Frequently asked questions

Self-service return and loan of documents

You can use the return machine to return all documents, except for the holdings of the Foreign libraries section (The English, German/Austrian and Romance Libraries) and audio CDs. Follow the instructions on the display of the machine. There is no need to attach a reader’s card before returning, anyone can return. If you want to borrow the books again immediately, return them at the registration desk and then you can borrow them again through self-checks. It also happens that you are not in delay, and if so, you can pay the amount due in cash or by card. Books ready for borrowing are on the shelves sorted according to the first letter of the reader’s last name and ID.
ID number:
• after attaching the reader’s card to the self-check (next to his/her name in parentheses),
• after logging in to your user account in the online catalog (Reader tab – Administrative data),
• in sent emails (by notifying that the document is ready for loan, reminder, etc.).
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Are you open at the weekends?

Saturday operation of the central building is 9:00–12:00.

Registration of new library users

If you are interested in using the services of the Education and Research Library of the Pilsen Region (SVK PK), please refer to Article 8 of the Library Regulations; fees are in the Library price list.

Who will help with orientation in the library stock?

Advice will be provided free of charge by staff in the general study room (on the ground floor of the building), special study room or open access section on the second floor. If requested, staff will show you how to work with the library’s electronic catalogue. In study rooms and the open access section there is also internet access available.
The majority of SVK PK stock is located in warehouses, from which the required items are ordered. The library catalogues assist with orientation in the stock. Loans are arranged by means of loan protocol. The time for delivery from the warehouse depended on the location where the item is stored.

Does the library have barrier-free access / WC for disabled people?

Yes, barrier-free access is in place. The WC for wheelchair users is located on the ground floor in the rear arched corridor on the left. The key is available on request from the warden’s desk.

Which items may be taken home?

Not every item may be taken home (circulation loan). Items intended solely for study on the premises of the SVK PK (onsite loans) include, for example, books issued prior to 1918; books issued in or associated with the Pilsen region if the library possesses only one copy; all newspapers, periodicals and films. In the library catalogue individual items are marked “circulation” (“absenčně”), onsite (“prezenčně”) etc.
Further information on the classification of stock  can be found in the Regulations on loans in the Library Regulations of the SVK PK. Books borrowed from the central library should be returned to the loan registration desk. Items from foreign libraries should be returned to the appropriate library. Fines for overdue books are charged in accordance with the valid price list.

What can I take home on the same working day?

Until closing time at the library, you can take away reserved items if you have received notice that they are available for collection from the loan registration desk. You may also take items from the open access section on the second floor, books ordered from the depository in the central library, CDs, copies taken from books, periodicals and newspapers in reference sections of study rooms (reading room, general study room and special study room) or copies of articles from the full text database.

Is self-study possible in the library building?

The loan of items which may not be removed from the premises (i.e. on-site loans), is arranged by the general study room or one of the other study rooms in the central library (reading room, special study room). Study rooms are equipped for copying SVK PK items for a fee according to the valid price list. There are also places for sitting and reading in the open access section on the second floor of the central library, where the whole range of this section is available to you.

Is it possible to borrow periodicals or newspapers to take home?

Periodicals and newspapers may not be removed from the premises. Regular issues from the previous two years are available in the reading room. Approximately 400 titles are available in the free selection reading room on the ground floor of the central library; others on request from the staff of this workstation. Older periodicals and newspapers are stored in the SVK PK warehouses, from which items must be ordered via the online catalogue or a paper application form in one of the study rooms.

How can I order magazines or newspapers?

Titles found in the online catalogue are ordered via your user account. The loan of items which appear exclusively in the paper catalogues is organised by staff in the reading room on the basis of a completed application form, stating the location mark and title of the requested printed matter. The time of delivery from the SVK PK warehouse differs according to location. From the storeroom within the SVK PK building within one hour; from depository storerooms it depends on the schedule. More information will be provided by staff.

Is it possible to obtain hard-copy or electronic copies of articles or sections of books?

Equipment in the study rooms and open access section on the second floor of the central library allows for printed copies of SVK PK items to be made for a fee stated in the valid price list. Copies may not be made of items published before 1918 because of potential damage being caused. Electronic copies are provided exclusively in accordance with law no. 121/2000 and further conditions of licence negotiated between libraries of the Czech Republic and representatives of the collective administrators of authorial rights.

Who will recommend sources related to my topic?

Research services are provided by the special study room workstation.

I have some books which I would like to offer the library

Contact staff at the department for stock administration. E-mail: dary@svkpk.cz.
We are interested especially in items connected with or published in the Pilsen region; they need not be only books. We would appreciate your sending a list containing the titles, authors and dates of issue of individual items.

I couldn’t find an important/interesting document in the online catalogue

If the book was published before1992, try consulting also the scanned hard-copy catalogue.
Use the possibility of borrowing a book from another library via the inter-library service, which is available at the loan registration counter on the ground floor of the central library. This service can also be used to order copies of articles from other libraries. Assistance with your choice of items is available from the special study room.
Write to us about it in our contact form.

Possibility of paying the registration fee via bank transfer

Payment of the registration fee by bank transfer is not possible. Payment must be made in person, accompanied by proof of identity.

Possibility of card payment

You can also pay all your obligations of at least CZK 30 by credit card, both at the cash register in the main building of the SVK PK and online after logging into your reading account in the online catalog (pay only in full) – select “Payment Transactions” from the menu.

Possibility of ordering items from the open access section in the central library or Foreign Libraries Section

This is not possible. Only online reservations may be made for items which at the time are out on loan using your account in the catalogue. These items can then be collected from the loan counter on the ground floor of the central library.

