Study Environments

Tools for your work in the library

Information for Parents with Children

For parents withe their children there are several especially equipped rooms within and outside the library.

The rooms C1-127 and V1-207 are intended as Parent-Child Rooms. A diaper changing table is provided in room C1-132.

Outside the library, the rooms D0-130 and U3-154 are nursing rooms. In addition, D4-111 and S5-121 are nursing and relaxation rooms.

Laptops in the Library

The workstations in the reading rooms are equipped with power outlets for your laptops, so you can work here with your laptop at any time. At the moment a reservation is need and the workstations can only be used by students of Bielefeld University.

Power sockets and security bars for laptops

In the reading room areas, we provide attachment points for your laptop to the desks. These security bars are designed to help prevent laptop theft. You will need a Kensington lock to securely attach your computer. We strongly recommend securing your laptop as the University does not accept liability.

SMART Board via Laptop

The SMART Board is a combination of computer and chalkboard. It can be best applied to promote cooperation in small groups. Files and programmes on your private laptop can be connected to the SMART Board via USB flash drive.

Photocopying, Printing and Scanning

Scanning is possible free of charge at special book scanners. The book scanners can be found in areas C1, T1 and U0 of the main university building and in the library in Building X. A UniCard or login is not required for use. You can save the scanned documents on a USB stick or transfer them directly to your smartphone or tablet via the free Scan2Pad app from the App Store (for iOS devices) or the Google Play Store (for Android devices).

Students of Bielefeld University have the possibility to print texts for free at BITS (Bielefeld University IT Service center) in the PC rooms (UHG, V0-218 und and 101) on 3 printers in the BITS room V0-224 (Mon – Fri 7–22, Sat, Sun 8–22).

If you are not a student at Bielefeld University or would like to print more extensive texts and/or bind or laminate printed materials, the Central Duplication Office (ZV) in T0-103 (to the right of the Infopoint in the University's Main Hall) offers appropriate options. Prices can be obtained on site.

Opening hours: Mon – Fri 8 – 12:15 and 13:15 – 15.

For the books in the discussion room of the Law Library (U1-142), which cannot be removed from their location, a scanner is available, which allows you to save scanned pages directly to USB flash drive. You can choose between color scans, grayscale scans and black and white scans (text scans). Color scans and grayscale scans are automatically saved in JPG format, text scans in TIF format. The use of the scanner is free of charge.

For microforms, there is a special scanner in the Reference Department (U0) that allows you to view relevant materials and save scanned pages as PDF files on a USB flash drive free of charge. The staff of the Reference Department will assist you in using these devices.

Relax Loungers

In the library in the UHG we provide you with relax loungers for a short rest. If the day on campus is long, we would like to offer you the opportunity to briefly regenerate your ability to concentrate for a successful study day. Take advantage of our offer to gather your mental strength, to relieve stress or simply to relax your spine - also by a short power napping.

Use of the relax loungers:

• The relax loungers may only be used in the departmental lbraries in the UHG in components C to E and T to V - in the areas provided for this purpose
• We kindly ask you to handle the relax loungers with care
• The relax loungers are protected against theft
• Use them at your own risk
• No reservation needed

Save Files to USB Flash Drive

You can save files to USB flash drive at all the library's PCs. The PC workstations are currently subject to reservation.

First, insert a USB flash drive into the USB port on the side of the screen.

To save a web page or PDF file you have opened in the browser, click on "Datei" in the menu bar at the top left and then on "Seite speichern unter". Select your USB flash drive as the save location (usually drive D) and click "Speichern". After saving, click on the "USB flash drive icon" at the bottom right and select "[device name] sicher entfernen". You can now remove the USB flash drive.

You cannot open other files (Word, etc.) directly on the PCs in the library without a BITS login. In this case, right-click on the link leading to the file and select "Ziel speichern unter".

Some databases offer their own export functions. In some cases, however, not the complete texts are saved / sent, but only a link to the text. Therefore, if possible, use the function as described above.

