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Library Card / UniCard

The UniCard is also your library card and allows you to borrow media from the University Library and to place interlibrary loan requests. The UniCard is a multifunctional, electronically readable ID card in credit card format. Please always bring your UniCard with you to the library.

How do I get my UniCard?

To obtain your UniCard(student ID card), the following steps are required:

  1. Log in to PRISMA with your web password. You received information about your login in the"First steps" email.

  2. Click on the "UniCard" tab and upload a current photo in passport photo format in which you are clearly recognisable.

  3. You then agree to the regulations for using the UniCard.

  4. Your UniCard will now be produced for you and can be collected in person from the Infopunkt in the Student Service Centre.

  5. Once you have collected your card, you will need to validate it (the current semester date will be printed on it), e.g. using the machine next to the Info Point.

Students with disabilities (GdB at least 50 %) can apply for special borrowing conditions by presenting their disabled pass at the Service Desk in the Library Service Center.

The following steps are required to obtain your UniCard(library card):

  1. Log in to PRISMA with your web password. You received information about your login in the"First steps" email.

  2. Click on the "UniCard" tab and upload a current photo in passport photo format in which you are clearly recognisable.

  3. You then agree to the regulations for using the UniCard.

  4. Your UniCard will now be produced for you and can be collected in person from the Infopunkt in the Student Service Centre.

  5. Once you have collected your card, you will need to validate it (the current semester date will be printed on it), e.g. using the machine next to the Info Point.

Students with disabilities (GdB at least 50 %) can apply for special borrowing conditions by presenting their disabled pass at the Service Desk in the Library Service Center.

New to the university?

As a newly appointed professor, you can apply for and use the UniCard as soon as your appointment has been accepted.
Please carry out the following steps:

  1. Log in to the self-service of the PRISMA identity management system.
  2. Click on the "UniCard" tab and upload a current photo in passport format. You then agree to the regulations for using the UniCard.
  3. As soon as the photo has been uploaded and you have agreed to the terms of use, your UniCard can be produced. After 2 working days, the UniCard can be collected in person from the InfoPoint; please have a valid official photo ID (identity card or passport) to hand.
    If required, employees can obtain a protective cover for their card.
  4. Now use the validation stations at the info point to apply a current validity period to the card.

Professors and academic staff who are in possession of a UniCard can grant permanent authorization to up to 3 persons (e.g. assistants or secretarial staff) to borrow media from the library on their behalf. Further information can be obtained from the Service Desk in the Library Service Center.

Have you been working at the university for a while?

You do not yet have a UniCard(ID card), but would like to get one now.

  1. Log in to the self-service of the PRISMA identity management system. (If you do not have your login details to hand, you can request a new password via the "Forgotten password" link on the PRISMA login page).
  2. Click on the "UniCard" tab and upload a current photo in passport format. You then agree to the regulations for using the UniCard.
  3. As soon as the photo has been uploaded and you have agreed to the terms of use, your UniCard can be produced. If required, employees can receive a picture-covering protective sleeve for their card.
  4. Now use the validation stations at the info point to apply a current validity period to the card.

New to the university?

As a new employee, you can apply for and use the UniCard (service card) 2 weeks before the start of your contract.
Please follow the steps below:

  1. Log in to the self-service of the PRISMA identity management system.
  2. Click on the "UniCard" tab and upload a current photo in passport format. You then agree to the regulations for using the UniCard.
  3. As soon as the photo has been uploaded and you have agreed to the terms of use, your UniCard can be produced. After 2 working days, the UniCard can be collected in person from the InfoPoint; please have a valid official photo ID (identity card or passport) to hand.
    If required, employees can obtain a protective cover for their card.
  4. Now use the validation stations at the info point to apply a current validity period to the card.

Professors and academic staff who are in possession of a UniCard can grant permanent authorization to up to 3 persons (e.g. assistants or secretarial staff) to borrow media from the library on their behalf. Further information can be obtained from the Service Desk in the Library Service Center.

