The library offers a wide variety of current media in printed or electronic form for academic studies, teaching and research. In addition, at its three locations in Gelsenkirchen, Bocholt and Recklinghausen, it offers workrooms (for groups or for silent study) and technical equipment such as computers, WiFi and facilities for printing, scanning and copying. The library not only provides advice on finding information, but also offers individual counselling or group training. Literature that is not in the stock is also supplied via interlibrary loan.

For students of the Westfälische Hochschule, the student cards are also library cards. They are necessary in order to be able to use general services such as borrowing books or using printing facilities. To register as an external library user, residents of the region need a valid identity card.

The catalogue covers the entire holdings of all three library locations: books, e-books, journals, and e- journals. Media from various databases can be accessed via the Artikel und mehr tab.

If you use computers at Westfälische Hochschule or your laptop is connected to eduroam, you have access to the library's electronic resources (e-books, e-journals, databases). Members of Westfälische Hochschule can also gain access off campus by activating VPN.

When you log in to your personal user account, you will find information about your loans, reservations and fees and can extend the loan period.

Members of the Westfälische Hochschule log in with their general user account of the university; external users receive a user name and passoword when they log in to the library.

Please use the self-check-out machines to borrow media. The loan period for media is usually 28 days and can be extended at any time, provided that there is no reservation by another user and the maximum loan period of 168 days (6 x 28 days) has not been reached.

Media can be returned at the self-check-in-desk.

Students of the Westfälische Hochschule who have registered their Bachelor's or Master's thesis can apply for an extended loan period.

If you find books in Katalog Plus that are available at one of the other library locations, you can order them when you log in with your personal account. These books will then be delivered to your library free of charge within a few days. 

If a book you want is checked out, you can also request it through Katalog Plus. Once it is returned, it will be made available to you.

We will notify you by email when your request is available.

You can suggest media for acquisition that are not available in the collection. Please use the printed form available at the service desk or this web form.

With your charged student card, you can use the devices for printing, scanning and copying.

External users can make copies against cash payment - just ask at the service desk.

If you need media that are not available in the stock of one of the library locations, you can order them from other libraries via interlibrary loan for a fee.

In your own interest, please pay attention to the loan periods. If a medium is returned one day late or the loan period is not extended in time, fees will be charged.

The amount of the fees as well as all other charges can be found in the fee schedule under the menu item Nutzungshinweise on this website.

The fees can be paid by bank transfer or at the payment station in the library.

For literature research, members of the Westfälische Hochschule have access to specialised scientific databases, e.g., literature databases in the fields of technology , computer science, economics, journalism, law and natural sciences, as well as electronic full-text databases. You can find these under Digitale Bibliothek.

We offer training on library services such as catalogue, library account, interlibrary loan and literature research with regard to the final thesis.

For individual advice or group training, please contact us

- In the library at the service desk

- By e-mail: bibliothek@w-hs.de

- Via telephone:
Campus Gelsenkirchen
Tel. 0209/9596-214

Campus Recklinghausen
Tel. 02361/915-422

Campus Bocholt
Tel. 02871/2155-214