Alternatively, you can make a screenshot. This saves a copy of the browser window as an image file. Only the part of the page that you currently see in the browser window is saved. If the page is longer than the browser window, you may need to take multiple screenshots. To create a screenshot and save it to a USB flash drive, click the "Print" button at the top right of the keyboard and then click the "Folder" icon at the bottom of the screen (usually the second from the right). Now drag and drop the file(s) onto your USB flash drive.

If you have any questions, please contact the staff at the Reference Department.

SMART Boards

Bielefeld University offers its students and research teams a dynamic learning environment. In cooperation with the University computing center, Service Center Medien and the library the discussion rooms C1-133, E1-125, T1-225 and V1-205 have been equipped with a so-called SMART Board. There are also SMART Boards in the liberary in Building X (discussion rooms F1-229, F1-231).

This device is a combination of a blackboard and a computer. You navigate and project the contents of presentations or web pages onto the screen and edit by means of electronic crayons. They are open to every working group and free of charge. Reservations can be made in advance.

Basics of using SMART Boards

What can I use the SMART Board for?

The SMART Board is a combination of computer and blackboard and supports you especially in small learning and working groups. The following possibilities are available here in combination:

• Control PC applications with your hand on the screen Visualization of digital contents of any kind (Powerpoint, PDF, DVD etc.)
• Use as virtual blackboard or whiteboard with "electronic" pens and sponge
• Use of SMART-Idea software for mind mapping, etc. Recording of screen activities and microphone channel as video Output of work results as PDF, JPEG, HTML, Powerpoint etc.
• Display of own laptop screen via VGA/HDMI cable (see below)
• Display and operation of your own laptop desktop on the SMART Board screen while using the pen function

Who may use the SMART Board?

Students, learning groups, tutorials and research groups, also individual working groups from seminars. Complete seminars please only for individual dates after consultation, as this room is not intended as a seminar room. Only members of Bielefeld University are entitled to use the room. A corresponding BITS login is required.

Can I reserve the SMART Board?

Although the discussion rooms are primarily intended for spontaneous use, they can of course also be reserved for SMART Board use. For short-term appointments, please enter your name in the list at the door. Here you will also find contact information to reserve appointments for longer periods in advance. However, the SMART Board in Lernort.plus! cannot be reserved.

Do I have to consider anything special when using it?

• The SMART Board is not a conventional board. So under no circumstances use conventional chalk or even pencils! Only use your hand or the enclosed "electronic" pens and sponges on the screen. These are "recognized" by the board and do not cause scratches or marks.
• Try to work with your hand with an extended pointed finger, otherwise the ball of your hand or sleeve will be detected and the sponge function activated.
• Please also make sure that you do not cause scratches by rings.
• Please do not put down any objects such as the pens in the white band surrounding the screen, as otherwise no more operation is possible.

How do I start the SMART Board?

1. Press anywhere on the screen with your finger. The screen should then wake up from standby mode, so that after two seconds the login window appears on the screen.
2. Then enter your account from the BITS (information on keystrokes on the SMART Board)
3. You have the possibility to access your network drive (P:\) to load and save files. No image? If the large button to the left of the screen lights up red, the screen is off. If you press the button, the screen will turn on and the button will light green (then log in with the BITS account).
4. Still no picture even though the button on the left side of the screen glows green?
   • Then either the computer has been switched off (open the flap at the bottom and start the PC if its power indicator is not lit.
   • Or the source of the image is shifted. On the left side of the screen, press the button with the large arrow pointing to the right. Wait 2 seconds and press again if the picture has not yet appeared. The source must be set to RGB for PC/SMART Board use or DVI for the connected document camera.

How do I end the session?

To quit, please simply log off under Windows. The computer will then go into sleep mode after a short time and automatically switch the screen to stand-by.

First steps on the interactive screen

How can I use the cursor or the "electronic" pens?

• If you use your finger, the cursor is set and a left click is executed.
• If you press with your finger for three seconds, the right mouse button is activated
• Take the pens you can write over any program. A small control panel will then appear in the top right-hand corner of the window. Click on it and then on Delete Marker to delete all notes.
• Use the sponge or the ball of your hand (fist) to make only small corrections by erasing.
• Would you like to take notes as a screenshot? Click on the small transparent label for the SMART Board toolbar on the left of the desktop and then click on the camera again. Then select the upper left corner of the screenshot area with your finger, leave it on the screen and drag it to the lower right corner of the screenshot you want to take. The image will then appear in the notebook software. More screenshots can be added in the same way.