As a visiting scholar, you can apply for and use the UniCard two weeks before the start of your contract.

The prerequisite for this is registration by faculties and institutions via the guest researcher contract (duration up to six months).

How to obtain the UniCard:

  1. Log in to the self-service of the PRISMA identity management system.
  2. Click on the "UniCard" tab and upload a current photo in passport format. You then agree to the regulations for using the UniCard.
  3. As soon as you have uploaded your photo and agreed to the terms of use, your UniCard can be produced as a guest researcher ID card and collected from the InfoPunkt or the Library Service Centre (BDZ); please have a valid official photo ID (ID card or passport) ready.
    If required, employees can obtain a protective cover for their card.
  4. Now use the validation stations at the info point to apply a current validity period to the card.

The following steps are required to obtain your UniCard(library card):

  1. Log in to the self-service of the PRISMA identity management system.
  2. Click on the "UniCard" tab and upload a current photo in passport format.
  3. You then agree to the regulations for using the UniCard.
  4. You can collect your personal UniCard from the InfoPoint in the central university hall from the day after next. Please bring your identity card (or passport) with you.

The medical staff of the UK OWL includes only those employees of the supporting institutions of the UK OWL who have been previously authorized by the Faculty of Medicine and are listed by name in the PEVZ of Bielefeld University.

When providing library services for medical employees of the UK OWL, a distinction is made between two service groups with access to different service portfolios (service portfolio 1 and 2). Please refer to our subject portal medicine.

How do I get my UniCard (Library Card)? Weitere Informationen

Log in to the PRISMA portal. Your PRISMA access data should have been sent to you by e-mail as part of the Faculty of Medicine's onboarding process. If you have not received any PRISMA access data, please contact BITS support.

Click on the "UniCard" tab in PRISMA and upload a current photo in passport photo format. We also recommend that you enter your current address. Then agree to the terms of use.

You can now have your UniCard issued on site at the Library Services Center (BDZ). Please bring your identity card or passport with a current registration certificate.

The UniCard is free of charge and valid during your time at the UK OWL. If you would like to continue using your UniCard after your employment at the UK OWL has ended, please contact the BDZ.

Medical employees of the UK OWL who are in possession of a UniCard and are entitled to service portfolio 1 can grant up to 3 persons (e.g. assistants or secretarial staff) a permanent authorization to borrow media from the library on their behalf. Further information is available at the BDZ service desk.

How do I get my UniCard (Library Card)? Further information

Apply for a UniCard online (note the information on the right-hand side first)

To apply for your ID card, you need a recent digital photo in passport photo format. You can upload this during self-registration by clicking on the "pen" icon.

The issuing of the ID card costs 10 Euros. You will receive information on how to transfer the amount at the end of the self-registration process.

As soon as we have received the amount, we will issue your UniCard. You will then be informed by e-mail that you can collect the card. Bring your identity card or passport with a current certificate of registration to the collection.

If you already had a UniCard as a student, employee or external user, please inquire in advance at the Service Desk in the Library Service Center by phone (+49 521 106-4036) or e-mail to zl.ub@uni-bielefeld.de whether you need to apply for a new UniCard.

Minor users need a declaration of consent (PDF) signed by their parents or legal representation)

Use of the UniCard

Please note the following regulations regarding the UniCard:

  • The UniCard is personal and may not be passed on to third parties.
  • If the UniCard is lost, the card must be blocked immediately via the IDM SelfService or this must be reported immediately in person at the service desk of the Library Service Centre on presentation of a photo ID.
  • The UniCard must be treated with care and used only for the functions specified.

These regulations are only an excerpt from the terms of use; the complete regulations for using the UniCard can be found here.

What to do in case of …?

Loss of UniCard

If you have lost your UniCard, you should block the card so that nobody can use it. The following steps are required to block the UniCard:

  1. Log in to PRISMA
  2. Select the "UniCard" tab (click on the green square)
  3. In the section "Sperren der UniCard" select at "Schritt 1" the item "Karte verloren / Card lost" and click on the button "UniCard sperren"

You can also have a card blocked in person at the Service Desk in the Library Service Center.

