Media collection & research tools

Historic collections and archive material

The extensive and often unique historical holdings of the University Library and the University Archives can be searched using specific search tools. Please note the separate guidelines for using our historical collections.

Information on searching and using the historical collections

Essays

Essays are publications in journals or monographs. Often, only a search for the journal or book in which an essay was published will yield a hit in the University Library's printed or electronic holdings.

Getting started with a topic

Search in the OPAC using terms related to your topic. The results list has two tabs and filters by "Univ. Lib. holdings" and "Articles & more." The first tab lists the printed and electronic media (such as e-books, databases, journals) available at the University Library. The "Articles & more" tab lists essays, articles, and reviews that are often accessible via the University Library.

The "Full text access" button either takes you directly to a digital version of the essay or leads you to the SFX page with a list of options for accessing the essay.

To the advanced search in the OPAC

Google Scholar

In general, the scientific databases (see below) of the University Library offer greater search convenience and a quality-checked alternative. However, Google Scholar can be helpful for initial research.

The search engine indexes books and articles worldwide, but does not always meet academic standards. If you configure Google Scholar accordingly, your search results will be linked to the University Library's holdings. The label SFX@LMU links directly to articles and catalog entries from the University Library.

Options for Google Scholar with LMU authentication:

• Follow the link "Directly to Google Scholar (via E-Media Login)" and log in with your LMU user ID. We recommend saving this link as a bookmark.
• You open Google Scholar and then log in either via the e-media bookmarklet or via institutional login (Shibboleth).

Direct link to Google Scholar and information about configuring (via e-media login)

For in-depth research

Databases

For in-depth thematic searches, use free or licensed scientific databases. Refer to the TOP databases in the Datenbank-Infosystem, DBIS (Database Information System) that are relevant to your subject.

DBIS lists different types of databases:

• Literature databases (literature references on subject-specific topics)
• Fact databases (statistics, registers, regulations, bibliographies, etc.)
• Full-text databases (complete articles)

In numerous databases, the SFX button links directly to the corresponding electronic or printed full texts in the bibliographic information.

Datenbank-Infosystem, DBIS (Database Information System)

Databases by subject area

Specialist journals

The Elektronische Zeitschriftenbibliothek, EZB (Electronic Journals Library) provides access to academic journals (general, subject-specific, and interdisciplinary). Many are either freely accessible or have been licensed by the University Library.

Elektronische Zeitschriftenbibliothek, EZB (Electronic Journals Library)

Go directly to the EZB search

Search for a specific essay

Do you already know the author and title of an article? If so, the "Articles & more" tab in the OPAC will often take you directly to the full text. Otherwise, use the bibliographic information for the article to search for the title of the journal or book in the "Univ. Lib. holdings" tab. If there is "Full text access," search directly in the linked publication for the article published there.

If no digital version exists, you will need to search for the article in the printed journal volume or book using the bibliographic information. In the "Holdings" tab of the single hit view, you will find information about which library has the book or journal.

Information on searching for journals

Search without results?

Can't find the book or journal you're looking for in the OPAC? Then try this: Additional search options

E-media

Most of the University Library's e-media are licensed for a fee and are only available to LMU members.

All information about searching, using, and logging in at a glance:

Subject information

OPAC: Advanced Search

Use relevant terms in the advanced search in the OPAC and narrow down the results using filters for keywords and topics. Also note the results in the "Articles & more" tab for essays, reviews, conference literature, university publications, and newspaper articles.

Advanced search in the online catalog (OPAC)

Subject-specific databases and catalogs

Use the subject-specific databases and journals via the list of subject areas:

• Datenbank-Infosystem, DBIS (Database Information System)
• Elektronische Zeitschriftenbibliothek, EZB (Electronic Journals Library)

Numerous academic libraries have their own collection focuses, for which they acquire comprehensive literature. Search the catalogs of the relevant institution:

Specialized information service webis (in German)

A growing number of scientific publications are being published as open access. You should therefore also make use of the relevant specialist portals under Research tools open access media.

Films and educational videos

You can search for films, documentaries, and instructional videos via the "Kanopy" platform licensed by the University Library. Kanopy is an on-demand streaming video service for educational institutions and libraries with videos covering a wide range of topics.

Go directly to the Kanopy platform

Go directly to the videos via the OPAC

For licensing reasons, most of the feature films from the Criterion Collection available on the platform are restricted to users in the US and Canada. Some films are protected by digital rights management (DRM).

You can find additional image and film databases via the Datenbank-Infosystem, DBIS (Database Information System):

Go directly to the DBIS search

Research data

Data from LMU research projects can be found in the research data repository - Open Data LMU.

