The library of the Swiss Ornithological Institute in Sempach

Find items online using swisscovery RZS – Zentralschweiz, the search portal of the libraries in the Central Switzerland region. It provides a convenient way to find media online. In addition to the library holdings of the Swiss Ornithological Institute, swisscovery RZS – Zentralschweiz also allows targeted searches of the scientific media holdings of Central Switzerland.

The periodicals database lists all available journals and magazines.

The following databases can be accessed on-site:

• BioOne Complete
• Birds of the World
• Elsevier Journals
• JSTOR Life Science Collection
• Springer Journals
• SwisOnline
• Swissdox
• Wiley Online Library

In addition to the licensed databases, the database information system DBIS of the Swiss Ornithological Institute also lists a large selection of freely accessible databases from various disciplines.

The Electronic Journals Library (EZB) of the Swiss Ornithological Institute lists all electronically available journals.

Many items in the collection can be borrowed by external users. Users may take out up to five items at a time.

Journals, reference books, field guides and reference copies of core publications may not be taken out.

Borrowing is free of charge. Items may be borrowed for 28 days. If there is no reservation by another user, the loan can be renewed once for a further 28 days.

Registered users can request items that are available for borrowing to be delivered by post against payment of a fee.

Individual journal articles can be delivered as photocopies or electronic files (PDF). A fee will be charged for larger orders.

Click here to read the Terms of Use.

The Ornithological Institute’s library is an open-access library with a stock of around 20 000 items. Most items are freely accessible and are marked “Lesesaal” (Reading Room) in the catalogue.

Some older books, especially older editions, are stored in a mobile shelving system where they are also freely accessible to users. These books are marked “Magazin” (Archives) in the catalogue.

Particularly old and valuable items are kept in storage and are marked “Sondersammlung” (Special Collection) in the catalogue. They can only be viewed on request.

About 500 items are added to the library every year. Besides purchases, new additions also come from donations, legacies and review copies.
Recent acquisitions in the library of the Swiss Ornithological Institute

At the present time, almost 300 printed journals from all over the world are acquired on a regular basis. The Ornithological Institute receives about 250 of them in exchange for “Der Ornithologische Beobachter” published by Ala. The periodicals database currently contains about 2500 titles.

The Swiss Ornithological Institute library gladly accepts donations of books which are not yet in its possession. Duplicate books are used for exchange purposes or passed on to similar institutions. Please direct donation requests to: Patricia Dürring Kummer, Head of Library.

The Swiss Ornithological Institute actively supports the storage, accessibility and dissemination of digital objects in the spirit of Open Access. Its Open Access policy aims to ensure long-term public access to digital contributions of the Swiss Ornithological Institute free of charge, in particular for the purpose of research and education.

Furthermore, the Swiss Ornithological Institute follows the objectives established by the Swiss National Strategy on Open Access and other major funders, such as the Swiss National Science Foundation, to make all published and publicly funded scientific work openly accessible.

The vogelwarte.ch Open Repository and Archive is the repository of the Swiss Ornithological Institute. It serves to ensure long-term and worldwide public access to digital contributions of the Swiss Ornithological Institute.

The regulations concerning the use of vogelwarte.ch Open Repository and Archive can be found in the “Terms and Conditions of Use” (as of 14 May 2020).