The Library has a rich printed collection that is partly in open display and partly in deposit. UvA students and staff as well as external borrowers can consult and borrow materials from the open shelves. In addition, material from the depot or from the open collection can be requested via CataloguePlus and collected or viewed at a location of choice.
Because of the stricter corona measures it is only possible for UvA students and staff to request books via CataloguePlus. The requested books can only be picked up and returned at the Singel University Library. External borrowers can only return books at this location. All other library locations, including the Allard Pierson Research Room, are closed.
UvA students and staff need a valid UvA pass to view or borrow material. External borrowers need a valid library card.
At the moment, the open collections at the various library locations are not accessible due to corona, so all borrowers are advised to request material via CataloguePlus.
Do you urgently need material from the open collections that cannot be requested via CataloguePlus? Then read on under Viewing / borrowing non-requestable materials.
Requesting materials is done through CataloguePlus. This is done as follows:
Some of the titles in CataloguePlus cannot be requested. This often concernsworks that are only available for inspection at the locations themselves or material that is in the AUAS collection. If you urgently need material that cannot be requested, please contact us via the contact form. Due to the closure of the examination room during the lockdown it is currently not possible to request or view heritage materials in any way.
You can borrow a maximum of 50 books at the same time, but please note: the loan terms can differ per book.
The standard loan period is 28 days
7 days is for in-demand books
Same day return (available for inspection) is for sensitive material
Books with the standard or 7day loan period are automatically renewed three times unless someone else has requested the books. You will receive a message via email if another borrower needs the book or if the maximum loan period has been reached. After the maximum loan period has been reached, you can only have the books renewed at a library desk. In your account in CataloguePlus you will find an overview of all your requested materials and your loans and whether your loan period has expired.
UvA students and staff and external borrowers can currently only hand in their books at the University Library Singel. If it is not possible to come to the Library to hand in your books you can also send them by post.
University Library of Amsterdam
Box 19185
1000 GD Amsterdam
Some postal services (e.g. DHL) do not deliver to PO boxes. Then send your package to:
University of Amsterdam
Reference PO Box 19185 (University Library)
Tafelbergweg 51
1105 BD Amsterdam
Due to the processing time of the mail it may take some time for the books to disappear from your account.
Shortly before the maximum loan period expires you will receive a request by email to return the borrowed material. We send reminders from the expiry date of the loan period. The first reminder is free of charge, after that a fine per item will be charged.
Invoice: no later than 4 weeks after the last reminder, you will receive an invoice for the fine, replacement and administration costs (minimum € 75).
If you return the material, any replacement and administration costs will be canceled but the fine will still have to be paid. Fines can only be paid by debit card at any open desk of the Library (see our location page). With the exception of the Library Learning Centre REC counter where you can only pay in cash. If you fail to pay we call in a collection agency.
AUAS material that is in CataloguePlus is currently not available on request. Only UvA students and staff can request material from the AUAS collection. This is done via the library contact form.
In some cases it is not possible to request the material (directly) at the UvA Library, in this case there are two options: