Welcome to the University of Warsaw Library
Click above to start
Authors: Zuzanna Sendor, Jakub Gniadzik BUW Information Services and Training Department
How to use this guide?
Look for the interactive elements marked with this symbol. Click on them to get additional information or to proceed.
This symbol means there'a an external link. Click on it to open a new browser tab with the linked material.
Close the pop-up window using this button.
Use the arrows to move to the next slide or go back to the previous one.
Click on the house symbol to return to the Index.
Back to the previous slide.
Click here to move to the next slide.
Index
Resources & services
A quick Polish lesson
BUW interiors
Main entrance to the building
Online resources
Basic information
Ground Level
Special Collections
BUW promotional video
Registration Point
Training
The building and a bit of history
Entrance to the Library
BUW for owls
Transport
Catalogue Hall
The Garden
Location
Information Desk
University of Warsaw Libraries
Social media
Circulation Desk
BUW in numbers
Selfcheck Stations
UW Libraries promotional video
Contact us!
Open Stacks
Glossary
Reading Room
Current Periodicals Reading Room
A quick Polish lesson! :)
library = biblioteka /beebl-yo-teh-kah/ book = książka /k-sh-ow-sh-kah/ University of Warsaw Librarary = Biblioteka Uniwersytecka w Warszawie
In short: BUW /boov/
The Library is located in Powiśle district since 15 December 1999.
What about the past?
Transport
metro: line 2station Centrum Nauki Kopernik (Copernicus Science Centre) buses: 106, 118, 127 stop Biblioteka Uniwersytecka Veturilo bikes station Lipowa - Dobra
Main Campus
Old Town
View from Vistula river
How to get to BUW from the Main Campus?
BUW is located ~ 500 meters from the Main UW Campus by Krakowskie Przedmieście Street and close to the Old Town.
University of Warsaw Libraries
faculty libraries
BUW
37
institute libraries
libraries at UW
other UW units libraries
BUW in numbers
Established in 1817 Over 3,3 mln items BUW + other UW libraries: over 6 mln items 500 000 titles in the Open Stacks 1 000 places for studying
LibraryCard
Reading Room
OpenStacks
Glossary
Hover over the tile to see the definition.
Reservation
Request
Catalogue
Renewal
Borrowing
Selfcheck Kiosks
Self-serviceMode
ReturnBox
Pick-up Locker
GroundLevel
Want to take a look inside BUW?
main entrance to the Library building
Dobra St.
Lipowa St.
Ground Level
Registration Point
Pick-up Locker
entrance to the Library
Everyone can get a library card in the Registration Point. To avoid queues, UW students and employees can activate their library cards online. Click on the button for the activation link. It's fast and easy!
Registration
Registration Guide
Uliczka
staircase to Level -1 to the sports centre
cloakrooms toilets
cloakrooms toilets
entrance to the Library
cloakroom, toilets
cloakroom, toilets
How to behave at BUW
This is the Security Post where you have to scan your library card to enter the Library. Scan it again when leaving!
Catalogue Hall
Circulation Desk
Information Desk
Information Desk
Where can I borrow a book?
Circulation Desk
Selfchecks
Circilation Desk stations
Borrowing and returns Guide
Circulation Desk
There's a queue and I'm in a hurry!
Selfcheck Stations
Check out the film "How do the selfchecks work at BUW?"
Where do I get the books from?
You can find books in the Open Stacks (PL: Wolny Dostęp) or order them from the Closed Stacks (PL: Magazyn). In the Open Stacks, books with a blue or white sticker can be borrowed home. A red sticker indicates that this publication can be used on site only.
How to search? Check out the practical guide here.
Using BUW Collections on site Guide
Click here to check where you can study in our spaces
What about books from the Closed Stacks?
Reading Room (PL: Czytelnia)
Books from the Closed Stacks can be ordered via your Reader's account. The ones marked Wypożyczany (Possible to borrow) can be borrowed home. Order them to the Circulation Desk or to the Pick-up Locker. Na miejscu (On site) means these materials can be used only in the library. Order them to the Reading Room.
Searching for and using books Guide
What about newspapers and journals?
Current Periodicals Reading Room
In this Reading Room you will find issues of journals from the current year. If you are looking for issues from previous years, check in the Catalogue. They may be kept in the Closed Stacks, or in Subject Areas in the Open Stacks.
Newspapers and magazines can not be borrowed home. Use them in the Library.
Books, journals, anything else?
Searching for and using journals Guide
Online resources
You can access online resources at BUW, in faculty libraries or elsewhere at the University. In such case, select "UW computers". Outside of the University, choose "Home computers" and log in using your Reader's Account login and password.
Online Resources Guide
Computers & Internet at BUW Guide
Special Collections
historical and artistic collections, particularly valuable items
Training
BUW training and workshops
We provide workshops in Polish and English!
- free
- for everyone
- no registration
- on site & online
- Library instruction
- Primo – the new library catalogue for UW
- Databases
- Mendeley and Zotero – reference manager tools
- The use of Artificial Intelligence during studies
- Editing scientific text in MS Word
Check out the full offer and upcoming dates!
