Tips and tricks

Here you can find practical information and tips for using the Library. The information is presented in a question and answer format.

Looking for specific information? Choose a question from the list below to go directly to the answer.

How do I get to the Library?

The Library is located on the Lazarski University campus at 43 Świeradowska Street in Warsaw. You can find it in Sector F on the first floor.

Detailed information about the campus location and how to get there is available on the "Lazarski University Campus" page.

What are the Library's opening hours?

During the academic year, the Library is open from Monday to Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., on Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Library services end 15 minutes before the Library closes.

Before your visit, please check the current opening hours on the Library's website. The opening hours may change during holidays, vacation periods, and breaks between classes.

How can I get access to the Library's resources and databases?

To use the Library's services and resources, you need an active library account. With a library account, you can order and borrow books, access databases, sign in to the online catalogue, and use many other Library services.

If you plan to visit the Library, remember to bring your student ID card or another photo ID that confirms your identity.

Read also:
How do I register for a library account?
How do I access the databases?

How do I register for a library account?

You can register for a library account in two ways:

• in person at the Library by showing your student ID card or another photo ID;
• by email by sending a message to czytelnia@lazarski.edu.pl

If you contact us by email, please provide your full name, student ID number, faculty, and mode of study.

A librarian will help you register and activate your account. 

After your account has been registered, you will receive an automatic email with an activation link. To activate your account, create a password, accept the Library Regulations, and consent to the processing of your personal data in accordance with GDPR.

Once your account is activated, you can use the Library's services, sign in to the online catalogue, order and borrow books, and access databases.

How do I log in to the online catalogue?

Go to the Library's online catalogue.

Click the "Login" button (the person icon) at the top of the page. The login window will open.

Log in using the email address you provided when you registered with the Library and the password you created when you activated your library account.

How do I reset my library account password?

Go to the Library's online catalogue.

Click the "Login" button (the person icon) at the top of the page. The login window will open.

In the login window, click "Forgot password". Enter the email address you provided when you registered with the Library. You will receive an email that will allow you to set a new password.

If you still cannot log in, please email us at czytelnia@lazarski.edu.pl. Describe the problem and, if possible, attach a screenshot.

How can I find books and other materials in the online catalogue?

Go to the Library's online catalogue.

Enter what you are looking for in the search box. This can be, for example, a book title, an author's name, a subject, or a keyword related to the topic you are interested in.

A list of results will appear on the screen. If there are many results, you can use the filters available on the page. Filters help you narrow your search to a specific type of document, for example:

• books,
• journals,
• publications in a selected language,
• materials published in specific years.

You can also change the sorting order of the results, for example, to display the newest publications first. 

If you do not find the materials you need the first time, try using different keywords related to your topic.

How do I borrow a book?

To borrow a book, you must first order it via the Library’s online catalogue.

Go to the online catalogue and log in to your library account. Next, search for the book you’re interested in and click the ‘Borrow’ button.

A window will appear showing the available copies of the book and their locations (Reading Room, Lending Library, or Storage). Select an available copy and click the "Borrow" button again.

Check the information displayed by the system and confirm your request.

When your order is ready for collection, you will receive an email.

Once you have received the email, please collect the book from the Library. Your order will be available for collection for 48 hours.

What should I do if all copies of a book are borrowed?

If all copies of a book are currently borrowed, you can place a reservation. To do this, click the ‘Borrow’ button next to the book you’ve chosen. 

When the book becomes available, you will receive an email. From that moment, you have 48 hours to collect it.

If you cannot collect the book within this time, please contact the Library.

Why is there no "Borrow" button for some publications?

Not all items in the online catalogue can be borrowed.

This includes, for example, books that can only be used in the Reading Room, electronic documents, articles available online, and bibliographic records.

If you are not sure how you can access a particular item, please contact the Library.

What if the book I need isn’t in the catalogue?

If you cannot find the book you need in the Library's online catalogue, you have several options:

Databases

Check the electronic databases provided by the University. They may include e-books, scholarly articles, and other materials related to your topic.

You can find a list of available databases in the "Databases and Information Sources" section. https://www.lazarski.pl/pl/nauka-i-badania/biblioteka-uczelniana/bazy-d…

If you do not know how to access the databases, please see the relevant questions below.

Interlibrary Loan

If the book you are looking for is not available in our Library or in other libraries in Warsaw, we can request it for you from another library in Poland or abroad. This service is free for users of the Lazarski University Library. 
For detailed information, check out the "Interlibrary Loan" section. https://www.lazarski.pl/pl/nauka-i-badania/biblioteka-uczelniana/wypozy…

Suggest a Book Purchase

If you need a book for your studies or research, you can suggest that the Library purchase it. The application form can be found under the "Suggest a book for the Library’s collection" tab. https://www.lazarski.pl/pl/nauka-i-badania/biblioteka-uczelniana/zaprop…

How do I collect a book I’ve ordered?

You will receive an email when the book you’ve ordered is ready for collection.

To collect the book, please speak to a librarian and show your student ID card or another photo ID that confirms your identity.

Before collecting the book, check its condition. If you notice any damage, report it to the librarian. Otherwise, you may be held liable for any damage found when you return the book.

How much time do I have to collect the book I’ve ordered?

You will receive an email when the book you’ve ordered is ready for collection.

You have 48 hours from the moment you receive the email to collect the book.

If you do not collect it within this time, the order will be cancelled. To borrow the book, you will need to place a new order.

How many books can I borrow at the same time?

The standard borrowing limit for students is 5 books.

