Research & Borrowing
Catalog research
Use the search slot to find all electronic and printed books and journals in the Mathematics Library.
! Hint: All members of the University of Cologne also have access to licensed journal articles and ebooks outside the university via a VPN connection.
You are welcome to visit us in the library and be inspired directly at the shelf. The books are arranged alphabetically by author.
Serendipity = (Chance x Exposure x Openness) / Resistance
Newly delivered issues of journals are displayed in the reading room. All other issues of the current year are stored in drawers in the Common Room.
Databases
In addition to our ‘on-site’ inventory, we offer you around 40 databases in the field of mathematics via DBIS. We briefly present the most relevant sources.
Browse through the selection and feel free to contact us in person or by email if you have any questions.
Important resources
zbMATH Open
- Central bibliographic database
- Provides access to over 3,500 mathematical journals and 1,100 book series.
- Covers pure and applied mathematics, as well as related fields such as computer science.
- Conclusion: A must-have resource for scholarly work!!
MathSciNet
- Central bibliographic database
- Covers approximately 1,900 international series and journals since 1940
- Conclusion: A must-have resource for scholarly work!!
ArXiv
- E-print server for the open-access publication of research results
- Subject areas: Physics, mathematics and computer science
- Conclusion: A very good and important addition, but the documents have not undergone the traditional review process.
Notes
- Please inform the digital service of the University and City Library if you do not have access to (activated) licenses.
- Our crash course in academic writing provides more information on search strategies and how to use relevant databases. The University Library also offers helpful courses and consultations.
- We are also happy to help you directly on site or by e-mail request.
Borrowing
The Mathematics Library is a reference library, which means that books and journals are intended for use on-site only and generally cannot be borrowed.
! Hint: You can borrow many textbooks and journals from the University Library for 4 weeks (→ Borrowing procedures at the University Library). The following special rules apply within the Mathematics Department:
Staff members
Staff members of the Mathematical Institute may take books to their offices for up to six months. Therefore, book cards must be filled out legibly and in full, and handed in to the library supervisor. Borrowed books must be returned early if requested. Journals are excluded from borrowing - you can access most of them online.
Students
Students of mathematics, business mathematics, computer science, and mathematics education can use their white seminar card to borrow books over the weekend - from two hours before the library closes on Friday until 10:30 am on Monday - and take them home.
Students writing their thesis at the Mathematical Institute can apply for a green seminar card, which entitles them to borrow books for a maximum of two months. The application must be signed by their supervisor and handed in to the library.
Journals are excluded from borrowing - you can access most of them online.