Frequently Asked Questions

NUK membership allows you to borrow and take material to the library's reading rooms and home, access e-books, arrange inter-library loans, reproduce library materials, access specific information services, and use the desks in the Main Reading Room, the Newspaper Reading Room, and the special library collections reading rooms.

All citizens of the Republic of Slovenia and foreign nationals over 15 years of age with permanent or temporary residence in the Republic of Slovenia, employed here or enrolled at an institution of higher education based in Slovenia, can join the library.

People who want to become library members are required to present a valid identity document with a photograph and place of residence. Those without permanent residence in Slovenia are required to present a certificate of temporary residence, employment, or study in the Republic of Slovenia.

Library members can be legal entities such as independent libraries or other institutions and organizations hosting a library, institutions and organizations performing public services in the field of librarianship, and other legal entities that require library materials for educational, research, and cultural purposes. They are only allowed to use the services of interlibrary loan and transmission of document.

Upon joining the library and renewing memberships, users pay the NUK membership fee based on the NUK price list. NUK membership is free for users under the age of 18, the unemployed, people living in difficult social situations, students of the University of Ljubljana, members of the Slovenian Library Association and honorary members.

Membership for natural persons typically lasts for one year (12 months) from the day of registration. Users can also join the library for a period of three (3) months.

For students of the University of Ljubljana, membership lasts until the end of the school year on 31 October.

For the unemployed and people living in difficult social situations, membership lasts for six (6) months from the day of registration.

Upon joining the library you will receive an electronic NUK membership card, which costs €3,50. The NUK membership card is not transferable. The Urbana card valid in some public libraries cannot be used as a membership card.

A one-day membership is available for the use of the reading rooms and using borrowed materials there. The fees are based on the NUK price list.

A one-day membership can only be extended for three months or one year, or for six months for unemployed persons with evidence from the Employment Service of Slovenia.

Only library members aged 18 and older with permanent residence in the Republic of Slovenia and 4th-year secondary school students can borrow material for home use. Library members without permanent residence in the Republic of Slovenia can only borrow material for home use with the guarantee of an adult person with permanent residence in the Republic of Slovenia; a written guarantee must be signed by the guarantor.

Library material is kept in storage areas and in the library’s special collection rooms. Information on the accessibility of material for home loan is available in the KatNUK electronic catalogue where the material for home loan is marked in green. If the accessibility information reads “in preparation” or “for info contact library,” ask the librarian at the Registration and Circulation Desk (ground floor left, Room 4) or call us at (01) 2001 143.

You cannot borrow archival publications from the fundamental national collection (Slovenica), material kept in the Main Reading Room and Newspaper Room, reference material, manuscripts, rare and valuable materials, newspapers, materials of unusual size, as well as ephemera and grey literature for home use.

To order material for home loan, the items available for loan must be ordered in the KatNUK electronic catalogue via the COBISS – My library web service under “Loans, Reservations, Renewal”. If you want to cancel your order, send an e-mail to izposoja@nuk.uni-lj.si or call (01) 2001 143.

Material from special library collections available for home loan must be borrowed in person in the collection rooms. This material is marked in the KatNUK electronic catalogue by a code letter before the call number: b (librarianship and information science material), D (Slovenian diaspora publications), G (map and pictorial collection), M (music prints and sheet music), PKG (ephemera and grey literature), EU (material on EU and international organizations), and R (manuscripts, rare and old prints).

You can reserve items that have no borrowing restrictions or prohibitions and are currently borrowed by another user. Reservations are possible via the COBISS - My library service, in person, or by telephone. When the material is available, the library will notify you in the way you accessed the COBISS – My library web service, i.e., via e-mail, or by telephone. If you want to cancel your reservation, please send an e-mail to izposoja@nuk.uni-lj.si or call (01) 2001 143.

If you cannot find desired material in the NUK library collection, you can order it from other or foreign libraries via the Interlibrary Loan service. This is a paid service based on the NUK price list.

Your password for ordering, placing reservations, and renewing a loan period is set up when you register in the library. You can change it later by yourself via the COBISS – My library web service.

When requested items are available, a notice will be sent to the e-mail provided in your registration form.

Items from storage at Turjaška ulica 1 (with no code or GS or U before the call number) will be delivered within 30 minutes after placing the order. Material from special collections is available in the collection rooms in person where you can borrow the items without ordering it first.

As a rule, ordered or reserved items will stay on the hold shelf for up to 3 working days after an order is submitted or a notice is sent that the items are available. After this period, the items will be returned to storage or lent to another user. If you fail to collect ordered items, you will be charged the fine for unclaimed items. You can cancel an order at izposoja@nuk.uni-lj.si or call (01) 2001 143.

The NUK membership card is not transferable, meaning you can only order and collect items in person. In case of clear grounds (illness, for example), another person may borrow items on your behalf with your authorisation (print out a form or send information about the authorized person to izposoja@nuk.uni-lj.si).

You can borrow a maximum of 15 items at one time. If you need to borrow more items, please send a request to izposoja@nuk.uni-lj.si.

The loan period is 30 days. If the item has not been reserved by another user you can renew the loan for up to three times. After 120 days it must be returned for inspection. You can borrow it again immediately if it has not been reserved.

Borrowed material can be renewed online at COBISS – My Library, by e-mail at izposoja@nuk.uni-lj.si, by telephone at (01) 2001 143, or in person at the Registration and Circulation Desk (ground floor left, Room 4).

Material borrowed for home loan can be returned to the library in person or by registered post. Another person can return the items on your behalf.

If you have not renewed your loan period on time, you will be charged an overdue fine per item per day based on the NUK price list.

If you have lost or damaged library materials whilst on loan to you, you can provide an exact replacement of the same item and pay for the cost of processing based on the NUK price list. If the item cannot be replaced, you will have to pay compensation for its loss and the cost of processing based on the NUK price list.

Only library members can borrow material in the reading rooms (Main Reading Room, Newspaper Reading Room, special collections reading rooms).

You can find information on the availability of material for reading room loan in the KatNUK electronic catalogue. Under Loan Status, material is marked “Available – reading room” or “Available – outside loan.” If you cannot find the desired item in the catalogue, please ask a librarian at the Information Centre (Ground Floor, Room 9) or call (01) 2001 188.

When the call number of a publication in the KatNUK electronic catalogue is blue, you can order the item by clicking on the link. In the form displayed enter your library card number and the password you chose when registering or your password for access to the COBISS – My library web service.

If the call number is not blue, you must order the item in person by submitting a Reading Room order form in the reading rooms or at the Registration and Circulation desk (ground floor left, Room 4).

If you need an article, we can e-mail a copy to you.

Material from storage at Turjaška ulica 1 (with no code or GS or U before the call number) will be delivered within 20 minutes after placing the order at the Main Reading Room. Material kept in special collections can be accessed directly in the collection room without ordering it first.

Copying of library material (photocopying, digitization, microfilming, etc.) and printouts or transfers of data from electronic information resources are available to library users against payment in accordance with Copyright and Related Rights Act, and the provisions of license agreements concluded by the library at the time of acquisition of material. Prices are determined in the price list of the library services.

Depending on the type and condition of the material, the information officer assesses whether you can use your own technical equipment, or if copying is possible only with the library’s technical equipment; in the latter case, you will fill in the Copy Order and receive copies within 5 working days at the latest.

You can borrow an e-book via the biblos system for 14 days and via the EBSCO system for 1 day to 1 month.

You can borrow 4 items via the biblos system and 15 via the EBSCO system at one time.