§ 1 Purpose of the library
(1) The library is primarily available to employees of the GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research Kiel. Otherwise, it serves as a scientific library with limited public access for research, teaching and studies as well as for further education and information in the field of ocean research. It is a lending library.
(2) The user relationship is subject to public law.

§ 2 Admission to use
(1) All employees of the Center are admitted to use the library and its holdings in the library rooms.
(2) For visiting scientists at GEOMAR who are resident in Germany, § 2 para. 4 applies accordingly for the duration of their stay at GEOMAR. Visiting scientists at GEOMAR who are not resident in Germany may only borrow media via a member of the Center.
(3) Persons other than those named in para. 1 may be admitted to use the library by the library management if there are no important reasons to the contrary; they will be issued with a library card on request.
(4) Use is subject to the presentation of valid identification (identity card or passport with confirmation of registration from the residents' registration office). Minors (under the age of 18) must also present a declaration of consent from their legal guardian using the attached form. The user will be issued with a library card, which he/she must show when borrowing items. By registering, the user accepts the library regulations. The library uses electronic data processing to fulfill its tasks. The stored data is treated in accordance with the provisions of the data protection laws.
(5) The library must be informed immediately of any changes of name or address. In addition, a forwarding request (to the post office or landlord) or other suitable measures must be taken to ensure that notifications from the library are received. The loss of the library card must be reported to the library immediately and the card will be blocked for further borrowing. If a new card is issued, the old one loses its validity. If misuse is suspected, the library card may be temporarily withheld.
(6) Users are obliged to return all borrowed media before the end of the user relationship.

§ 3 General rights and obligations of the user
(1) Anyone using the GEOMAR library must observe the provisions of the user regulations and follow the instructions of the library staff and shall be liable in accordance with the general provisions for any damage or disadvantages incurred by the library or GEOMAR as a result of failure to fulfill these obligations.
(2) When entering the library, the library card within the meaning of § 2 para. 4 must be shown at the request of the library staff.
(3) When using the library, consideration must be given to other users.
(4) Smoking and listening to music is not permitted anywhere in the GEOMAR library. Eating and drinking is permitted; the user is liable for any damage.
(5) Visitors are not permitted to make telephone calls in the library area. Mobile telephones (cell phones) may only be carried when switched off.
(6) Outerwear, umbrellas, folders, bags, luggage and similar items as well as larger objects may not be brought into the library reading rooms. Animals may not be brought into the library. Exceptions may be permitted by the library management in individual cases.
(7) Library property must be treated carefully and with care and protected from damage and loss. Damage must be reported to the library supervisor immediately. It is not permitted to make annotations, notes and other markings or sticky notes in the media provided by the library. The removal of pages in particular constitutes damage to property and may be prosecuted. The user should check the condition of the books or other library items handed out to him/her on receipt or before use and report any significant damage to the library staff immediately.
(8) The user must pay compensation for damage to or loss of library property in accordance with the general provisions, whereby he or she bears the burden of proof that he or she is not responsible for the breach of duty (in accordance with § 280 para. 1 sentence 2 BGB). In the event of liability, full compensation must be paid. The type and amount of compensation shall be determined by the library management after due assessment of the damage.
(9) Library property must be returned immediately after use.
(10) Workstations may not be left unused for longer than one hour. It is not permitted to occupy a workstation for another user. In the event of non-compliance, the library staff is authorized to clear the workstations.
(11) Library staff are authorized to check the contents of materials and containers carried by users.
(12) Items found in the library or removed from lockers that have not been cleared in due time will be treated in accordance with § 978 of the German Civil Code.

§ 4 Special conditions of use
(1) The library management may restrict the use of individual works (e.g. loose-leaf collections, unbound journals, rare books) or make it subject to special conditions.
(2) Only those books that are directly required for the work may be taken to the workstation in the library, but no more than eight volumes. The library management may further restrict the number of books used at the same time if this is necessary for the proper performance of exercises or the completion of examination papers. If this rule is violated, the surplus books will be removed. Further measures remain reserved.
(3) Fixed workstations for a certain period of time will be allocated by the library management to certain groups of people (examination candidates, Master's candidates, severely disabled persons) on request, provided there is a need for this and the premises permit it.
(4) Photocopies from the GEOMAR Library's book collections may be made on the photocopying machines set up for this purpose in the library rooms, provided the condition of the original allows this. The decision on this is made by the library management. The user is responsible for observing copyrights. The library is not obliged to make photocopies.
(5) Computers and other library equipment may only be used after instruction by library staff.
(6) Internet use of OPAC devices is for the sole purpose of research and study in the field of ocean research. For persons who do not fall under § 2 para. 1 and para. 2, the use of the OPAC research stations is limited to half an hour per day within the scope of the purpose mentioned in sentence 1. Searches and printouts that do not serve this purpose are not permitted.

