Media are arranged according to subject categories in the open access shelves. Books on the same topic can be found together on the same shelf. An overview of the subject categories can be found in the TU Wien Classification, opens an external URL in a new window.The books are further organised by year of publication within a subject category. The latest literature can be found at the end of each subject category.

In the Main Library, books are situated on the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th floors; journals are on the second floor; and the textbook collection can be found on the ground floor.

In the Chemistry and Mechanical Engineering Library, books and journals are on the 1st floor and the textbook collection is on the 2nd floor.

Our staff will be glad to help you with any questions.

Search for titles on CatalogPlus, opens an external URL in a new window and click on your desired item in the search result. The GetIt information in the full view will contain the floor and the classification shelf mark, for example ARC:012 TRE (2010).

The “View Location” link on the right side will show you the floor plan of the floor where ARC: is located.            

Older books are usually found in the stacks that are not open to the public. You need to request these items specially to borrow or read them. Our page on loans and borrowing will tell you how to do this.

Books less than 100 years old can usually be borrowed. Reference works (lexica, dictionaries), old books (over 100 years old) and particularly valuable or rare books may not be borrowed.

As long as the publications are not subject to any special protection, you may usually scan individual pages or chapters for private use (§42 UrhG / Austrian Copyright Act, opens an external URL in a new window) free of charge, using the scanners in the open access area (bring a USB stick!).

In the Main Library, issues of journals from the current year and journal volumes from the previous year can be found on the 2nd floor. These journals are arranged on shelves by subject (for instance, ARC for architecture) and a sequential number (call number).

In the Chemistry and Mechanical Engineering Library, current journals are arranged in alphabetic order in the main reading room, not according to subjects.

To find out the subject and shelf mark for the journal you are looking for, please refer to the library catalogue, opens an external URL in a new window.

Print journals (issues and older bound volumes) can only be read in the library. You may usually scan individual pages or articles for private use (§42 UrhG / Austrian Copyright Act, opens an external URL in a new window) free of charge, using the scanners in the open access area.

Please be aware that many books and journals can be read in electronic form on the TU Wien campus!

Students and members of other Austrian universities can read e-resources locally in the library via the eduroam network (on their own laptop) or at the library terminals in the open-access areas.

Students or employees of TU Wien can access these via TUnet or from home via VPN.

For more information on this, refer to our page on online access.