Possibility of returning books from foreign library departments in the central library

Returning books from the English, German or Austrian libraries in the central library is not possible. You may, however, use biblioboxes.

Possibility of borrowing books from other libraries

For readers who are registered with us we offer an inter-library loan service. Assistance in the choice  of  literature related to your topic is available in the special study room.

Do I need a special card for the English, German or Austrian libraries?

No. A user card for the SVK PK is also valid for all the above-mentioned libraries.

Does the English Library also contain American materials?

Yes. Although the stock of English items is primarily of British origin, we do also offer items by American authors.

Is there free entry to events organised by the SVK PK?

Events organised by the library are aimed at the general public and anyone may participate in them. Our events are free of charge. If any entrance fee is to be paid, this is always announced in advance.

Is there an entrance fee for the European House Gallery?

Entrance to all exhibitions at the European House Gallery is free of charge.

Since March 14, 2022, the library has been open in normal mode without restrictions.

Is it possible to borrow / return books and other documents?

Yes, all workplaces are open during normal opening hours, except Saturdays. Thank you for being considerate to yourself and to us and that you enter the building with FFP2/KN 95 respirator, which is covering your mouth and nose, desinfecting your hands and respecting keeping the 1,5 m distance.
You can also return books through biblioboxes, their locations can be found here.

Are you open at the weekends?

No, Saturday opening hours are suspended till the further notice.

How can I order / extend loans?

You can order/extend your loans via your user account. Loans that are not requested by another reader can be extended. If you are not sure, our librarians would be delighted to help you. In case of problems, contact the circulating services section (tel. +420 377 306 919) between 08:00 and 19:00. Outside this period, it is possible to write to the e-mail address pujcovna@svkpk.cz or social networks ( Facebook , Instagram , Twitter ).

When will I have the ordered documents ready to borrow?

You will receive information by e-mail informing you that the ordered documents, which have not been borrowed by another reader, can be borrowed no later than the next working day.

I have due loans. What can I do?

Borrowed documents must be returned immediately via the bibliobox, the circulation section in the main building of SVK PK, individual workplaces of the foreign libraries section or the library for the visually impaired or by post, only then can the further increase in outstanding fees be stopped. Subsequently, it is possible to pay the due fees through your user account or at the register of readers and the cash desk. See also the question: When and how can I pay the fees due?

How long after returning documents will a change appear in my user account?

When returning at the window immediately, when returning to the bibliobox within three working days.

Can I visit study rooms?

Yes, all study rooms – general study room, reading room, special study room and historical stocks section are open to the public with standard opening hours. For entering the workplace a respirator FFP2 / KN95 covering the airways throughout the stay and hand disinfection are required. Operation is limited to at intervals of 1,5 meter.

Can I visit the reading room?

Yes, the reading room is open to the public with standard opening hours. For entering the workplace a respirator FFP2 / KN95 covering the airways throughout the stay and hand disinfection are required. Operation is limited to at intervals of 1,5 meter.

When and how can I pay the fees due?

Payment can be made at the workplace of the registration of readers and the cash desk or via reader’s account (“reader” – “payment transactions” – “click here to pay”). Unpaid fees can also be paid by bank transfer to account No. 26133311/0100, v.s. 444 + ID of the reader (if the reader knows it – it is stated on all calls and reminders).

When and how can I use internet services or use a printer or a copy machine?

Access to the public Internet and the printing is possible in the Internet study room (Internet express) an open access section or in the foreign libraries section. Copying is possible in the reading room, in the special and general study room, open access section or in the foreign libraries section.

Is the foreign libraries section open?

Yes, all workplaces of the foreign libraries section including the Europa House Gallery are open. A collection of books and documents for circulation lending and for onsite use is available.

Is it possible to order a research?

Yes, you can reguest online form HERE and send it to specialni.studovna@svkpk.cz or in person in a special study room that has standard opening hours. Currently, the deadline for processing the research is about 1 month. For entering the workplace a respirator FFP2 / KN95 covering the airways throughout the stay and hand disinfection are required. Operation is limited to at intervals of 1,5 meter.

When will it be possible to use the copyrighted content of a digital library?

This content can be used in the general study room, the reading room and in a special study room, which are open to the public with standard opening hours. For entering the workplace a respirator FFP2 / KN95 covering the airways throughout the stay and hand disinfection are required. Operation is limited to at intervals of 1,5 meter. Remote access to the selected collection of digitized documents of the National Digital Library is possible after logging in with data identical to entering the SVK PK catalog. This is an external service, the content of which is not provided by SVK PK.

Is it possible to borrow documents and CDs?

Yes, the music cabinet is open to the public with standard opening hours. The cirulation fund collection of the music cabinet is available onsite, it cannot be ordered through a user account. For entering the workplace a respirator FFP2 / KN95 covering the airways throughout the stay and hand disinfection are required. Operation is limited to at intervals of 1,5 meter.

It is possible to study on the ground floor of Central building?

Yes, a maximum of 1 person at one table. Please do not move the furniture! For entering the workplace a respirator FFP2 / KN95 covering the airways throughout the stay and hand disinfection are required. Operation is limited to at intervals of 1,5 meter.

Can I renew my membership card or be registered?

Yes, the reader and cash register are open during standard opening hours.

Can I request a book via an interlibrary loan service (book or a copy of an article?)

Yes, an interlibrary loan service is in full operation.

When will I be able to attend an event in the library?

Currently, it is possible to visit exhibitions in the Central building and the Europa House Gallery SVK PK, in compliance with all applicable hygiene measures. For an offer of other gradually adding events, follow our website and social networks.

Is the café open?

Yes, the café is open Monday to Friday from 09:00 until 17:00.