• Who can access UMFC Library collections?
  Eligible users of UMFC Library are students, PhD students, internship program participants, listeners of postgraduate studies and workers of UMFC.
  People from outside the University can access the collections on the premises.
   
• How can I create a library account in UMFC Library?
  New students at UMFC have their library accounts created automatically. If you are a worker, PhD student, internship program participant or a listener of postgraduate studies, you need to go to the Library in order to create your library account.
   
• I am a graduate/former worker at UMFC – can I still access the collections of UMFC Library?
  Yes, you can access our collections but only on university premises.
   
• What are my library account login details?
  If you do not know your login details, please contact the Library at wypozyczalnia@chopin.edu.pl or biblioteka@chopin.edu.pl.
  You can change your verification (password) after logging in to your account. You can find all the details on managing your library account in the instruction titled USER ACCOUNT.
   
• Can I change the email address for my library account?
  Yes, you can change it after logging in to your library account.

• How can I check if there is an item I need in UMFC Library?
  Main source of information about the collections is online catalogue ALEPH http://opac.chopin.edu.pl
  For more details please visit our website tab CATALOGUES.
   
• Are there all the collections of UMFC Library in the online catalogue?
  Descriptions of all the books, CDs and DVDs are already in the online catalogue. However, some of the sheet music items, journals and older sound collections are still in the process of preparing. Their descriptions can be found in the digital card catalogues. For more details please visit our website tab CATALOGUES.
   
• Do both electronic ALEPH catalogue and card catalogue contain the same information?
  Card catalogues are not being updated anymore. Publications which have been collected after 2014 are being described in online ALEPH catalogue only.
   
• I am looking for sheet music but in the electronic catalogue the results include a lot of recordings – can I narrow my search results?
  Yes, you need to choose the right category in the Base to search box. Please remember to choose an option with (Warsaw) for collections held in Warsaw or an option with (Białystok) for collections held in Białystok.
   
• How can I search more effectively? What should I type while searching?
  To make your searching more effective please try using keywords, especially names of the genres in plural form. Unfortunately, most of them work only in Polish language so please have a look at the tab and table below titled USEFUL POLISH KEYWORDS. For more information about effective search please visit our instruction EFFECTIVE SEARCH.
   
• What do the letter symbols mean at the beginning of each call number?
  Letter symbols standing before the number indicate the type of the document. Main types of documents in our collectionas are:
  
  K – books [Książki]
  N – sheet music [Nuty]
  B – sheet music of pocket size
  Xe – photocopy [Xerokopie]
  
  For more details on the types and status of our collections please visit the instruction CALL NUMBER AND ITEM STATUS.
   
• Where can I find a catalogue with Masters theses and Doctoral dissertations?
  All Masters theses and Doctoral dissertations are included in online ALEPH catalogue. In order to view them you need to change Base to search to Masters theses or Doctoral dissertations. UMFC Library do not hold Bachelor theses. You can find the list of the titles of all the theses in the Reading Room – according to the information given by particular departments.

• What types of collections are there in UMFC Library?
  UMFC Library collects sheet music, books, journals, sound and audiovisual recordings. For more details on the library collections and tasks please visit our website tab ABOUT THE LIBRARY.
   
• How can I borrow library materials?
  In order to borrow an item please place a request via your individual library account in online ALEPH catalogue. After signing in you need to click request button located next to every copy in the online catalogue.
  If an item you need can be found in digital card catalogue only, please email us at wypozyczalnia@chopin.edu.pl, giving us the call number of the requested item. For more details please view the instruction HOW TO BORROW?.
   
• Is placing an online request essential to borrow an item?
  Yes, it makes both librarians’ work and loan procedure more effective. Therefore, we kindly ask you to familiarize yourself with the instruction HOW TO BORROW?.
   
• How long does preparing the materials take after placing a request?
  We make every effort to make the delivery time as short as possible. The requested items are usually ready on the day of placing a request, very often within 10-20 minutes (during the Library opening hours). A user should receive a confirmation email when the requested item is ready to collect from the Library.
   
• How long are loan-periods for particular items?
  Loan-period for the items of available [wypożycza się] status are as follows:
  books – 30 days
  sheet music – 90 days
  sound and audiovisual collection – 8 days (15 days for UMFC lecturers)
  
  Short-loan [wykładowy] status means that an item can be borrowed for 7 days (students) or 15 days (lecturers). The loan period for these items cannot be extended / renewed.
  
  Items with a status Library use only [udostępniany na miejscu] must be returned to the Library on the same day.
   
• Can I extend the loan period of borrowed items?
  Yes, you can renew the loan twice via your individual library account. The new lending term is as long as the first one and starts from the day of activating the renewal. Therefore, we recommend using this tool near (and always before) the original due date. Renewal is not possible if another user has already got in line for it.
   
• How many borrowed items can I have at one time?
  Students can have up to 6 books, 14 sheet music items and 10 sound materials checked out at any one time.
  Faculty and staff can have up to 10 books, 20 sheet music items and 10 sound materials.
  For more details please view the Regulation No 1 in the library website tab REGULATIONS.
   
• Can I borrow an item if I do not have my Student ID card with me?
  Student ID card serves as a library card in the Library and everyone must present an ID card while borrowing.
   
