Learning and Working
On this page you will find information about literature management programs and how they support you in writing your academic papers. You will also get to know the library as a place of learning.
Citavi enables you to manage your references, research in library catalogues and subject databases, organise data, collect citations and create bibliographies automatically and in compliance with the standards for different citation styles.
Aalen University has acquired a Citavi campus licence. Training courses on Citavi are offered every term, e. g. via Studium Generale. Self-study materials are available on request from bibliothek@hs-aalen.de. If you have any questions or problems, please contact the library under bibliothek@hs-aalen.de.
Legal information regarding the use of Citavi:
The software is used exclusively at the initiative and responsibility of the user under the conditions specified by the software provider.
By using Citavi, you agree that your personal data may be stored and processed outside the EU, where data protection standards may not be comparable to those in the EU. We therefore recommend that you only store as little personal data as necessary in Citavi. For more information on data protection, please visit Lumivero.
Citavi 7
- Download the Citavi 7 setup
- When you first launch Citavi, activate your Citavi licence key via the launch wizard by requesting it via your personal account. Use your university email for this purpose.
Help and support for working with Citavi 7
- This manual provides detailed information on installation and licensing (note: Aalen University has a campus licence!) and on the operation of Citavi
- On the Citavi support page, you will find further useful help: Videos, Forum, FAQ and more.
- Also download the settings file of Aalen University. This file is located in the Citavi 6 start window. Open it by clicking on the cogwheel and selecting ‘Einstellungen importieren’ (import settings). The settings file includes key catalogues for you, as well as some in-house citation styles.
Zotero is a free, open-source reference management program that helps you efficiently collect, manage, and cite your sources. It automatically creates a bibliography, offering a variety of citation styles.
Training sessions on Zotero in German are held every semester through Studium Generale. If you have any questions or problems, please contact the library under bibliothek@hs-aalen.de.
Installing Zotero
- To install Zotero, visit the official website. The site automatically detects your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux) and offers you the appropriate version for download.
- You should also install the Zotero Connector, a browser plugin that allows you to capture literature directly from your web browser (Firefox, Chrome, Safari). With just one click, you can save websites and articles to your Zotero library.
- A plugin for your word processor (Word, Libre Office, etc.) is automatically installed with Zotero.
- Zotero is also available for smartphones and tablets.
- Additional plugins can be found here.
Features of Zotero
- Collect and organize literature: You can import bibliographic references from various sources and organize them into collections.
- Create citations and bibliographies: Zotero supports numerous citation styles, allowing you to format your work according to your institution's requirements.
- Synchronization: With a free Zotero account, you can synchronize your library across different devices and collaborate with others on projects.
- Notes and tags: You can add notes to entries and tag them to organize your literature even better.
- Cloud storage: Zotero offers you the option to store up to 300 MB of files in the Zotero cloud for free. If you need more storage space, you can take advantage of paid options.
Help and support for working with Zotero
The library offers a variety of workstations on 3 floors so that you may always find a quiet and relaxed environment. Learning tables of the library must be reserved. The free Affluences app can also be used for this purpose. The reserved time slot is available to you for up to half an hour from the start of the reservation period. Your reservation will be canceled of you fail to check in at the library within this time period.
Please note that the library primarily offers quiet workspaces. If you need to make a phone call, you can use the balconies or leave the library. If you would like to participate in a Zoom meeting, please use other study areas on campus.
Along the windows on the 1st and 2nd floors and in front of the balconies you will find individual workstations equipped with power outlets, lamps and comfortable office chairs. If you should need even more peace of mind, an earplug vending machine is available. The louder, more communicative areas are the group study room (BUS) on the 2nd floor and on the ground floor.
Soundproofed learning boxes for individual learners are located along the window front on the 2nd floor. A power connection is available. The boxes offer the opportunity to withdraw and concentrate on learning. A more communicative area is also available on the 2nd floor in the group study room (BUS room).
On the 1st floor you will find armchairs whose shape helps create a very quiet environment. They are equipped with laptop tables. These seats do not need to be reserved.
On the 2nd floor of the library, in the BUS room, you will find several tables for group meetings of up to 8 persons. The room includes:
- Power outlets
- a flipchart
- office supplies (pens, stapler, hole punch, etc.)
There are two learning boxes for up to four people on the ground floor of the library. Power sockets are available.
Three computer workstations are available on the balcony on the ground floor. You can log in using your Campus IT credentials. External customers can obtain a guest account valid for the day from the service point.
Two of the 3 balconies of the library are equipped with tables permitting studying during the warmer season. The balcony on the ground floor has been furnished with sofas and armchairs. These seats do not need to be reserved.
For the learning boxes on the ground floor and 2nd floor you can borrow table lamps for a deposit. The foldable LED lamps are given out with a full battery and then recharged.
The following items are available on the ground floor and in the BUS room (2nd floor):
- Hole punch
- Stapler
- Cutting machine
- Pens
- Ruler
- Calculator
- etc.
In the entrance area (level 0, in front of the elevator) you will find lockers. These can be borrowed for 14 days or more. Locker keys are available from the service point on the ground floor of the library. Bags and backpacks may be brought into the library.
There is also a copier on the ground floor. Using the FollowMe function, print jobs can be sent to the copier via the permanently installed computers on the ground floor. For this purpose, you will need your student or university ID card. We will provide a separate card for external customers.
A book2net scanner is available on the ground floor. It is easy to operate using a touch screen, and scanned pages can be saved on a memory stick in various formats. See a video tutorial here.
There are three automts in the library available either for paying library fees or for upgrading your university ID card. In addition, student cards can be validated. The automatic librarians are available during the opening hours of the library.
At the payment machine of the library on the ground floor (near the service point) you may pay any reminder or remote lending fees during the opening hours of the library. During regular opening hours (Mon - Thurs 9 am - 6 pm and Fri 9 am - 4 pm), fees can also be paid directly to the library staff at the service point.
On the ground floor of the library (near the photocopier) there is an automatic upgrade machine. Using these you may load your university ID card from an EC card. The university ID card may be used for printing at the copiers, for paying in the refectory and the canteens and for paying your library fees.
Students can use the automatic validation machine to validate their ID card for the next semester, among other things. The machine is also located on the ground floor of the library next to the copier.
In order to keep the noise level in the library as low as possible, noise meters have been set up in the library triggered by high noise levels. Earplugs are also available from a vending machine for 1 euro. We ask you to avoid loud noises throughout the building to ensure focused learning.
For a deposit, library users can borrow Panasonic headphones from the Service Point. They can be used with mobile phones (iOS and Android) as well as notebooks. They allow you to watch, for example, the library's info films or introductory videos from our database providers.