Various repositories are available for thematic searches for research data:

The following overview of repositories with information on data publication conditions is also useful for research purposes:

List of repositories of the FAU Competence Center for Research Data and Information (in German)

Open access media

LMU supports the free publication of scientific works on its own publication platforms:

• Open Journals LMU
• Electronic university publications from LMU Munich
• Open Access LMU

Use specialized search engines for thematic searches for open access media:

Examination papers

Theses subject to publication requirements

Dissertations must be published in digital or printed form. You can search for these works via the OPAC and narrow down the number of hits using the format "Qualifikationsschrift".

Examination papers not subject to publication

• Diploma theses
• Admission papers
• Bachelor's theses
• Master's theses
• Licentiate theses
• Postdoctoral theses

... are not listed in the OPAC. Please inquire at the relevant library to find out whether these examination papers are stored there and can be viewed.

Journals

When searching for journals in the OPAC, you cannot narrow down your search by publication year. For printed publications, first search for the journal without specifying a year and then check the full display in the "Holdings" tab under "collections overview" to see where the relevant volume is located.
For digital versions, go directly to the full text and search for the required year.

Searching for journals

All printed and electronic journals held by the University Library can be found in the online catalog (OPAC) under the title of the journal. When searching with keywords, limit your results to the publication type "Journal" or "electronic."

Which volumes are available?

The "Collections overview" column shows which volumes of the journal are available at respective location. If the information ends with a "to" dash, the journal is available up to the current issue.

The journal search in the e-tutorial "OPAC-Recherche (Searching the OPAC)" (in German) at approximately 7:49 minutes.
_{(To activate the e-tutorial, you must click on the link. Please note that after activation, you will leave the LMU University Library website and data may be transmitted to YouTube or other providers. Use of this service is outside the scope of responsibility of the LMU University Library or the institution. For more information, please refer to the LMU privacy policy.)}

Journals that are not available at the University Library can be searched for in the Zeitschriftendatenbank (ZDB, German Union Catalog of Serials). Journals that are available in Munich libraries can be requested directly from the respective library.

Zeitschriftendatenbank, ZDB (German Union Catalog of Serials) (in German)

Reading electronic journals

Electronic journals are usually licensed by the University Library for a fee and require authentication via a login.

Information on login options for e-media

Elektronische Zeitschriftenbibliothek, EZB (Electronic Journals Library)

Reading printed journals

Journals are located at different library locations and may need to be made available for you first. The OPAC's "Holdings" tab shows which library location the journal is at.

Central stack (0001)

Journals from the central stack collection (0001) must be ordered via OPAC and then borrowed.

Information on borrowing items from the central stack

Subject libraries

In subject libraries, journals are usually freely available on the shelves and cannot be borrowed.

Other library locations

For use at other locations, please inquire about the terms and conditions at the respective institution.

Newspapers and magazines

Unlike academic journals, newspapers are published at least once a week, cover current events, and are aimed at a broad audience.

When searching for newspapers and magazines in the OPAC, you cannot narrow your search by publication year. For printed publications, first search for the newspaper or magazine without specifying a year, then check the full display in the "Holdings" tab under "Collection overview" to see which location has the relevant volume. For digital versions, go directly to the full text and search for the relevant year.

Searching for newspapers and magazines

Printed and electronic newspapers and magazines can be found in the OPAC under the title of the newspaper or magazine. When searching using keywords, limit the results to the publication type "Newspaper" or "electronic."

The journal search in the e-tutorial "OPAC-Recherche (Searching the OPAC" at approximately 7:49 minutes. (in German)
_{(To activate the e-tutorial, you must click on the link. Please note that after activation, you will leave the LMU University Library website and data may be transmitted to YouTube or other providers. Use of this service is outside the scope of responsibility of the LMU University Library or the institution. For more information, please refer to the LMU privacy policy.)}

Reading electronic newspapers and magazines

You can access the electronic newspapers and magazines licensed by the University Library directly via the "Press Media Collection" in the Datenbank-Infosystem, DBIS (Database Information System).

DBIS - Press media of the University Library

A large number of historical newspapers (1671 – 1994) have already been digitized and can be found using the the Deutsches Zeitungsportal (German Newspaper Portal):

Deutsches Zeitungsportal (German newspaper portal)

Reading printed newspapers and magazines

The Fachbibliothek Englischer Garten houses the magazine with the most extensive collection of print newspapers in the University Library. It mainly contains German-language newspapers and magazines from almost all eras of press history. These publications must be ordered in advance. Please contact the Fachbibliothek Englischer Garten (Press Media Collection).