Professional Working Visit to the libraries of Munich, Germany Report

Professional Working Visit to the libraries of Munich, Germany

From 12^th to 25^th October 2009

Visit Financed and Sponsored

By

(BI-I) GERMANY

With co-operation by

Goethe Institute in Cairo

Prepared by MAHMOUD SAYED ABDOU MAHMOUD Cataloger Librarian Cairo, Egypt 2009

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

First of all I would like to say that this professional visit was possible thanks to the financial support given by (BI-I), co-ordinate by Goethe Institute in Cairo and the invitations by The Munich City Library and The library of the University of Applied Sciences in Munich.

I wish to express my gratitude to everyone who contributed to organize this Professional Working Visit: Mrs. Hella Klauser, Mrs. Ute Reimer, Dr. Eva Schubert, Dr. Werner Wasner, Mrs. Angelika Hofmockel, Mrs. Christa Halser, Mrs. Petra Droll, Mr. William Kopycki, and Mr. Ismail Soliman.

As well I would particularly like to thank the staff members of (BI-I), and the staff members of each visited library who introduced and show me all about their valuable work and all other librarians who supported me, I appreciate the nice welcoming and dedication for doing this visit a significant experience in my professional improvement.

My visit was about 2 weeks from 12-25 Oct., 2009 for the libraries of Munich; it was really interesting and useful for me to visit these libraries of such developed great country.

Visit Objects

Actually it was various objects for this visit the first one was to see and know the general information about the German libraries such as: Library buildings, book shelving, periodicals and newspapers, technical and reference services, library automation, data bases, networking, circulation procedures, inter library loan and in addition to know about the management and procedures in the different departments to try to benefit form these libraries to apply this kind of knowledge on my country.

The second object is to study, see and to know all the information about RFID-Radio Frequency Identification technology and its implementations and applications on the German libraries, also to know about the sorting systems, security issues on the libraries because my Master’s aims to identify the impact of RFID systems in the libraries as a part of scientific research to obtain a Master's degree in Library and Information Science.

I was pleased to have a grant from(BI-I) to visit some libraries in Munich they already using this technology to be as an example on my study such as: The Munich City Library, The library of the University of Applied Sciences in Augsburg, and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) for two weeks from 12-25 Oct., 2009.

During my professional working visit to Munich I visited the following libraries:

1- The Munich City Library

Muenchner-Stadtbibliothek - München

URL:http://www.muenchner-stadtbibliothek.de/stadtbibliothek/stadtbib-home.html

Address:

Zentralbibliothek Am Gasteig
Rosenheimeri Str. 5
81667 München
Tel.: 089 / 480 98 -3313

2- The library of the University of Applied Sciences

Hochschule München

URL:http://www.hm.edu

Address:

Hochschule München
University of Applied Sciences - München
Lothstr. 34
D-80335 München
Tel: +49 (0) 89 12 65 - 0

3- The library of the University of Applied Sciences in Augsburg

Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften Fachhochschule Augsburg

URL:http://www.hs-augsburg.de/

Address:

Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften
Fachhochschule Augsburg
An der Fachhochschule 1
86161 Augsburg

4- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU)

URL:http://www.en.uni-muenchen.de/index.html

Address:

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1
80539 Munich
Germany

NOTE: The Libraries provides information and cultural experiences to the public in order to create personal development and learning.

Libraries visits in details:

1- The Munich City Library / Muenchner-Stadtbibliothek - München

On Monday 20th October it was the first day of my visit it was to The Munich City Library in Gasteig, I was pleased to meet Mrs. Petra Droll she is librarian and member of the library staff at the Central Library, and she was the co-coordinator and organizer for my visit to The Munich City Library.

We met on 9 morning in front of the staff entrance then she started the visit by giving me my visit schedule and then she briefed me about the history of the library, the library building and the library departments, it was really interesting and useful especially due to the large size of the library, also she told me about the other branches that belongs to the Munich City Library and how all this libraries connected together with The Munich City Library.

1.1 - Brief about The Munich City Library:

The Munich City Library is located since 1984 at Gasteig - the cultural center in Munich - and it is one of the largest regional libraries it include an open access library with more than 200,000 volumes, it has the largest local music library in Germany and in addition it has the children's and youth library, special library for philatelic and newspapers & magazines, also it has approximately 1.3 million media ready for you continues. 

The Munich City Library has its origin as an academic library in 1884 and was founded 1923, It’s a network of a Central Library, 24 branch-libraries, 5 mobile libraries, hospital-libraries and services for housebound people. In summary all public-libraries in Munich offer a variety of 3 million media-items.