Where do I find the right mouse button (context menu)?

The right mouse button (context menu) is called by the key with the mouse symbol "Right mouse button" in the key panel directly in the middle below the screen. Alternatively, you can also press with your finger on the same spot on the screen until a context menu appears.

How can I make keyboard entries on SMART Board?

1. You can access a virtual keyboard for direct use on the screen by pressing the corresponding button with a keyboard icon in the key panel directly in the center of the screen.
   Then touch the field where you want to insert the text with your finger and enter the text (also by touching it with your finger) using the virtual keyboard.
2. The connected standard keyboard is suitable for longer texts.
3. For short text input (1-3 words): Write legibly with the stylus on the SMART Board. Then briefly click on the text with your finger. In the lower left corner of the selection boundary, click on the "Aa" symbol that appears and then click where you want to insert the text.

Laptop and SMART Board

You want to connect your laptop via VGA connection?

1. Then connect the VGA cable that comes loose from the document camera to your laptop.
2. Turn on the document camera.
3. Press the laptop icon on the document camera (to pass the signal through).
4. Then, on your laptop, select the color-coded Fn key and the screen icon by the function keys.
5. Then, on the SMART Board, press the arrow button on the left side of the screen until the device's image source is set to DVI.

Or do you already have a laptop with HDMI connection?

1. Then simply connect the cable to the outer left edge of the SMART Board.
2. Then, on your laptop, select the color-coded Fn button and the screen icon by the function keys.
3. Then, on the SMART Board, use the arrow button on the left side of the screen to toggle until the device's picture source is set to DVI.

Would you also like to be able to operate your laptop like a SMART board?

1. Connect your laptop via VGA or HDMI as described above.
2. Additionally, connect your laptop to the appropriate USB port on the SMART Board using a USB cable
3. Download and install SMART Notebook collaborative learning software on your laptop.

Document imaging camera and SMART Board

Would you like to view digitally enlarged books on the SMART Board with several people instead of making costly copies for everyone?

1. Turn on the document imaging camera.
2. Then, on the SMART Board, use the arrow button on the left side of the screen until the device's image source is set to DVI.
3. Zoom with the twist grip (slight rotation 45° to the left or right at the back of the arm)
4. Switch on the light if necessary (slide switch on the arm)
5. To focus the image, activate the autofocus by briefly pressing the round button at the top of the arm on the outside of the rotating wheel in the middle of the axle

"Tischapparate" for Examnees

Due to Corona regulations no "Tischapparate" can be set up at the moment

When you are working on your bachelor, master, or doctoral thesis you have the option to place library items on a "Tischapparat". This includes the privilege to borrow any 20 titles for a limited period of time and keep it at your workplace in the library. The only precondition is that you have to prove your eligibility by a written confirmation issued by your lecturer.

The items in your "Tischapparat" do not circulate then, but other patrons must be given the opportunity to view and copy the material at any time. In all departmental libraries you can borrow a mobile filing pedestal, where you can lock books and other items.

For further details please contact your departmental library.

Using the University's WiFi network

Students and employees of the University and the FH Bielefeld can access the IT services of the University and the FH and the Internet via the WiFi network "eduroam". They need an BITS account for this. The WiFi network is available in all areas of the university. Even outside the university, eduroam can be used in part in Bielefeld ("eduroam off campus").

Scientists and students from other universities can also use WiFi network via eduroam at Bielefeld University. The prerequisite is that the respective home university offers eduroam. Access to the library's licensed services is not possible when dialing in. There is a special guest access for day guests.
Further information / instructions (in German)

For people who are not university members, WiFi network use is also possible: In the university - and thus also in the library rooms - the free WiFi network BI-free of the city of Bielefeld is also available. In cooperation with BITel, this is broadcast on the university's access points. Connections to BI-free are automatically disconnected after one hour, but you can reconnect afterwards.
Free WiFi in Bielefeld (in German)