Silesian Collection Reading Room

General information

Silesian Collection Reading Room is situated on the level 3 in the Wroclaw University Library on Fryderyka Joliot-Curie 12 St.

Address for correspondence:
Wroclaw University Library
Circulation Department
Silesian Collection Reading Room
F. Joliot-Curie 12 St.
50-383 Wroclaw
phone: +48 71 37 57 604
e-mail: sc.bu[w]uwr.edu.pl

Opening hours:

Rules and conditions of usage of the Silesian Reading Room are determined in the Rules of Collection Circulation in the Wroclaw University Library.

I. Collection in the Silesian Collection Reading Room

The reference collection includes monographs and serials, microforms and electronic documents regarding Silesia, including: encyclopedic and dictionary publications, bibliographies, biographies, historical sources, studies on the general history of Silesia and its regions, Wroclaw and other cities, address books, monographs of individual places, genealogical and heraldic sources, literature on religious and national issues, culture, art and science. It is complemented by selected lusatika, Judaica, maps, and atlases.
The reference collection, numbering approximately 5,500 items, is organized into sections, with free access to shelves, and is available only locally. All materials are cataloged and accessible via an online catalog. Additionally, a traditional card catalog based on the subject classification of the Silesian-Lusatian Collection is available in the Reading Room.

II. Conditions of usage

1. Who can use the Reading Room:

   • persons over 18 years old with valid library cards,

   • minors from 16 years of age – on the basis of written consent of the legal guardian and with valid library card.

2. Rules for users of the Reading Room:

   • leaving in the coatroom: overcoats, umbrellas, briefcases, backpacks, bags, laptops covers, etc.

   • presenting or leaving at the library desk a document authorizing usage of the Reading Room and presenting an ID document with a photo,

   • signing in the guest book legibly, keeping silence; it is prohibited to use telephones for conversations, bringing and consuming food and drinks (except water in sealed containers) and smoking.

     Attention: library security can remove from the Wroclaw University Library’s building person, whose behavior is in violation of the Rules of Collection Circulation, order regulations or violates generally accepted standards of human intercourse.

     Attention: Wroclaw University Library is not responsible for any private property left unattended by the users.

3. Library's materials that are available in the Reading Room:

   • materials from the reference collection of the Reading Room, including a collection of the latest issues of Silesian periodicals,

   • collections from the storage of the Silesian-Lusatian Collection, including Wratislaviana, marked in the catalogs with the GSL symbol,

   • ephemera, marked in the catalogs with the GSL DZS symbol,

   • in the Reading Room you can also use materials from the Free Access areas and your own,

     Attention: The Reading Room's reference collection is available on a free-access basis. After using library materials they have to be returned to the librarian or put on the trolleys next to the shelves. Materials form the Reading Room can be used only locally.

     Attention: In the case of most materials from the Silesian-Lusatian Collection, the user should remember that they are dealing with historic collections and handle them with particular care. Please report any defects or deficiencies in the provided materials.

     Attention: Special collections from the Silesian-Lusatian collection are available exclusively for the scientific researchers with an academic degree. Students and PhD students as well as persons, who are performing researches on behalf of scientific or cultural institutions, can use these collections after presenting Declaration of a user of special collections.

     Declarations and Recommendations are valid for the period of calendar year. Cimelia and special collections from the Silesian-Lusatian Collection are available only at designated desks.

4. Ordering of materials to the Reading Room:

   • orders for library's materials can be placed electronically via online catalog and from digitized catalogs,

   • materials from the Reading Room's reference collection can't be ordered,

   • the maximum number of orders placed by a user varies for each user category (Appendix No. 3 to Rules of Collection Circulation),

   • the number of materials circulated at one time depends on their state of preservation and may be limited to 5 volumes of books/periodicals or microforms or electronic documents, 1 portfolio of documents of ephemera, 3 volumes of old prints or 1 volume of co-bound works from the Wratislavian collection,

     Attention:
     Fulfilling orders up to 60 minutes before closing the Reading Room (orders placed afterwards will be completed next day).
     Time for accomplishment of order is about 45 minutes. In the rush hours accomplishment time can be extended.

5. Copying of materials in the Reading Room:

   • in the Reading Room, you can take free photos of all library materials or use the self-service scanner for library materials published after 1950,

   • copying library materials in the Reading Room requires the consent of the librarian on duty and must respect copyright laws.

   • users can place orders to the librarian for paid reprographic services.

6. For users in the Reading Room are available:

   • workstations for working with library's or own materials,

   • computer workstations,

   • microform readers,

   • self-service scanner for library materials,

   • access to wireless Wi-Fi network (login and password can be obtained from librarian) as well as Eduroam wireless network.

   • a workstation adapted to the needs of people with disabilities, equipped with high tables, specialized keyboards and computer software that magnifies and reads text,

   • accessories helping in the use of collections: pads, wedges and weights, stationary magnifiers and magnifying glasses, headphones.

7. Usage of computer workstations in the Reading Room:

   • computer workstations in the Reading Room provide access to: the catalogs of the Library, the Digital Library, e-Reading Room, other digital resources of the Library, and to provide access to the library's materials in electronic form.

     Attention: Access to some licensed databases is possible only in the WUL's Scientific Information Department.

8. Prolongation or reservation of library’s materials in the Reading Room:

   • The user is obliged to return all library materials to the librarian after finishing work in the Reading Room,.

   • Materials ordered to the Reading Room can be reserved and prolonged on user's order. Materials not used during three days are sent back to the storage department.

   • Materials from the reference collection of the Reading Room cannot be reserved.