The Central Library provides several historical collections. This public library is one of a few libraries in Germany that offer a combined service of a modern public library with an information library of high-quality with archiving/relegations that is common in Anglo-American public libraries.

1984 the Munich City Library moved to the new built cultural centre “Gasteig”, where the Munich Philharmonics, adult education centre and the academy of music are also located, the library offers a wide range of resources and services to all who live, work an study in Munich (and public-transport region). Visitors of the city can also use many of the services.

The Central Library offers a collection of 1,3 Milion. media items. The archive hosts 709.0000.
About 3.000 visitors come in daily and about 6.000 issues are done daily.

In 2003 the library could offer a new online web-catalogue with access on personal account, numerous improvement of service and 12 computers with Internet access for the clients.

2006 the library started to implement RFID-technology. Items can be easily issued with self-checkout-machines and the users can return the media items besides the opening hours.

By entering www.virtuelle-muenchner-stadtbibliothek.de all members can avail of the 24 hour service on-line library free of charge. This website also entails the necessary software for successful installation and download.

1.2 - The Munich City Library has 30 branch libraries in different places around Munich as below:

1-Hasenbergl	9-Harthof	17-Allach-Untermenzing	24-Moosach
2-Milbertshofen	10-Schwabing	18-Masvorstadt	25-Bogenhausen
3-Nymphenburg	11-Neuhausen	19-Jur.	26Monacensia
4-Laim	12-Westend	20-Am Gasteig	27-Berg am Laim
5-Neuaubing	13-Pasing	21-Isarvorstatdt	28-Ramersdorf
6-Waldtrudering	14-Sendling	22-Giesing	29-Obergiesing
7-Neuperlach	15-Hadern	23-Obergiesing	30-Furstenried
8-Soziale Bibliotheksdienste	16-Fahrbibliotheken / Mobile Libraries

1.3- The Munich City Library Services:

Interlibrary Loan: The service which permits current validated patrons at the library of The Munich City Library to request books from other library branches.

Social library services: The Munich City Library offers for all residents’ services for special user groups, the social library services are there to supply the literature of old, sick and disabled users.

The Library provide the hospital libraries in seven patients selected literature, medical textbooks, journals, CDs, DVDs, audio books and games, The patients can visit the library during the opening times, Hospital libraries exist in Schwabing Bogenhausen, Harlaching Neuperlach, Rechts der Isari, Kempfenhausen Thalkirchner and in the street.

The Mobile Libraries: The visit to the mobile libraries is an experience, because it has a very special atmosphere, there are an equipped buses for students and attend 85 elementary schools (on school days!) A mobile library also supplies residents of Munich of all ages with the media. Each bus can draw on a stock of some 25,000 journals; in addition the borrowing is free of charge on the Mobile libraries, The Mobile libraries contain various kinds of materials such as: books, Journals, CD-ROMs and Videos, DVDs and games, The Mobile Libraries offer various services such as: Class readings - Professional advice - Compilation of media packages - Placement of Events - Class tours - Book Exhibitions.

User Information: Munich City Library staff is welcoming all the time to guide and help library patrons to get the needed items or to find the needed information.

More than three million books, magazines and new media available on the library so it will be so hard to find items by own, so all library patrons will need the staff assistance all the time to get the needed materials, the resources are free in the rooms of libraries.

Self circulation: The Munich City Library started in 2006, extension of opening-hours to 50 hours/week, also on Saturdays.
also book return is possible every evening up to 11.00 p.m

1.4-The Munich City Library structure:

Level 0.1 Music Library

The Music Library is the biggest library for music in Germany and offers a wide-ranging collection of music CDs, sheet music, literature about music and dance.

All visitors have access to audio- and video-cabins. Besides there’s also an e-piano to play.

(stock: 216.000 items)

Level 0.2 Fiction

You can find fiction, plays and poems, a collection of Crime, Fantasy and Biographies, comics...

DVDs and audio-books.

Level 1.1 Entrance

General information

Customer service: getting a library-card, cash-desk, library-shop , Check-out desks, Enquiry-desk and reservations.

Level 1.2 Textbooks, Literature, Foreign Languages

Textbooks

Foreign languages – fiction, language-courses

Dictionaries

Literature

Level 2.1 and 2.2

Reference Section
You can find about 29.000 titles of all interests: bibliographies, encyclopaedia, dictionaries, reference books, Biographical Indices, address books, laws...
The customers get access to various databases.

