you to the appointment:

• the books you want to borrow
• your UniCard
• the completed and signed certificate

Please contact your departmental library for details.

Use Wi-Fi

Eduroam is an international university initiative that enables students and academics to use Wi-Fi easily and free of charge at all participating universities worldwide.

Students and staff of Bielefeld University and Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences (HSBI) can access the university's and HSBI's IT services and the Internet via "eduroam". You will need a BITS account. The Wi-Fi is available in all areas of the university. Eduroam can also be used in some parts outside Bielefeld University ("eduroam off campus"). The exact locations in Bielefeld can be found on the BI-free and Eduroam map.

Scientists and students of other universities can use the Wi-Fi of their home university at Bielefeld University via eduroam and access licensed services of their home university/home library. The prerequisite is that the respective home university offers eduroam. Scientists and students from other universities cannot use the licensed services of Bielefeld University Library via eduroam – however, this is possible at the PC workstations in the library.

There is also a special guest access for day visitors.

Further information/instructions about using the Wi-Fi on the BITS website

People who are not members of the university can also use the Wi-Fi: In the university - and thus in the library rooms - the free Wi-Fi BI-free of the city of Bielefeld is also available. In cooperation with BITel, it is distributed via the university's access points. Connections to BI-free are automatically disconnected after one hour, but you can reconnect afterwards.

Free Wi-Fi in Bielefeld (in German only)