§ 5 Lending
(1) Books and other media may be borrowed in accordance with the following provisions. Excluded from lending are specially marked works from the reference collection, maps and so-called reference copies. The loan period for periodicals is 1 week and for all other media 2 weeks. An extension is possible if there are no reservations. The library reserves the right to set different loan periods in special cases.
(2) Items may only be borrowed on presentation of a library card. If it is not possible to register the books to be borrowed electronically, they may only be borrowed on presentation of the library card or an identity card. The item is deemed to have been borrowed by the registered person when it is checked out and handed over by the library staff. The person in whose name the library card was issued or in whose name the item was registered is responsible for the borrowed item. The GEOMAR Library must be notified immediately if the library card is lost.
(3) For books that are not returned or not returned on time, the person in whose name the loan was registered will be held liable. The liability includes the costs of replacement. The library is entitled to replace items without further notice. In addition, administrative fees will be charged in accordance with the official scale of fees for academic libraries. If the borrower claims that he/she is not responsible for the breach of duty, he/she shall bear the burden of proof (in accordance with Section 280 (1) BGB).
(4) The library is entitled to reclaim borrowed items at short notice in the course of stock audits.

§ 6 Exceeding loan periods and reminder fees
(1) If the loan period is exceeded, a reminder will first be sent free of charge. If the person being reminded does not respond 6 days after the reminder has been sent (extends or returns the item), a reminder will be sent for a fee (see § 11). The shipping costs shall be borne by the reminder recipient.
After a further 6 days, a 2nd reminder with costs will be sent and after a further 6 days a 3rd reminder with costs will be sent. The costs for sending these reminders shall also be borne by the person reminded. If the reminded media are not returned, the person reminded will be excluded from borrowing. The library management reserves the right to take further necessary legal action, such as initiating legal dunning proceedings.

§ 7 External loans
§ 7.1 Borrowing from abroad
(1) Works required for academic purposes that are not available locally can be ordered from an external library through the library (external loans). This type of use is subject to the provisions of the Interlibrary Loan Regulations.
(2) The ordering party will be notified of the receipt of an item ordered from outside the library.
(3) Any costs incurred for interlibrary loans shall be borne by the ordering users; for users according to §2 para. 1 and para. 2, the costs shall be borne by the library.

§ 7.2 Loans to other countries
(1) Loans to other countries are made within the framework of the German libraries' international interlibrary loan system and the international interlibrary loan system; the provisions of the current version of the interlibrary loan regulations apply.
(2) The library may exclude works from being lent abroad.

§ 8 Regulatory measures, exclusion from use, house rules
(1) The library management exercises the domiciliary right; it may assign library staff to exercise the domiciliary right. In the event of disruptions to library operations, the library management shall take the necessary measures to ensure the proper operation of the library.
(2) Library staff are authorized to expel users from the library who do not comply with their instructions or otherwise violate the library regulations.
(3) If a user seriously or repeatedly violates the provisions of the user regulations or if the library can no longer reasonably be expected to continue a user relationship due to the occurrence of special circumstances, he/she may be temporarily excluded from using the library and its facilities, including borrowing books, in whole or in part by the library management. A permanent exclusion from the use of the library and its facilities, including the lending of books, shall be decided by the Directorate at the request of the library management.
The obligations of the user arising from the user relationship are not affected by the exclusion.

§ 9 Exclusion of liability
No liability is accepted for the loss of or damage to items brought into the library. The same applies to damage resulting from the fact that ordered media are not made available to the user or are made available late.

§ 10 Opening hours
(1) The opening hours are announced by a notice in the library or by separate information.

§ 11 Fees
The standard fees are announced on the notice board.

§ 12 Entry into force
The user regulations come into force on the day following their announcement.