Library of Ancient Civilizations
Opening hours
Opening hours during the spring semester 2024:
Opening hours from 26.02.2024 to 31.05.2024: Monday - Friday, 09.00 - 18.00 (entry until 17.45).
The library is closed on the following days: on Wednesday, 01.05.2024, on Thursday/Friday, 09./10.05.2024 and on Monday, 20.05.2024.
Opening hours during summer 20024:
Opening hours from 03.06.2024 to 21.06.2024: Monday - Friday, 09.00 - 17.00 (entry until 16.45).
Opening hours from 24.06.2024 to 30.08.2024: Monday - Friday, 10.00 - 16.00.
The library is closed on Thursday and Friday, 01./02.08.2024.
Opening hours from 02.09.2024 to 13.09.2024: Monday - Friday, 09.00 - 17.00 (entry until 16.45).
Access
Access to the building via the main entrance is from 12.06.2023 only possible with a key (staff members of the department and the library) or UNICard (staff members and students of the University of Basel). Persons without a UNICard, i.e. library users not affiliated with the University must ring the bell at the entrance to be admitted.
Holdings
Publications on ancient civilizations of the University Library Basel, the Department of Ancient Civilizations andSwiss Archaeology.
Acquisition requests of media not available in the library can be entered via the contact form to be found below.
Use and borrowing
swisscovery - the national search portal for academic libraries
To access our library's services, please register with the SLSP registration platform. For more information, please visit the University Library Basel website:
All books in the openly-accessible collection («Freihandbibliothek») and in the open stacks («Freihandmagazin») can be used on site. Borrowable books in the openly-accessible collection and open stacks are to be retrieved from the shelves by the library visitors in order to be borrowed. Loans are possible during the above-mentioned opening hours.
The loan period is 28 days (home loan). If no other reservation has been made, this period is automatically extended five times.
Borrowable holdings can also be ordered free of charge with the Basel Courier to the Basel libraries affiliated with this courier. Likewise, it is possible to order borrowable holdings to swisscovery courier libraries for a fee. Information on courier orders can be found on the UB website under Courier Orders.
Information on fees can be found on the UB website under Fees.
Information on use
Jackets and bags are not permitted in the library. A checkroom with lockers is available on the ground floor behind the entrance hall to the library staircase. Eating and drinking is not allowed in the library (exception: beverages in closable receptacles).
The University Library's plastic baskets are available at the reference and loan desk. These are for library-internal use only, must be returned to the reference and loan desk after use, and may not be removed from the library.
Library regulations are to be acknowledged by the library visitors and can be downloaded on this page under Downloads.
Course reserves
Further information on establishing course reserves in the Library of Ancient Civilizations and on digital course reserves can be found under Downloads.
To order books for external course reserves in other departments, please contact biblio-altertum@clutterunibas.ch, indicating the course reserves account in question.
Non-lending collections
Instructions on where and how to use the non-lending collections can be found on the non-lending collections websites:
Non-lending collection Homer Commentary
Non-lending collection Papyrology
Library catalog
The holdings of the Library of Ancient Civilizations can be discovered in the search portal swisscovery.
Reference collection
Reference works bearing red labels with the call number BAW A LEX in the openly-accessible collection on the first floor are a non-lending collection and may only be consulted on site.
For employees of the department, key reference works are also available in the research section of the building in the copy rooms 106.2 (1st floor: BAW B LEX) and 209 (2nd floor: BAW C LEX) as well as in front of the office 305 of Ancient History (3rd floor: BAW D LEX).
Library of Ancient Civilizations
Reference and loan desk
Petersgraben 51
4051 Basel
Switzerland
Tel: +41 61 207 13 30
Public computer workstations
Two computer workstations are available for searching in the catalog on the 1st floor opposite the reference and loan desk. There is also aanother computer workstation for searching in the catalog in open stacks in the basement.
Copy and digitize
There are two self-service devices for copying, printing and scanning, one on the 1st floor (room 127) and another one on the ground floor (room 026). Both devices can be used for copying, printing and scanning with UNIprint cards and UNIcards of the University of Basel.
Prices for copies
B/W copy / print A4 CHF 0.10 per page
B/W copy / print A3 CHF 0.15 per page
Color print / copy A4 CHF 0.50 per page
Color print / copy A3 CHF 1.00 per page
Scan free of charge
Book scanner and microfiche reader
A book scanner and a microfiche reader are available on the ground floor (room 026). Both can be used free of charge.
Lockers
Half of the library lockers can be permanently occupied for a deposit fee of CHF 50. The application form for a locker can be downloaded from this page (see Downloads) and must be submitted to the head librarian during working hours.
The other half of the lockers are available for short-term use during the day. Keys can be obtained at the reference and loan desk against the deposit of an ID card. The locker must be emptied by closing time in the evening at the latest and the key returned to the reference and loan desk.
Work spaces/access authorization
During opening hours, work spaces are available in the openly-accessible collection (1st floor) for students of Ancient Civilizations, users of the library, and all university staff.
The ground floor houses the reading rooms with the personal work spaces for doctoral students and students working on a MA thesis in Ancient Civilizations at the University of Basel.
Allocation of a work space for doctoral students and students working on a MA thesis / Application for access authorization for students of Ancient Civilizations and visiting scholars of the department
Information as well as the application form for a work space and/or an access authorization (using your UNIcard) can be obtained from the library administration or at the reference and loan desk or can be downloaded from this page (see Downloads). The completed application form must be handed in to the head librarian.
Shelf compartments for students
Students can reserve a shelf compartment for their books on the 1st floor. The application form can be obtained from the library administration or downloaded from this page (see Downloads). The completed registration form must be handed in to the head librarian.
Computer workstations for students of Ancient Civilizations
Computer workstations for students of Ancient Civilizations are located in room 023 on the ground floor of the library.
The computers equipped with specialized applications for the respective subject areas may only be used by students of Ancient Civilizations who require the installed professional applications as part of their studies.
