F.A.Q.
10 answers to get started at the UCSC Library!
UCSC students are automatically entitled to loan and consultation service.
Please read the following “Frequently Answered Questions” page to learn how to best use this service.
1 - How do I find material in the Library?
2 - What kind of information gives me the UCSC OPAC?
3 - How can I place a borrowing request?
4 - How do I use the UCSC personal account?
5 - How and when can I pick up the requested material?
6 - How long can I borrow for? What happens when loan is overdue?
7 - How many items can I borrow?
8 - Is it possible to renew an item, or can I reserve books on loan to another user?
9 - Who can help me?
10 - Are there photocopying facilities and how can I save the materials retrieved?
1 - How do I find material in the Library?
Access the UCSC OPAC either:
- on campus using the intranet or internet workstations within the Central Library main hall, the Giuseppe Billanovich Reference Room and the branch libraries
- off-campus via any personal computer connected to the Internet … even from home!
2 - What kind of information gives me the UCSC OPAC?
The UCSC OPAC contains the cataloguing records of the entire UCSC Library System collection (i.e. from all the UCSC campus libraries: Milan, Piacenza-Cremona, Brescia, Rome).
For printed works the record provides:
- a brief description of the item: title, author/s, year, format, subject/s, language, etc.
- where the item is shelved (campus, branch library, etc.)
- signature of the volume
- availability at the time and usability (home loan or consultation only: when the item record contains the Italian information “SCAFFALE APERTO – consultazione in loco” i.e. “OPEN SHELF – Short loan”, the item can be consulted only at the library where it is shelved, within the day during opening hours)
- the button “Request” to start item request (where the user must authenticate with his University account)
For multimedia works the record provides:
- a brief description of the item: title, author/s, year, format, subject/s, language, summary, etc.
- where the item is shelved (campus, branch library, etc.)
- signature of the volume
- availability of dvd for consultation in the day, and possible availability of vision streamed through Media Library online (only from enabled stations in the Multimedia room of Milan campus)
For the electronic resources the record provides:
- a brief description of the item: name, publisher, type, content, etc.
- the subject areas to which it relates content
- the access mode (including a statement of the off-campus access)
- the terms and conditions of use
3 - How can I place a borrowing request?
Click the button “Request” on the UCSC OPAC record and follow the instructions:
- authenticate with your UCSC personal account (i.e. iCatt/Blackboard/Intranet username and password)
- click “Submit”
- click "Request selected item” on the following page
Finally the message “Item awaiting pick up at …” will confirm your request has been accepted and you will be able to pick up the item in a short time.
You can place your request from any pc connected to the Internet … even from home!
4 - How do I use the UCSC personal account?
On the authentication page https://login.unicatt.it/sso/login?locale=en (which is submitted automatically after clicking on the "Request" button) you must enter the same personal credentials commonly used for other online services of the University:
- if professor or researcher = user name and password for access to the University Intranet, Faculty Personal Page, Blackboard
- if student = username and password for access to iCatt
- if technical-administrative personnel = username and password for access to the University Intranet
5 - How and when can I pick up the requested material?
The requested books must be picked up and returned at the lending desk of the library that holds them(as indicated in the OPAC item record).
You can usually pick up the books on the same day, approximately after 20 minutes of the request, and for 4 next days, during opening hours.
The books stored in the Main Deposit and in the Branch library Deposit at Via Necchi 5 (Economic sciences, mathematics, statistics) can be picked up:
- during the day, if requested within 6pm
- from the next day, if requestd after 6 pm
On your personal page My Libr@ry you will find out if the requested items are ready for pick up.
6 - How long can I borrow for? What happens when loan is overdue?
Normal loan: usually 30 days
Short loan (daily in-campus consultation): must be returned on the same day of pick-up, during opening hours.
Overdue penalties:
- normal loan: 1 day delay = 1 day block
- short loan: 1 hour delay = 1 day block
Please check due date, on you personal page My Libr@ry as well. Librarians cannot free up blocked patrons.
7 - How many items can I borrow?
You can borrow at the same time:
- normal loan, 8 items
- short loan, 10 items a day
Please note that you can submit a request for 8 items at a time, which must be picked up before submitting a further request.
8 - Is it possible to renew an item, or can I reserve books on loan to another user?
You can renew an item for 15 days (up to 5 times, and only if the volume in the meantime has not been booked by another user), 5 days before due date as follows:
- online, from your personal page My Libr@ry
- by sending an e-mail to BiblioPoint
- by going to and asking personally the main lending desk or branch library
- by calling the main lending desk or branch library
You can reserve a book already on loan to another user. Click into the OPAC on "Place Request" visible next to the item: the library will notify you by e-mail when it is available to retire.
9 - Who can help me?
For simply information about loan and other library services, you can ask the Library staff at BiblioPoint (central information desk).
For help in the bibliographic research, the Library offers a free assistance (reference service) which you can use in two ways:
- in-person, by going to the assistance point in the Central Library hall or to other 6 reference points in campus
- remotely, by filling and sending to Ask a librarian the dedicated form that you will find in the "Library" section of your personal page iCatt
10 - Are there photocopying facilities, and how can I save the materials retrieved?
Users may make copies of and electronically save materials for their personal use at their own expenses, in compliance with current copyright legislation:
- self-service photocopying facilities, with pre-paid cards, are available at the main central Library, branch libraries and the Giuseppe Billanovich Reference Room
- personal portable USB storage devices may be used in the dedicated workstations at the main Library Hall and at the branch library located in Via Necchi 5