Library guide

The University has two libraries at two campuses. The Central METU Library is at the A Nagy Lajos király street campus; the Art Library is at the Rózsa street campus

All staff and students of METU are eligible for free registration at our library. Students, including Erasmus students, are automatically registered at enrolment. Your library card number is automatically generated in Neptun. You can look up the number under “Information” by opening “Inquiries/Information” and running the “Library card number” query. You can also opt to use your valid METU student card instead. This will also be referred to as a library card by our staff, and will be treated as your library card in our system.

METU alumni (graduates) are eligible for a free visitor's card, but may not borrow from the library anymore. Ask for a Library Forever card, and show us some proof of your graduation.

The collection is almost entirely available to you directly on the shelves, arranged by subject. This means that the library is self-service. Feel free to find and use the books you need without asking for permission.

Being able to find your way around is better for you as a university student.

There are various tools to guide you in the library, but the staff is also happy to help.

Your most important tool for finding books is the online catalogue. This contains the books available in both libraries. The online catalogue can be accessed anywhere from any device.

After you successfully found the book in the catalogue, you can get location information by clicking “Details.” This will tell you which library has the book, how many copies, whether any are available for loan, and if some have already been borrowed by others, when these are due back. The “Identifier” will guide you directly to the book on the shelves (e.g. 33/B21, which is also found on the spine of the book).

You can also log in to access your personal loan history through the online catalogue. Click Login, Renewal, and use your library card number (or student card number beginning with 12) to see what books are on your account and when these are due. You can also renew them here. Your password will be the month and day of your birth in a MMDD format (e.g. March 09^th = 0309)

You can bring your bag inside the library as long as these are smaller than a suitcase.

If you want to leave your bag in the lockers outside the library, you must request a token at the circulation desk. We can provide you with these only for the duration of your library visit, but at most for the library’s opening hours. If you need it for longer, you must ask for one from the reception in the main building. You can use the coat racks in the library for your coats and umbrellas.

Make sure to never leave valuables in the lockers.

Food and drink (with lid) are allowed in the library, as long as you protect the library books from damage.

It is not allowed to write in or underline any parts of the library books.

You can have a maximum of 8 books borrowed from our two libraries combined at any time.

The duration of the loan varies between 2 and 3 weeks.

Books with a red identifier are not available for loan.

You must return the books to the library you borrowed them from. We give you a reminder of the due date when we issued the books. You must make sure to return or renew your borrowed books by the due date, even if you receive no further reminders.

If a book contains the “Please do not write…” sticker, it is your responsibility to check the condition of the book before you borrow it; we also have to check it after you return it.

When you borrow a book, we need to scan your library card (student card) barcode, as well as the book’s library barcode. To make things faster, please have your library card (student card) ready.

Feel free to sit down and read the books and magazines in the library. We ask you to NOT replace these on the shelves after you are done. Leave them on the carts available by the shelves.

Our libraries have printer/scanner/copier available; these are self-service with a copy token.

You can request a renewal in person, via e-mail or telephone. Please do this before the book’s due date. We will always confirm a successful renewal and the new due date.

You can also renew books yourself in our online catalogue (“Login, renewal” option). This is available to you for the first five renewals. You will not be able to renew a book somebody has placed a reservation on. After the fifth renewal, you can request more by contacting us. Pay attention that the new due date is calculated from the day of renewal, not the original due date.

Important! You can (and should) ask for renewal even if your loan has already expired. You will be able to settle any late fees later.

If every copy of a book is on loan, you can request a reservation. We will notify you when the book is available via e-mail. We keep the book reserved for you for 7 days.

1. Late fees

You may have to pay a late fee if your return books after their due date. We provide a 3-day grace period. If you return the late books within this time, there is no late fee. However, if your return it from the 4^th day on, your will have to pay for the previous 3 days, as well. The sum of the late fee is calculated automatically by our system, which also keeps track of payments.

Late fee is HUF 100 per day per volume.

1. Damaging library items

You must preserve the condition of library books You are not allowed to write or highlight in the books. If the librarian discovers any such damage when you return a book that contains the “Do not write…” sticker, you will have to pay for the damages. Depending on the extent of the damage (amount of scribbles, torn pages, water damage, etc.), the fee ranges from HUF 300 to the full price of the book.

1. Ban

If you are late by more than 1 month with any books or you have accumulated at least HUF 2000 in late fees, you will be banned from registering for courses and exams in Neptun. When the late fees are settled and the books are returned, the ban will be lifted.

1. Locker tokens

If you lose a locker token, you will have to pay a fee of HUF 2000.

1. Lost library card

If you are using a physical library card (that is NOT your student card), and you lose it, the fee is HUF 300.

If any of your contact info (e-mail, phone number) changes, please let us know. We don’t get updates from Neptun directly.

We would like to provide a peaceful learning environment in the library. Please keep your voice at a reasonable level.

We try to develop our collection according to your needs. If there is a book you would like to read (for study or leisure) and is not currently available, send us the details of the book. You can use our Wishbox or send your requests directly in e-mail to lib@metropolitan.hu or lib.rozsa@metropolitan.hu.

For more information on our services, new books, research-related questions, thesis writing, please check out our CooSpace scene.

If your programme has been moved to Infopark, there is a Library Point in Room 221 in building D. Its opening every Wednesday between 9 AM and 1 PM.

There is not enough room to keep a collection there. You can request books from our libraries by sending a list to lib@metropolitan.hu, and we will send these to the Library Point. The guide for preparing this list in our catalogue can be found on our CooSpace scene. If you need it, we can also leave the books inside the lockers with combination locks in buildings I and D.

We wish you a pleasant time and success for your studies!