Blocked cards cannot be unblocked again.

You can obtain your new UniCard at the Service Desk in the Library Service Center, too. Please bring your identity card or passport with you.

The replacement fee for lost UniCard for students is 10 Euros. The replacement for employees is free of charge.

If there is still a balance on the lost UniCard, you will receive a payout receipt for the Studierendenwerk.

Defective UniCard

If your UniCard no longer works, you can get a new card free of charge at the Service Desk in the Library Service Center or at the info point of the Student Service Centre in the university main hall.

Please bring the defective card with you.

If there is still a credit balance on the defective UniCard, you will receive a payment receipt for the Studierendenwerk.

Change of address

Please report your change of address immediately for your own good. Students inform the Student Office about their new address, employees the personnel department of the University, external users the Service Desk in the Library Service Center.

Maintaining your personal data (password, e-mail address, call name)

You can only manage your personal data in the PRISMA portal. Here you can change the desired email address for communication with
the library or the web password that you need to log in to your loan account. For students and employees of Bielefeld University, the web password is also used for other services (e.g. the eKVV).

Changing the call name

In the course of the first issue of a UniCard (for first-time students), it is sufficient to state the desired name and to acknowledge and confirm the risk information and the exemption from liability by actively ticking the corresponding box on the PRISMA page for the UniCard application. The UniCard (student ID card) is issued free of charge. To the detailed BITS instructions

If you enter/change your first name (e.g. you already have a UniCard issued in your official first name), there are also no costs. Once you have entered your first name and acknowledged and confirmed the risk and liability information in PRISMA, visit the Infopunkt in the Student Service Centre and display your change request there in person. You will then receive information on the further procedure at the Info Point.

All further changes to your first name (or return to your official first name) will incur a fee of €10.00 (administration fee). To obtain a UniCard and pay the administration fee, please contact the service desk in the Library Service Centre.

In general, no further documents or proof (e.g. DGTI supplementary card) are required for the application for a call name.

If you are applying for a UniCard for the first time (when taking up employment at Bielefeld University for the first time), it is sufficient to state the desired name and to acknowledge and confirm the risk information and the exemption from liability by actively ticking the corresponding box on the PRISMA page for the UniCard application. → More information

For a subsequent change of first name/name (e.g. you already have a UniCard issued in your official first name), go to the InfoPoint in the Student Service Centre after entering a name and acknowledging and confirming the risk and liability information in PRISMA and display the change request there in person.

The UniCard is generally free of charge for employees.

In general, no further documents or proof (e.g. DGTI supplementary ID card) are required for the application to specify a call sign. Even if the UniCard is only used by employees within the university and is not used, for example, for participation in public transport, confirmation of the risk information and the disclaimer is also required for the issue of a UniCard with a call name.

When entering a first name when the UniCard (library card) is first issued, it is sufficient to enter the desired first name and to acknowledge and confirm the risk information and exemption from liability by actively ticking the corresponding box on the PRISMA page for the UniCard application.

If you wish to enter/change your first name at a later date (e.g. you already have a UniCard issued in your official first name), please go to the service desk in the Library Services Centre after entering your first name and acknowledging and confirming the risk and liability information in PRISMA and display the change request there in person.

External library users must pay a fee of €10.00 (administration fee) at the service desk in the library service centre for all further changes to the call name (or return to the official first name), as was the case for the initial issue.

In general, no further documents or proof (e.g. DGTI supplementary ID card) are required for the application for a first name. Even if the UniCard is only used internally by external users of the University Library and cannot be used, for example, to use public transport, confirmation of the risk information and disclaimer is also required for the issue of a UniCard with a call name.

Problems logging in to PRISMA

If you have forgotten your password for logging into PRISMA, or do not know your password, use the "Set new password" link on the login page of the PRISMA portal. External users can also contact the Service Desk in the Library Service Center.

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