Loans and Returns

Number of items 
Library users can borrow up to five items at a time from the Self-Access Center at Rämistrasse 74.

On site only
Our center is exclusively on site. All items must be borrowed from and returned to the Self-Access Center Rämistrasse and only during our opening hours. Our circulation desk is open up to 15 minutes before closing.
We do not run a courier service to any other libraries or to the Self-Access Center Hönggerberg. We process only items borrowed from and returned to the Self-Access Center Rämistrasse.

Library account
The details of borrowed items and their return dates are listed in your library account at Login Swisscovery.
Please note: When you log in to Swisscovery, click on (1) your name in the top-right corner, (2) “My Loans”, and (3) “UZH und ZB Zürich” on the left-hand side. A list containing the items you have borrowed from the Self-Access Center is then displayed.
You will need a library account (available free of charge here) to borrow items. If you need help, please consult the University of Zurich Library website.

Loan period
The loan period for all items is 14 days.

Renewals
Borrowed items are automatically renewed up to 5 times unless they have been reserved by another user. Each renewal extends the loan period by 14 days. The maximum loan period is 6 x 14 days. You can also renew borrowed items in your library account (login). Your account lists expiry dates for individual items.
The expiry dates listed in your library account are binding. If you are unable to return items on time, please contact us as soon as possible at slz@sprachen.uzh.ch or +41 (0)44 634 19 24 (during opening hours).

Recall notices
2-3 days after your item has expired, SLSP will send an automatic recall notice to the email address listed in your SWITCH edu-ID account. Recall notices are free of charge.
If you intend to rely on our recall notices, we recommend that you ensure that emails from “@slsp.ch” do not go to your spam folder.

Fines
For all items that are not returned on or before the expiry date, the SLSP issues the following fines:
• 6 days after expiry: CHF 5 for each item (1st fine)
• 12 days after expiry: An additional CHF 5 for each item (2nd fine)
• 18 days after expiry: An additional CHF 10 for each item (3rd fine)
After the third fine has been issued, your library account is blocked until the missing items have been checked back into the Self-Access Center Rämistrasse.
The first, second, and third fines are sent via email. It is the library user’s responsibility to keep their email and street address up to date in their SWITCH edu-ID account. Notices that cannot be delivered are not considered a valid reason for late returns.
The SLSP library platform issues monthly email invoices for the month before last. The Self-Access Center Rämistrasse cannot accept payment of invoices and fines.

Lost items
If items are lost, library users are charged (1) a processing fee of CHF 30 for each item and (2) the full cost of replacing the lost item.

General
When the Self-Access Center Rämistrasse is closed, items cannot be returned.
Return dates for items that expire on days when we are closed are automatically moved to the next day the Self-Access Center Rämistrasse is open.
On that day, items are automatically renewed, as long as they haven’t been reserved by another user and as long as the maximum loan period has not yet been reached. If an item cannot be renewed the next day the Self-Access Center is open, a recall is issued and you have until the end of the week to return your items without penalty.
If you are unable to return items within the given period, please contact us at slz@sprachen.uzh.ch or +41 (0)44 634 19 24 (only during opening hours).

Urgent cases
In urgent cases (for example, if you are leaving Switzerland for an extended period), please email us at slz@sprachen.uzh.ch and note the information in the automatic email reply.