What we offer?
- online resources,
- use of AI,
- bibliography managers,
- academic text editing,
- databases and sources for writing your thesis
and more!
Training takes place:
https://www.buw.uw.edu.pl/en/research/training/
More about our training offer in English!
BUW for OWLS
During the exam sessions BUW is open 24 hours a day! The campaign BUW for owls was the first initiative of its kind in Poland!
Posters by: Marcin Laszczkowski
The lower garden covers an area of 15,000 m2, while the upper garden covers an area of 2,000 m2.
The Garden
The Garden
Opening hours of the garden and other information
The garden on the rooftop of the University of Warsaw Library is one of the largest and most beautiful roof gardens in Europe.
Photos by: Jadwiga Antoniak-Sadlakowska
Like, follow, subscribe!
Got questions? Doubts? Contact us!
Messenger
Mail
Phone
Chat
See you at BUW!
That's all! You can close the browser tab. :)
Back to the beginning
Self-service mode
This is the time when there are no librarians at BUW. It mainly takes place at night, partly at weekends and on certain days, e.g. between holidays or days set as non-working days by the UW Rector.
In the self-service mode you can:
- enter the library with a valid library card only,
- use the collections in the Open Stacks, WiFi (BUW.Hotspot) and e-resources,
- in the Selfcheck stations: borrow books from the Open Stacks and Textbook Collection, extend the due date for their return and pay a fine,
- pick up books ordered from the Closed Stacks in the Pick-up Locker,
- return borrowed books to the Return Box or in the Selfcheck stations.
The Old BUW
Main Campus Krakowskie Przedmieście 26/28
19th century
Modern view
Inside the old reading room
Some parts of the storage construction remain preserved in the Old BUW.
Inside the modern assemby hall
Inside the storage
Photo source: https://klubabsolwentow.uw.edu.pl/jestem-z-uw/stary-buw/
University of Warsaw Library
Faculty of Modern Languages
Old BUW
Main UW Gate
Main Campus, Krakowskie Przedmieście
The pink metal construction in front of the entrance to BUW is a fragment of the book storage from the Old BUW.
Here we will answer your questions, suggest how to find books, and direct you to the right Subject Area. We answer e-mails, chat, telephone and FB Messenger. We organize training, library tours, student internships. We are responsible for creating leaflets and paper information. Ask us!
Here you can:
- borrow and return books and Kindle readers,
- renew books and Kindle readers,
- pick up orders from the Closed Stacks,
- pay fines for overdue books or Kindle readers.
On the Selfchecks you can:
- borrow, return and renew the books,
- pay fines for overdue books.
Selfchecks are available during the Library's opening hours, regardless of the mode of its operation.
You can work among books,
at the desks,
or on the beanbags!
in the quiet study space
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Transcript
Welcome to the University of Warsaw Library
Click above to start
Authors: Zuzanna Sendor, Jakub Gniadzik BUW Information Services and Training Department
How to use this guide?
Look for the interactive elements marked with this symbol. Click on them to get additional information or to proceed.
This symbol means there'a an external link. Click on it to open a new browser tab with the linked material.
Close the pop-up window using this button.
Use the arrows to move to the next slide or go back to the previous one.
Click on the house symbol to return to the Index.
Back to the previous slide.
Click here to move to the next slide.
Index
Resources & services
A quick Polish lesson
BUW interiors
Main entrance to the building
Online resources
Basic information
Ground Level
Special Collections
BUW promotional video
Registration Point
Training
The building and a bit of history
Entrance to the Library
BUW for owls
Transport
Catalogue Hall
The Garden
Location
Information Desk
University of Warsaw Libraries
Social media
Circulation Desk
BUW in numbers
Selfcheck Stations
UW Libraries promotional video
Contact us!
Open Stacks
Glossary
Reading Room
Current Periodicals Reading Room
A quick Polish lesson! :)
library = biblioteka /beebl-yo-teh-kah/ book = książka /k-sh-ow-sh-kah/ University of Warsaw Librarary = Biblioteka Uniwersytecka w Warszawie
In short: BUW /boov/
The Library is located in Powiśle district since 15 December 1999.
What about the past?
Transport
metro: line 2station Centrum Nauki Kopernik (Copernicus Science Centre) buses: 106, 118, 127 stop Biblioteka Uniwersytecka Veturilo bikes station Lipowa - Dobra
Main Campus
Old Town
View from Vistula river
How to get to BUW from the Main Campus?
BUW is located ~ 500 meters from the Main UW Campus by Krakowskie Przedmieście Street and close to the Old Town.
University of Warsaw Libraries
faculty libraries
BUW
37
institute libraries
libraries at UW
other UW units libraries
BUW in numbers
Established in 1817 Over 3,3 mln items BUW + other UW libraries: over 6 mln items 500 000 titles in the Open Stacks 1 000 places for studying
LibraryCard
Reading Room
OpenStacks
Glossary
Hover over the tile to see the definition.
