FAQ – Frequently asked Questions

• How and where do I get a library card for City Library Halle?
• How much does it cost to borrow media?
• What do I do when my annual membership has expired?
• Can somebody else borrow media for me?
• How long is the loan period of my borrowed media and how can I extend it?
• Where can I return my borrowed media? Can another person return the media for me?
• What happens if I forget to return my borrowed media?
• Can I reserve media and will I be notified?
• How do I check if I have borrowed media and what the due date is?
• What happens when I have lost my library card?
• What do I do if my address or email address has changed?
• Can I use PC stations in City Library Halle?
• Where do I find support for Onleihe?

• How and where do I get a library card for City Library Halle?

Just come to one of our libraries and bring your ID or passport and a valid certificate of residence (Meldebescheinigung) from the residents' registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt). Even if you do not live in Halle, you can get a library card. Please report to our information desk for further information.

• How much does it cost to borrow media?

Children and adolescents under the age of 18 can borrow media free of charge. Adult readers pay the annual fee of 20,00 € when they borrow a book or medium for the first time, readers who are eligible for the reduced fee pay 10,00 €, Halle-Passes A holders borrow free of charge.

• What do I do when my annual membership has expired?

When your annual membership has expired you can renew your membership and card at our information desk and pay the renewal fee. Alternatively, you can renew your membership by bank transfer. Please inform us via email or phone and ask for the particulars of our bank account.

• Can somebody else borrow media for me?

No. Only you yourself are allowed to use the library card.

• Where can I return my borrowed media? Can another person return the media for me?

Always return the media in the library where you borrowed them. You do not need the library card for returning media, therefore it is possible that somebody else returns them for you.

• What happens if I forget to return my borrowed media?

If you exceed the due date of your borrowed media you have to pay an overdue fine of 1,00 € per item and per commenced week. For each further commenced week (after the first week) the overdue fine is 3,00 € per item. The overdue fine is charged from the first day following the due date. Children and adolescents have to pay half of the regular overdue fines. You can avoid unnecessary overdue fines by extending the loan period of your borrowed media in due time. If you extend the loan period after the due date this will stop additional fines from accruing. For further details, please consult our schedule of fees.

• Can I reserve media and will I be notified?

Yes, this is possible via our online catalogue. If you have found the medium you which want to reserve in our catalogue, just click the 'Hier kostenpflichtig vorbestellen! (2,-€)' (reserve) button. The reservation fee is 2,00 €. This fee is only due once we have put the medium aside for you! Please note that you need to pick up the media which you reserved in the library you selected for pickup. If a medium is available in the library for borrowing it cannot be reserved in the online catalogue. You can also reserve media via email, via phone, or in the library at the circulation desk.
We notify you via email or letter (plus postage charges) once your reserved medium is ready for pickup. Please note that the medium will be ready for pickup only for a maximum of 7 days.

• How do I check if I have borrowed media and what the due date is?

Just check your library account in our online catalogue. Login with your library card number and your password in the tab 'Mein Konto' (my account) and you will see which media you have currently borrowed.

• What happens when I have lost my library card?

If you have lost your library card, please inform us immediately.

• What do I do if my address or email address has changed?

Please inform us if you have moved or if your email address has changed. You can also update your address and email address yourself in your library account in our online catalogue. Just log in, click the Persönliche Daten (personal data) tab and change the details.

• Can I use PC stations in City Library Halle?

With your library card you have one hour of internet access per day free of charge. For further details follow the link here.

• Where do I find support for Onleihe?

If you experience any issues using Onleihe or the Onleihe app, please also refer to onleihe:forum, Onleihe-Hilfe (Onleihe help) for support or come to one of our Onleihe support hours.