Non-Fiction / PC-Pool
PC-Pool: Internet access on 12 PCs, we charge 1€ for one hour

Access to Software

Non-Fiction
about 120.0000 media items

Special collection for job &career (application, business languages, personal management...)

Level 3.1
Philately
The Philately offers literature about stamps and the history of mail and post offices (?)
Magazines and catalogues are available.

Newspapers, magazines and journals
about 70 newspapers

700 Journals, 300 magazines

EUROPE DIRECT Information centre

Children’s and Youth Library
Provides about 60.000 items

1.5- Members of staff at the Central Library

About 50 colleagues work at the service-departments (3 service teams)

About 30 librarians work at the Central-library (3 information-teams)

The Munich City Library has in sum 600 employed people.

1.6- STATISTICS (output figures 2008):

Library users share of the population	35,2%
Attendance (annual)	4.705.864
Visitors/opening day (in sum, all libraries)	18.845
Virtual usage (wep-opac, children’s website, library website)	3.461.260
Media items (in sum, all libraries)	2.869.573
Loans	12.436.954
Loans per day	49.947
Lending volume	7,22%
Renewal rate	12,17%
Total budget	36.810.000€
Personal budget	21.615.400€
Budget	2.280.000€
Budget/inhabitant	1,67€
Income	3.420.000€
Self-financing rate	9,29%
Subvention	33.390.000€
Subvention/visitor	7,09€
Subvention/issue	2,68€

2- The Library of the University of Applied Sciences-München - Mon. 19 Oct.

My second visit was on Mon.19^th Oct., it was to The Central Library of the University of Applies Sciences which located on Lothstr. 34, Munich, I arrived at 9 morning and I met Dr. Werner Wasner he is the Library manager, then I got a brief tour on the library and it’s department, the University of Applies Sciences has the central library and In addition to the central library there are two other libraries available to students:

1- Library of Economics, Tourism and Social works. 2- Library for Architecture, Civil Engineering, Steel Construction, and Geoinformatics.

­­The Central Library of the University of Applies Sciences doesn’t support RFID applications until this moment but they are planning to use RFID technology in the near future according to the Library budget and another issues.

And f course all the library users are the students of the University of Applies Sciences, the Library admits all individuals who hold a current student ID of the University of Applies Sciences, all other users need a valid ID or passport together with residency certificate to receive a library card, If any student lose the student ID he has to inform the library and also in case if changing address the student must to inform the student affairs office.

2.2- Library Catalogue: The Library catalogue (Info Guide) is a database of the books, journals and digital information held in the University Library, there are dedicated PCs in the library giving access to the catalogue. In addition any PC with internet access can access the catalogue at: http://www.hm.edu/bib/webopac

2.3- Borrowing books: Each student has a limited numbers of borrowing books from the university Library as below:

HM students = 20 books for 4 weeks.

Guest users = 10 books for 4 weeks.

Periodicals and degree theses = for 2 weeks only.

The current periodicals not allowed for borrowing and books of the references collection too or books of the course reserve collection.

2.4- The Library Security System: ­­

The Central Library of the University of Applies Sciences doesn’t support RFID applications until this moment but the library using another security system based on Electromagnetic strips, the library has a security system installed and any attempt to steal items from the library will be discovered, furthermore the student who will try to steal will be barred from using the library.

Final year students and disables persons can apply for special loan conditions, the students could also to return books in all three libraries, also they can return the loans items during 24 hours a day by using the return box outside the opening hours of the library, they can also borrow books at the self services terminal with available on both libraries: The Central library and branch library in Pasing based on Electromagnetic strips, each student can use this self services terminals using the personal ID and password.

2.5- Interlibrary loan: The interlibrary loan service allows the library users to order books and articles which are not available in Munich; the users can order books via Gateway Bayern or the InfoGuide.

2.6- Library training courses: ­­The Central Library of the University of Applies Sciences offers introductory courses aiming to familiarize its users with its electronic resources, these courses apply to new students, students who write their thesis and interested students in general could find the course schedule on the library website.

2.7- On-line services: Users could order items online via the InfoGuide from the branch libraries to the central library and vice versa, they can only order 5 books at the same time, the order will be held reserve for the user for two weeks.

2.8- E-mail notification service: if the user left the e-mail address with the library, they will be able to inform him about ordered books and about the loan period is approaching.

During my visit to ­­The Central Library of the University of Applies Sciences Dr. Werner Wasner organized another visit for me to ­­visit the library of the University of Applied Sciences in Augsburg.

