Open collection

How to use Open Collection

• Part of library resources is available as the Open Access Collection on the second and the third floor in the NCU Main Library building. Readers have free access to books and periodicals, and use of work places. 

• The Open Access resources are divided into 13 subject collections embracing publications from all branches of knowledge. 12 collections are located on the second floor. Bibliology and Science and European Documentation Center collection is located on the third floor. The collections are organized according to the systematic classification of the NCU Library. Each subject collection is divided into more specific topics.  

• The content of the document decides about the alocation to the collection. The exception is the General Department (located in the Main Reading Room), which includes encyclopedias, general dictionaries, information publications as well as bilingual and multilingual dictionaries. The resource of the others collections consists mainly of source studies and publications, academic textbooks, encyclopedias, domain dictionaries and periodicals. These are the publications that appeared after 1960, with the majority of the newest ones. 

Each document in the Open Access is marked with a call number that serves the document's unique 'address' telling you where it is located in the library. Whether or not a document is in the Open Access is found in the bibliographic description record: 

Each open access book is covered with a colored stripe representing the collection and a white sticker containing its individual call number at the bottom of the book's spine.

A call number consists of four parts: 

1. The notation segment which indicates collections and their parts with sets of letters. A notation may be composed of one or two such sets separated by a dot. The first set indicates a branch of knowledge and the second is the so-called common subdivision, familiar to many branches.

Cr - history of Poland, 

Cr.Fab - encyclopedias and dictionaries related to the history of Poland 

2. The author segment which states author's last name and first name. Three asterisks (***) indicate multiple authors.

3. The title segment which gives the first three letters of the title.

4. The publication year segment.

At the end of each collection you find periodicals relevat to the specific branch of knowldge. Periodicals are organized alphabetically.

Readers decide on their own which documents they would like to borrow or read in the Open Access floor. 

• Subject librarians take care of the Open Access Collection. Their duties involve book selection, subject description, book classification and collection reference. A subject librarian will be happy to answer your questions. As well, you can ask your questions online. 

• There is a self-service scanner available to readers (you need a pendrive to download scanned files). You can also to take a copy of your private photo equipment, Polish law allows for fair use. You may order digital copies of the Library or own materials at the Digital Office (upon payment and filling-in an order form) too.