Published on 1 January 2026

FAQ

Here you will find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the Library Am Guisanplatz BiG.

The BiG answers your questions — © Sina Guntern/DDPS

Registration, user account, password

• How can I register as a user?

  There is a two-step registration for employees of the Federal Administration/Armed Forces and for private individuals:

  • Record personal data: Switch edu-ID - Registration
  • Link SLSP account: swisscovery – Registration

  Companies can apply for an account here: swisscovery – Creation of institutional accounts

  For assistance, please contact us at [e-mail] or go to: swisscovery – Help

• I have a bibliopass/user card from another library. Can I use this at the BiG?

  If you would like to register with the BiG, you can also use library cards from institutions that are members of the Bibliopass lending group.

• How do I access my user account? Can I update my personal details myself?

  On www.alexandria.ch, you will find the login button at the top right under ‘Sign in/Register’. Please login in with your Switch edu-ID, then enter your email address and password. In your user account you will see the date your borrowed items are due for return.

  You can find your account details on the Switch edu-ID website https://eduid.ch: https://eduid.ch/

• I have forgotten my password. What should I do?

  On the Switch edu-ID website, select ‘Forgot password?’.

Borrowing, ordering, inter-library lending

• How many items can I take out at one time?

  You can borrow up to 30 items at one time from the BiG.

• How do I find the item I am looking for in the BiG?

  The BiG is divided into a reference section, an open-shelf section and a magazine section. Items are not organised by topic, so please use the Alexandria search portal or swisscovery for your search.

  Items from the open-shelf and magazine sections may be taken out.

  You cannot borrow:

  • Works from the reference collection
  • Works published more than 80 years ago
  • Works marked non-borrowable
  • Works considered to be particularly valuable

• How can I order items?

  As a registered user, you can request items from SLSP online via www.alexandria.ch.

  You can have ordered items sent to you by post (or by federal courier) or pick them up in person at the front desk during opening hours.

• How long can I borrow an item for?

  The loan period is usually 28 days for books and 14 days for periodicals. Items can be renewed automatically up to five times.

  If the borrowed item is reserved by another person, it will be recalled after the fixed lending period of four weeks.

• What does it cost to use the BiG’s services?

  Reminder fees and other charges are subject to the library’s current fee schedule, and are issued directly via SLSP. It is not possible to pay in cash at the library.

• Can I order books from other libraries?

  For Federal Administration employees, documents that are not in the BiG collection are ordered via the inter-library lending service. The conditions of the lending library must be observed. Users outside the Federal Administration have limited access to this service. Further information can be found under Inter-library lending.

• I work for the Federal Administration/military and would like to order a copy of a book for the office. Who can I contact?

  Please contact us at [e-mail]. Further information about this service can be found here: Service copies.

Holdings, collections

• What kind of collections are held at the BiG?

  The BiG collections largely cover the topics addressed by the Federal Administration, such as economics, history, military, politics and law. Further information on the collections can be found under Collections.

• Can I gift items from my private collection to the BiG?

  If you would like to donate documents from your private collection to the BiG, please first compile an inventory list with bibliographic details (title, author, publisher, year of publication) and send it to [e-mail].

  When making your selection, please note that we can only accept books that meet the BiG collection profile.

E-resources

• How can I access electronic periodicals, e-books and databases?

  A number of free articles and databases can be found via the Alexandria search portal.

  However, many databases, e-books, and e-journals are only available to employees of the Federal Administration and the Armed Forces. If you are not a federal or Armed Forces employee and are interested in one of these items, you can contact us at [e-mail].

  Further information can be found under E-resources.

• I work for the Federal Administration/Swiss Armed Forces and would like to have access to the e-media not usually available to the public. How can I get this access?

  Information on the databases that can be accessed by federal employees can be found under E-resources.

  If you have any questions, please contact us at [e-mail]. Your query will be forwarded to the section responsible.

Digitisation orders

• How can I place a digitisation order?

  To order journal articles or book excerpts, log in to the Alexandria search portal with your SWITCH Edu-ID, select the desired document and click on the ‹Digitization› button. In the form, enter the exact section of text for which you require a digital copy and then click on ‹Send request›. You will receive an email containing a link to a PDF file of the pages you ordered.

• Can I ask for an entire book/booklet in digital form?

  Under Swiss copyright law, orders comprising more than 50 pages or 75% of the document volume may not be processed for copyright reasons. Copyright-free works may be fully digitised on request.

• What does a digitisation order cost?

  This service is free of charge for employees of the Federal Administration and the Armed Forces. Private users should refer to our fee schedule.

  • Fees and charges schedule

    PDF137.73 kB1 January 2026

Searches

• I am having difficulty searching for a specific item. Who can help me?

  Our expert staff can help. Please contact [e-mail] or submit your request using the Documentation request form. If you would like help in person, please make an appointment in advance.

Workstations, infrastructure

• Where can I find the visitor workstations?

  There are a number of workstations on the ground floor of the BiG. It is not possible to reserve them.

  More information can be found under Workstations and facilities.

• Can I copy/print/scan at the library?

  A printer and a photocopier are available for use free of charge. You will need a USB data storage device to save your scans.

• Can I get refreshments at the BiG?

  There is a coffee point with a snack machine and coffee machine on the ground floor. It is not permitted to eat and drink at workstations.

• I work for the Federal Administration and would like to book a meeting room. How can I do this?

  Meeting rooms can be booked using the appropriate form. Please note that, in making a reservation, you agree to abide by the BiG's site rules. More information and the form can be found under ‘Meeting room reservations’.

  This service is not available to members of the general public or is only available under certain conditions.

Where to find us, opening times, contact

• How do I get to the BiG?

  The BiG is easily accessible by public transport. It is located near the Guisanplatz Expo stop on tram line 9, directly at the crossroads, diagonally opposite the tram stop.

  Further information can be found under Opening hours and location.

• What are the library’s opening times?

  The BiG is open from Monday to Friday from 8.30 to 11am and from 2 to 4pm. If you enter the building before 11am, you can leave at any time, but may not be able to reenter the building before it opens again at 2pm. The front desk is closed over lunchtime. For more information, please ask at the front desk.

• Can items be returned outside of the opening times?

  Yes, the BiG has a returns box (Monday to Friday, 06.00 - 18.00 hours).