3-The library of the University of Applied Sciences in Augsburg, 20 Oct., 2009

My third visit in Munich was on Thu. 20 Oct., 2009 to The library of the University of Applied Sciences in Augsburg, I arrived on 10 am on the morning and I met Mrs. Angelika Hofmockel, the Library director, she gave me a brief tour on the Library and its different departments and services.

3.1- Library services: the library of the University of Applied Sciences in Augsburg presents various services for different users as below:

1.Carrel: the library has 6 single study rooms, so-called carrels that are available for study, These can be occupied for a deposit of 50.00 € for a period of 2 months, Carrel A can only be with notification of the final thesis (diploma, bachelor's hired, the master), All carrels are assigned, a flag will be carried out at the library counter.

2.Printing facilities : When users print in the library, they must pay a sum of at least 5 Euros at the library counter.

3.E-mail Service: if user left the e-mail address with the library, they will be able to inform him about ordered books and about the loan period is approaching.

4.Group study: The library has 4 group study rooms with about 4-12 seats available for students to learn together "are available, Project can be done only for a reservation, The priority for parents, which is to bring her child into the library, the group work room H2.18 (4 seats) are available, For the children there are picture books, and crayons and paper.

5.Information Literacy: Information literacy is the ability to recognize the need for information, search for them, they choose a critical and continue to use effectively.

6.Return Terminal: To the left of the library entrance is the return terminal, it’s 24 hours in operation, that is where users can borrow items around the clock, to return items users need the FH-Card and PIN.

7. Self-service: The library of the University of Applied Sciences in Augsburg offers the borrowing self service based on RFID technology, the users can borrow any items by them selves.

In addition the library offers services such as: WLAN Wireless, Laptop Lending, and Copy and scanning service, Both Self-service and return terminal based on RFID technology, the library started to apply this technology from 2006.

It was a brief visit but very successful and useful because Mrs. Angelika Hofmockel was very helpful, she gave me a lot of needed information about RFID technology and its installation, and in the end she invited me for the breakfast.

4- The Student Library of the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Wed. 21 Oct.

On Wednesday 21^st Oct., it was my last visit and it was The Student Library of the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) which located on Leopoldstr. 13, Munich, I arrived at 10 morning and I met Mrs. Christa Halser she is the Library Director, she gave me a brief tour on the library and it’s department, the LMU Munich has several libraries in addition to the central library such as:

1. Student Library
2. Library of the Institute at the English Garden
3. Library of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty
4. Library of the Biocenter
5. Library of Historicism
6. Library of Mathematics, Meteorology, Physics
7. Library of psychology, pedagogy and sociology,
8. Library of Theology and Philosophy
9. Library of Economics & Statistics
10. Library Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy. Etc.

In addition there are number of other libraries in the following link:

http://www.ub.uni-muenchen.de/bibliotheken/

4.2- Brief about the LMU University: LMU Munich in the heart of Munich, it is one of the leading research universities in Europe, with a more than 500-year-long tradition, it has been built upon the success in the Excellence Initiative, a Germany-wide competition promoting top-level university research, to enhance its research profile over the next years and strengthen its position at an international level.

Some 700 professors and 3,300 academic staff members conduct research and teach in the university’s 18 faculties, offering a wide and well-differentiated spectrum that covers all areas of knowledge, whether humanities and cultural sciences, law, economics and sociology, or medicine and the sciences. As a genuine “universities” LMU Munich has the unique opportunity and a deep obligation to deal with the ever more complex questions facing humankind, society, culture, the environment and technology by creating interdisciplinary solutions.

With degree programs available in 150 subjects in numerous combinations, the array of courses we have to offer is extremely wide. Some 44,000 students, 15 percent of whom come to us from abroad, are currently taking advantage of these opportunities. They view their studies as an investment in the future, a launching pad for their later careers.

4.3- The Student Library of the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU):

During my visit to Munich I visited one of LMU libraries, it was the student library which located on Leopoldstr. 13, and I got a lot of useful and new information for me about the libraries procedures in general and about RFID technology specially.

4.4- Using The LMU Student Library:

The use of the Student Library and the ordering or borrowings of literature are free of charge.

Charges will only be made for the following:

• reservations: 0,50 € (you will be notified when the book you have reserved is ready for collection)
• Late returns: 7, 50 € will be charged for the first overdue notice; this includes all books borrowed on the day for which the overdue notice was issued. Charges will be increased if the books are not then returned.
• Loss of your user card: 5 €
• Please pay all charges at the Cash Desk.
• A charge will be made for copies ordered via inter-library loans.