In some cases, the limit is higher:

• up to 7 books for final-year undergraduate and master's students, and for doctoral students;

• up to 12 books for students of the Medical Faculty..

Not sure how many more books you can borrow? Ask a librarian.

How long can I borrow a book for?

Books from the Lending Library and Store can be borrowed for 30 days.

If the book has not been reserved by another reader, you can prolong the loan period twice.

How can I prolong the return date for a book?

You can prolong the loan period for a book within 7 days before the return date.

To do this:

1. Log in to your library account via the online catalogue https://biblioteka.lazarski.pl/
2. Go to the "Loans" tab.
3. Select the book and click the "Prolong" button.

Once you have prolonged the loan, the new return date will be visible in your account.

Attention! You cannot prolong the return date of a book after the due date has passed.
You also cannot prolong the loan period for a book that has been reserved by another reader, or if you have overdue books or unpaid fees on your account.

If you are having trouble prolonging the return date or are unable to return the book on time, please contact the Library immediately.

How do I return a book?

You can return a book:

1. In person at the Library or via the book drop.
   The book drop is located at the entrance to Sector F on Level 0 and is available even outside the Library's opening hours.
2. By post to the Library’s address:
   Lazarski University Library
   43 Świeradowska Street
   02-662 Warsaw

Please ensure the book is properly protected during transit to prevent it from being damaged.

What happens if I don’t return a book on time?

A late return fee is charged. For standard loans, the fee is 1 zł for each day the book is overdue. For short-term loans from the Reading Room, the fee is 1 zł for each hour the book is overdue.

Once the return deadline has passed, your library account will be blocked. We will unblock it once you have returned the books and settled any outstanding charges.

What should I do if I lose a book?

If you lose a borrowed book, please contact the Library as soon as possible. We will help you find a solution and stop any further overdue charges from being added to your account.

How do I access the databases?

To use the databases, you need an active library account. 

You can find a list of databases and their descriptions in the "Databases and Information Sources" tab. https://www.lazarski.pl/pl/nauka-i-badania/biblioteka-uczelniana/bazy-d…

Choose the database you want to use on the Library's website. Then log in using the same email address and password that you use for your library account.

You can access the databases both on and off campus. The only exception is the Academica database, which is available only in the Library.

In the databases you will find e-books, academic articles, legal texts and other materials needed for study and research.

What should I do if I can’t log in to the database?

To log in, use the email address and password linked to your library account.

If you’ve forgotten your password, try resetting it. You’ll find instructions on how to do this in the answer to the question "How do I reset my library account password?"

If you are still unable to log in or if you have any other issues accessing the databases, please email us at czytelnia@lazarski.edu.pl. Describe the problem and, if possible, attach a screenshot.

How do I use the Academica database?

Academica is a database provided by the National Library of Poland. It contains books, journals, and other publications that are not freely available on the Internet.

The Academica database can only be used on a designated computer in the Library.

When using Academica, you are not allowed to take photographs of the materials. However, you may make your own notes.

If you plan to use the database, please let us know in advance by sending an email to czytelnia@lazarski.edu.pl

What are the rules for using the Library?

When you enter the Library for the first time on a given day, please register your visit. Place your student ID card on the reader located at the librarian's desk. If you do not have your student ID card with you, show your library card or another photo ID.

Please keep quiet in the Library so that everyone can study and work comfortably. 
Food and drinks are not allowed. The only exception is water in a closed bottle.

You can find more information about the Library rules on our website in the "Rules and Regulations" section. https://www.lazarski.pl/pl/nauka-i-badania/biblioteka-uczelniana/zasady…

What does the Reading Room offer?

In the Reading Room, you have free access to books and magazines. You can browse the collections on your own, use the materials on site, and take notes.

Attention! After using a book, please do not put it back on the shelf. Leave it on the trolley located near the bookshelves.

In the Reading Room, you can use the Library’s computers and the wireless internet. There is also a self-service scanning and paid printing station, as well as a relaxation zone with beanbags.

If you need a quiet place to study or work, you can book one of the study cabins available in the Library. You’ll find information on booking cabins in the next question.

How can I book a cabin for studying?

The Library offers cabins for individual work and for small groups. You can book them using the application available on the website in the ‘Cabin Reservation’ section https://www.lazarski.pl/pl/nauka-i-badania/biblioteka-uczelniana/rezerw…

You can log in to the application using the same login details that you use for University services, such as Microsoft Teams.

Please remember to collect the key to your cabin within 15 minutes of the start of your reservation. After that time, your reservation will be cancelled automatically.

If you have any problems with your reservation, please email us at czytelnia@lazarski.edu.pl. Describe the problem and, if possible, attach a screenshot.

How do I log in to a computer in the Library?

There are 27 computers with internet access in the Reading Room. These may be used by anyone registered with the Library.

Students and staff log in using the same login details that they use for University services, such as Microsoft Teams.

If you are not a student or employee of Lazarski University, please ask a librarian to log you in to a computer.

How can I find a book on the shelf in the Reading Room?

Books in the Reading Room are arranged according to the Library of Congress Classification system. Each book has its own unique code, which indicates its location on the shelf. You will find this on a sticker attached to the spine of the book. For thin books, the sticker may be on the back cover.

Once you have searched for a book in the online catalogue, open its description and check the location code, e.g. KKP 2720 .A34 2013.

On the shelves, look for the label matching the beginning of this code. Books are arranged in alphabetical and numerical order, so you can quickly find the right one.

If you cannot find the book on the shelf, ask the nearest librarian for help.