• Can I borrow an item to my friend’s account
  No, everyone can borrow items directly for themselves only, upon presentation of Student ID card.
   
• Can I copy or scan library books and sheet music?
  Yes, it is possible to copy library items in the Copy Point right next to the Lending Room (floor -1). It is also possible to take photos or to scan the necessary fragments using your phone. However, it is important to always remember to obey the copyright law.
   
• How do I know which item I can borrow and which I can use on the premises only?
  An information about the access to the collections is contained in the item status. You can borrow copies with available or short-loan status, the rest can be used on the premises. For more details on the item status please visit the instruction CALL NUMBER AND ITEM STATUS.
   
• I haven’t returned an item on time and my account is blocked. What shall I do?
  You need to return the item as soon as possible. Your account is automatically blocked for as long as many working days the overdue item has been failed to return. During this period you cannot borrow any other materials.
   
• Can I borrow items over the summer holidays?
  Yes, but please remember that you need to settle your account with the library by the end of each academic year (September 30).
   
• Can I borrow orchestral parts?
  Orchestral parts can be borrowed only for the purposes related to concert activity of UMFC or other institutions asking for them. Other people can use orchestral parts only on the premises.
   
• Can I listen to the audio recordings on the Library premises?
  Yes, when using university network or Wi-Fi (e.g. in the Reading Room) you can use player function in our online ALEPH catalogue. If you need to listen to the recordings in better quality, you can use one of the five cabins with stereo equipment provided by our Sound Library.
   
• When the library is closed, what resources can I use at home?
  UMFC Library subscribes to a few licensed online resources (encyclopedias, sheet music, sound and audiovisual recordings, academic articles and journals). Students, lecturers and other workers of UMFC can remotely access most of them after contacting the Library at wypozyczalnia@chopin.edu.pl or czytelnia@chopin.edu.pl. The complete list and information about the resources can be found at the website tab ONLINE RESOURCES.

• Can I borrow books from the Reading Room?
  There is no possibility to borrow books from the Reading Room. The book collection of the Reading Room can only be used on the premises.
   

• Is there Wi-Fi in the Reading Room?
  Yes, Wi-Fi is available in the entire building of the University, in the Reading Room as well. It can be accessed by students and employees of the UMFC in the IT Department. Other users are welcome to use 8 computers stations in the Reading Room.
   

• Can I return items borrowed from the Lending Room in the Reading Room?
  This is possible only when the Lending Room is closed.
   

• The catalogue contains information that the book is in the Reading Room. How can I find it on the shelf?
  The key information for the Reading Room collection is ‘Reading Room’ column in ‘all items’ view. You can find the same designation on the books’ call number. ‘Reading Room’ designation determines the location of the book on the shelf – the section number and the book number within the section, for example ‘Dz 6 Ks 25’ (meaning: section 6, book 25). The numbers and locations of the secions are clearly labelled on the shelves, and the books in the sections are arranged in order. Practical guidance for navigating around can be found in the Reading Room manual.

• What are special collections? Who can use them and how?
  Special collections are materials of special value. These are i.a. manuscripts, first editions, old prints. They can be used only on the premises in the Reading Room under the supervision of a librarian. The special collections also include unpublished scientific works. Masters theses and doctoral dissertations can be accessed, after meeting the formal requirements, by students and employees of the UMFC and – in justified cases – by other persons after obtaining the consent of the Director of the UMFC Library.
   

• How to get access to masters theses?
  You need to submit an appropriate form (available on our website in the tab REGULATIONS) and request the thesis via our online catalogue. Instructions for accessing diploma theses in the UMFC Library can be found in the DIPLOMA WORKS manual.
   

• Can I borrow masters theses or doctoral dissertation from the collections of the UMFC Library?
  No, borrowing diploma theses is not allowed. Masters theses and doctoral dissertations can be accessed on special terms, on the library premises only. It is forbidden to copy or photograph them.
   

• What does the ‘CIM’ symbol mean?
  The ‘CIM’ symbol stands for cimelia, that is materials of special value, properly protected and stored. These are the most valuable or the oldest prints kept in the Library as well as manuscripts separated from the regular collections and specially protected. They can be accessed on special terms, on the premises only.

Useful Polish keywords for searching different classical music genres

• I would like to donate sheet music/books/audiovisual materials to the UMFC Library, where should I apply?
  Detailed guidelines for donors can be found in the FOR DONORS tab.
   
• Where can I get an entry in the clearance slip?
  In order to receive entries confirming the lack of obligations towards the UMFC Library, please contact one of our librarians – at the Lending Room and the Sound Library or at the Affiliate Library in Bialystok.
   
• Is it possible for the Library to purchase the publications I need for my academic work?
  We regularly enrich our library collections with new items in order to fulfill our users’ needs. Therefore, it is worth reporting such needs in person or via the FORM. If purchasing a certain item is not possible, we can offer an interlibrary loan.
   
• Can I borrow something from another library via the UMFC Library?
  Yes, we provide interlibrary loans, from both Polish as well as foreign libraries. In order to use this option, please contact us by e-mail at the following address: biblioteka@chopin.edu.pl.