4.5- Borrowing procedures:

• Books (monographs) can be borrowed for 4 weeks and renewed up to 6 times for a further 2 weeks provided they have not been reserved by another user.
• Bound periodical volumes can be borrowed for 2 weeks and renewed up to 6 times for a further 1 week provided they have not been reserved by another user.
• Please use the renewal functions in the online catalogue to renew your books.

4.6- E-journals and databases at the LMU:

Access to E-journals is possible only for members of the University with a Campus or LRZ (Computing Centre) Login Account.

You should use a PC within the University network, e.g. in the Main Library, connect from home via modem (via a phone-number of the computing centre) or VPN (if you connect via DSL).

Moreover you should have entered our proxy-server in your browser. Alternatively, you can access our e-journals with your Campus-Login and password via DocWeb. For this access, it is neither necessary to

Connect to the internet via our computing-centre nor to enter our proxy-server into your browser. Please make sure to point your browser to the link "E-journals (DocWeb)" in our menu.

To display full-texts of E-journals you will need to have Acrobat Reader installed on your PC., for full advices please refer to our instructions on databases and E-journals.

4.7- LMU OPAC:

Can also access the OPACplus from home on the internet under http://opacplus.ub.uni-muenchen.de and use it to search for and order literature as well as to administer your user account.

The OPACplus contains the following records:

• Books (monographs) held by the Main University Library and published after 1944 and between 1501 and 1850. We are currently working on the integration of books published between 1851 and 1943.
• Books (monographs) held by nearly all the Departmental Libraries and acquired after 1989, in some cases earlier.
• All periodical titles held by the Main University Library and the Departmental Libraries.

4.8- Self check out on The LMU student Library:

The LMU Student Library offers self check out service or self borrowing, this service give the user the chance to borrow his items by own using the Library card, this service based on RFID technology, the LMU student library apply this service from April 2009, the library has two units for self circulation located on the library entrance.

Finally I would like to say that this visit was very successful and useful visit because I got new information about RFID technology, and how it is working and a lot of other information related to the conversion phases and instillation

Visit Positives and Benefits

1. The first advantage of this visit that I have got the chance to see how the German libraries working and organizing which reflects on my field experience and for sure this will help me to develop my carrier in the future.

2. Second, I have got good knowledge about the most modern technologies in librarianship (especially RFID technology) and I got possible benefits for developing my academic career too.

3. Also, I have got a perfect and useful practical training about RFID technology (my Masters subject), and in addition I got a lot of information and details about RFID applications, installations, conversion phases, Software and hard ware in the visited libraries in Munich, and I will write all about this information on my Masters to reflects all this valuable information to the libraries and librarians on my country.

4. Interlibrary Loan Service: In my opinion I think that this service is very important because it gives users more chances to get a larger number of items from the Munich City Library and its branches around Munich, so the Munich cist library offers this service which permits current validated patrons at the library of The Munich City Library to request books from other library branches, The Munich City Library has approx. 30 other library branches around Munich and this services gives the chance for the readers to obtain the largest possible number of items from any branch belongs to the library.

5. Social library services: Usually we forget to help the people with special needs, so I found this kind of services perfect, The Munich City Library offers this service for all residents’ services for special user groups; the social library services are there to supply the literature of old, sick and disabled users.

6. The Mobile Libraries around Munich: It is very hard for a lot of people who living in a remote places around Munich to reach libraries to read or benefit from this libraries, it is also a special service offered by The Munich City Library it contains equipped buses for students and attend 85 elementary schools, the mobile library also supplies residents of Munich of all ages with the media, this kind of libraries gives the wide chance for all readers on the remote places to get books and other materials.

7. Self-circulation services (The Munich City Library): The majority of users looking for privacy to borrow their own items by them selves, The Munich City Libraries offer the self circulation systems since 2006 depending on RFID technologies, so I hope to find such as this services in the libraries on my country.

8. Return items by own: This service related to the self circulation service, both depending on RFID technology, it makes all patrons on The Munich City Library return all the borrowed items by them selves, until 11 pm, I think that a lot of users will like this kind of service also.

9. Binding books Department: The Munich City Library has a huge binding department inside provided by all needed materials for binding and that a cheapest way to bind not only books but also thesis or materials.

10. Self-circulation services (The Student Library of the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU): The Student Library has a huge numbers of students specially at the first of the semester, so the library staff found this service help to save time and doing other works.