thoska for everyone

Why is there suddenly a charge for registering? It used to be free, didn’t it?
The schedule of administrative charges, appended to the Erfurt University Library’s Terms of Use dated 20 February 2019, states that the initial issue or replacement of a library card incurs a fee of 10 EUR to cover administrative costs. With the introduction of the thoska, these costs for the initial issue of a library card will also apply at the Erfurt University Library and the Gotha Faculty Library, as in all other Thuringian university libraries. 

I am a school pupil and do not yet have a debit card. Can I still become a library user?
You can also ask someone else who has a debit or credit card (e.g. a parent) to purchase the thoska on your behalf. You must purchase the card in order to register for library use.

Are there any concessions (e.g. for school pupils, senior citizens, people with severe disabilities)?
No.

I’m a visiting professor and will only be here for 3 months. I’d like to borrow books – do I still have to pay 10 euros for library registration?
Yes, even if you are not an employee at the University of Erfurt and your library membership is limited to the duration of your stay, you must pay 10 euros for the issue of the thoska.

I am a doctoral candidate with a scholarship at the University of Erfurt, but I am enrolled at a university abroad. Do I also need a thoska if I want to borrow books? Who covers the costs?
Yes, you also need a thoska to register for library use (documents to be presented: passport with German registration certificate). We cannot comment on whether the costs will be covered.

I was a student at Erfurt University of Applied Sciences and have a thoska that is no longer valid. I would still like to remain a library user at the University Library of Erfurt. What do I need to do?
You are very welcome to continue using the University Library of Erfurt. However, as your thoska is no longer valid (not validated and without an active payment function), you will need to purchase a new thoska library card for 10 EUR.

I have an institutional ID card for my government department. Will this card also be replaced when it expires?
Yes, the card will be replaced. 

I don’t want to borrow anything to take home; I just want to read in the library and order something from the stacks. Do I still have to buy a library card for 10 EUR for this?
We recommend that you purchase a thoska library card when you register to use the library. Once we have all the necessary documents for your registration, this is the best solution, even in the event that you do eventually wish to borrow something to take home or use thoska as a copying card or to pay in the cafeteria.

I don’t have an identity card and only have a passport without a current registered address, and I’d like to order something from the catalogue.
You will be registered with us as an on-site user free of charge. This means you cannot borrow anything to take home. There are no late fees, so you do not need the payment function of a library card. 

I would just like to use the manuscripts in the Special Collection in the Special Reading Room for a few days. Do I still have to pay 10 euros?
To use the Special Reading Room, you will need a valid library card. We can register you as an on-site user, as you do not wish to borrow anything to take home and will not incur any late return fees.