Reservation
Request
Catalogue
Renewal
Borrowing
Selfcheck Kiosks
Self-serviceMode
ReturnBox
Pick-up Locker
GroundLevel
Want to take a look inside BUW?
main entrance to the Library building
Dobra St.
Lipowa St.
Ground Level
Registration Point
Pick-up Locker
entrance to the Library
Everyone can get a library card in the Registration Point. To avoid queues, UW students and employees can activate their library cards online. Click on the button for the activation link. It's fast and easy!
Registration
Registration Guide
Uliczka
staircase to Level -1 to the sports centre
cloakrooms toilets
cloakrooms toilets
entrance to the Library
cloakroom, toilets
cloakroom, toilets
How to behave at BUW
This is the Security Post where you have to scan your library card to enter the Library. Scan it again when leaving!
Catalogue Hall
Circulation Desk
Information Desk
Information Desk
Where can I borrow a book?
Circulation Desk
Selfchecks
Circilation Desk stations
Borrowing and returns Guide
Circulation Desk
There's a queue and I'm in a hurry!
Selfcheck Stations
Check out the film "How do the selfchecks work at BUW?"
Where do I get the books from?
You can find books in the Open Stacks (PL: Wolny Dostęp) or order them from the Closed Stacks (PL: Magazyn). In the Open Stacks, books with a blue or white sticker can be borrowed home. A red sticker indicates that this publication can be used on site only.
How to search? Check out the practical guide here.
Using BUW Collections on site Guide
Click here to check where you can study in our spaces
What about books from the Closed Stacks?
Reading Room (PL: Czytelnia)
Books from the Closed Stacks can be ordered via your Reader's account. The ones marked Wypożyczany (Possible to borrow) can be borrowed home. Order them to the Circulation Desk or to the Pick-up Locker. Na miejscu (On site) means these materials can be used only in the library. Order them to the Reading Room.
Searching for and using books Guide
What about newspapers and journals?
Current Periodicals Reading Room
In this Reading Room you will find issues of journals from the current year. If you are looking for issues from previous years, check in the Catalogue. They may be kept in the Closed Stacks, or in Subject Areas in the Open Stacks.
Newspapers and magazines can not be borrowed home. Use them in the Library.
Books, journals, anything else?
Searching for and using journals Guide
Online resources
You can access online resources at BUW, in faculty libraries or elsewhere at the University. In such case, select "UW computers". Outside of the University, choose "Home computers" and log in using your Reader's Account login and password.
Online Resources Guide
Computers & Internet at BUW Guide
Special Collections
historical and artistic collections, particularly valuable items
Training
BUW training and workshops
We provide workshops in Polish and English!
Check out the full offer and upcoming dates!
What we offer?
- online resources,
- use of AI,
- bibliography managers,
- academic text editing,
- databases and sources for writing your thesis
and more!Training takes place:- on site at BUW
- online via Google Meet
https://www.buw.uw.edu.pl/en/research/training/
More about our training offer in English!
BUW for OWLS
During the exam sessions BUW is open 24 hours a day! The campaign BUW for owls was the first initiative of its kind in Poland!
Posters by: Marcin Laszczkowski
The lower garden covers an area of 15,000 m2, while the upper garden covers an area of 2,000 m2.
The Garden
The Garden
Opening hours of the garden and other information
The garden on the rooftop of the University of Warsaw Library is one of the largest and most beautiful roof gardens in Europe.
Photos by: Jadwiga Antoniak-Sadlakowska
Like, follow, subscribe!
Got questions? Doubts? Contact us!
Messenger
Mail
Phone
Chat
See you at BUW!
That's all! You can close the browser tab. :)
Back to the beginning
Self-service mode
This is the time when there are no librarians at BUW. It mainly takes place at night, partly at weekends and on certain days, e.g. between holidays or days set as non-working days by the UW Rector.
In the self-service mode you can:
The Old BUW
Main Campus Krakowskie Przedmieście 26/28
19th century
Modern view
Inside the old reading room
Some parts of the storage construction remain preserved in the Old BUW.
Inside the modern assemby hall
Inside the storage
Photo source: https://klubabsolwentow.uw.edu.pl/jestem-z-uw/stary-buw/
University of Warsaw Library
Faculty of Modern Languages
Old BUW
Main UW Gate
Main Campus, Krakowskie Przedmieście
The pink metal construction in front of the entrance to BUW is a fragment of the book storage from the Old BUW.
Here we will answer your questions, suggest how to find books, and direct you to the right Subject Area. We answer e-mails, chat, telephone and FB Messenger. We organize training, library tours, student internships. We are responsible for creating leaflets and paper information. Ask us!
Here you can:
On the Selfchecks you can:
- borrow, return and renew the books,
- pay fines for overdue books.
Selfchecks are available during the Library's opening hours, regardless of the mode of its operation.You can work among books,
at the desks,
or on the beanbags!
in the quiet study space