Goodbye NEBIS, Hello Swisscovery

On 7 December 2020, the NEBIS lending network will be dissolved and replaced by swisscovery, the new nationwide library system operated by the Swiss Library Service Platform (SLSP). Lib4RI has joined the new SLSP network together with more than 470 other academic libraries from all over Switzerland.

Swisscovery will include more than 30 million books, series, journals and non-book documents as well as more than 3 milliard electronic articles. Naturally, all Lib4RI print and electronic holdings previously in NEBIS will also be searchable and accessible via swisscovery. Note that access control for licensed electronic resources is still based on your IP address and no additional registration is required.

First Things First

Registration

In order to borrow books and other media via swisscovery (and Lib4RI), as of 7 December 2020, you need to register with SLSP via a SWITCH edu-ID. Existing NEBIS user data will not be migrated to swisscovery. Please refer to SLSP's help page / FAQ for user registration platform for details. During the registration process, you have the option to enter the number of your existing library ID card (e.g. NEBIS, ZB, etc.).

Should you not yet have a personal Switch edu-ID you can conveniently create one via your institutional Switch AAI account. Members of Eawag, Empa, PSI and WSL should use their work address for registration with Switch edu-id. For more information regarding Switch AAI and Switch edu-id, please see here.

Transition Phase

Before switching to swisscovery, all NEBIS libraries will be subject to short-term restrictions:

15 Nov 2020: Book orders from other NEBIS libraries with pick-up location «Lib4RI» is deactivated, new reservations are no longer possible. Loans on site and mail delivery is still possible. Members of Eawag, Empa, PSI and WSL can use our document delivery service for books and other media that aren't available on site. Book returns are generally possible.

2-6 Dec 2020: Complete stop of loan services. Borrowing, ordering, copying and returning is not possible during this period. Loan history, favourites and active reservations from NEBIS user accounts will not be migrated.

7 Dec 2020: Start of swisscovery. Borrowing, ordering and returning possible again.

The NEBIS portal will be closed for loans as of 2 December 2020, 12:00. Please note that active loans are still visible in your NEBIS account.

More Details

Here, you can find additional information regarding the operation of swisscovery (FAQs).

User Account

How can I register?

Library customers must have a SWITCH edu-ID account to use the swisscovery services. You can register here.

Please note:
• Should you not yet have a Switch edu-ID you can conveniently create one using your institutional Switch AAI account. For more information regarding Switch AAI and Switch edu-id, please see here.
• We recommend you enter the barcode of your existing library ID card (e.g. NEBIS, ZB, etc.). New library cards can be obtained at our library information desks or contact Lib4RI's InfoServices.
• For help with the registration, please see here

After successful registration with SLSP, you can use your SWITCH edu-ID account for all SLSP libraries (there are no separate accounts per library or network).

Why is my previous library account no longer working?

Previously used library accounts are no longer active and valid in swisscovery. To continue using the library services, you need to create a SWITCH edu-ID account.

Can I keep my current library ID card?

Yes. You have the option to enter the barcode of your existing library ID card (e.g. NEBIS, ZB, etc.) during registration. Please contact Lib4RI's InfoServices should you require a new library card.

Is it also possible for companies to register?

Companies or institutions or other libraries are not able to create a SWITCH edu-ID account. Please contact SLSP directly via swisscovery@slsp.ch.

Is registration also possible for persons with a residence address outside Switzerland?

Users without a Swiss postal address can also create a SWITCH edu-ID account. Please note that depending on your place of residence, you might have limited services offered to you by the SLSP libraries.

Where can I view my loans in swisscovery?

From 7 December 2020 onwards you will be able to view your loans in your account in the swisscovery portal of your library.

Where can I see the media I borrowed from the NEBIS network?

You can view your loan history here until March 2021. For this purpose, please use your existing library login.

Why is it no longer possible for me to extend the borrowing periods in my NEBIS account?

Extensions are technically no longer possible.

Do I have to identify myself at the counter of my library after registration?

No, that is no longer necessary. Your mobile phone number is verified upon registration.

Why are my reservations and my borrowing history not migrated to swisscovery?

Unfortunately, migration of reservations and borrowing histories to the new system is not possible due to technical and privacy policy reasons. You will be able to start reserving documents in swisscovery from 7 December 2020.

Loans / SLSP Courier

How can I borrow documents?

As of 7 December 2020, all media from libraries participating in SLSP will be available.

What is SLSP courier?

SLSP courier connects academic libraries from all over Switzerland and replaces the previous courier services such as IDS courier and the NEBIS lending network. For a fee of CHF 6 per ordered document it is possible to have books delivered from one library to another within 48 hours. For members of Eawag, Empa, PSI and WSL these fees are waived.

Who is participating in SLSP courier?

Whether a library is participating in SLSP courier can be seen in the ordering process.

What are the borrowing conditions? (Standard)

The following standard conditions apply:
• Max. borrowing quantity of 100 documents
• Loan period of 28 days
• 5 automatic extensions (if the document has not been reserved by another person)

Reminders and Fees

Reminder fees

A fee is charged for every reminder that needs to be sent. The fees are added.
Request for return: 1 day after expiry of the loan period.

Free of charge
Reminder: 7 days after expiry of the loan period

CHF 5 per document
Reminder: 14 days after expiry of the loan period

CHF 5 per document (total CHF 10)
Reminder: 21 days after expiry of the loan period

CHF 10 per document (total CHF 20)
The fee schedule of swisscovery or of the individual libraries is published on the library websites.

Changes in the terms of use

With the launch of the new research platform swisscovery, changes in the terms of use of the libraries shall take effect. Please refer to the websites of the respective libraries for more information.

What happens with my data?

On registration, SLSP imports your personal data (names, addresses, telephone numbers, see General Privacy Statement SLSP) from your SWITCH edu-ID account into the new swisscovery research portal.
Your consent to your data being passed on to SLSP is obtained during the registration process.

You can change your personal data at any time in your SWITCH edu-ID account or institution/university. The changes are automatically transmitted to swisscovery. Library specific data such as borrowed media, orders and fees are recorded directly in swisscovery.

You can delete your user account at any time, provided that there are no open transactions (borrowed media or fees). To do this, delete your SWITCH edu-ID account or contact SLSP via swisscovery@slsp.ch.

Transaction data is regularly anonymized and accounts in swisscovery are erased after 10 years of inactivity.

For more information on the privacy policy and data protection refer to the SLSP website.