1. Bern University of Applied Sciences
  2. About BFH
  3. Locations + Facilities
  4. BFH Library
  5. Courses + Assistance
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Courses + Assistance

The BFH Library supports you in efficiently organizing and conducting searches for scientific literature – with swisscovery, Zotero and other tools.

Online Courses

In our short course you will learn ...

  • ... how to use swisscovery efficiently
  • ... how to borrow books and how to download e-books.

Dates
 

  • Thursday, 10 September 2026, 12 noon (German)
  • Tuesday, 22 September 2026, 4.30pm (German)
  • Tuesday, 29 September 2026, 12 noon (French)
  • Tuesday, 13 October 2026, 4.30pm (German)
  • Tuesday, 27 October 2026, 12 noon (German)
  • Tuesday, 10 November 2026, 12 noon (French)
  • Tuesday, 17 November 2026, 12 noon (German)
  • Tuesday, 1 December 2026, 4.30pm (German)
  • Tuesday, 15 December 2026, 12 noon (German)
  • Tuesday, 12 January 2027, 12 noon (French)
  • Friday, 15 January 2027, 12 noon (German)

Info on the short courses
 

  • Duration: 30 minutes
  • Registration: not necessary
  • The short training sessions will take place via MS Teams. 

Information about swisscovery can be found at swisscovery.help
If you have any questions, please contact bibliothek@bfh.ch

Contact us if you would like to have a short course on a different date or in English.

Note on data protection

You can participate in the training, which takes place virtually via MS Teams, using the link above. Only your dial-in and registration data will be transmitted via MS Teams. Sound and image data will only be processed if you allow this in your settings (microphone, camera). The Bern University of Applied Sciences does not store any personal data that can be seen from the event; in particular, no recording is made. In addition, the BFH has chosen MS Teams, a program for which compliance with the standards required by data protection law is assured. The responsibility for the operation of the software lies with the provider. Details on the processing of personal data can be found in the provider's data protection information. By participating, you consent to the processing of your personal data.

Eine Eule und das swisscovery-Logo

The many AI tools have a variety of different functions and therefore offer various possible ways of supporting an efficient search for literature. 

Learn in 90 minutes how you can employ AI in the context of literature research. 

The training course takes place via MS Teams. You can register via Moodle. You will receive an e-mail ahead of time, with instructions and the MS Teams link for participation. 

Training course dates
 

  • Monday, 20 april 2026, 3pm - 4.30pm (German)
  • Friday, 19 june 2026, 8.30am - 10am (German)

Moodle course on literature search with AI
 

None of our training dates fit your schedule? Or would you like to explore a topic from the training in more depth? In our Moodle course, you will find background information and assistance on literature research with AI.

eine Eule auf einem Buch

Zotero is a reference management programme for collecting, managing and citing a wide variety of sources. With Zotero, you can import citations from swisscovery and subject databases, create and manage citation lists, and export them into text documents, for example in Word.

Discover in 90 minutes how to make optimum use of Zotero. The training course is provided online via MS Teams. Registration is via Moodle. Shortly before the course you will receive an e-mail with instructions and the MS Teams link for participation.

Dates

  • Monday, 24 August 2026. 4.30pm - 6pm (German)

  • Monday, 28 September 2026. 4.30pm - 6pm  (German)
  • Mittwoch, 21. Oktober 2026. 8.30am - 10am (German)
  • Friday, 13 November 2026. 1.00pm - 2.30pm (German) 
  • Wednesday, 16 December 2026. 8.30am - 10am (German)
  • Wednesday, 20 January 2027. 8.30am - 10am (German) 
  • Monday, 22 February 2027. 4.30pm - 6pm (German) 
  • Friday, 19 March 2027. 1.00pm - 2.30pm (German) 
  • Monday, 19 April 2027. 4.30pm - 6pm (German)
  • Wednesday, 26 May 2027. 8.30am - 10am (German) 
  • Friday 11 June 2027. 1pm - 2.30pm (German)

Moodle course on Zotero

None of our training dates fit your schedule? Or would you like to get started with literature management without a training course? In our Moodle course, you will find instructions (videos, etc.) and help, e.g. for migrating your literature collections from Citavi to Zotero.

eine Eule und das Zotero-Logo

School or subject-specific courses

Students from all divisions receive introductory training, integrated into the curriculum, on using the library, conducting literature searches and accessing subject-specific databases. The training materials can be found in the Moodle course Biblio AHB-TI.

In the Bachelor’s degree programmes at Business School, information literacy training is integrated into the curriculum. This includes an introduction to the library, literature research and bibliographic databases.

Information literacy training is integrated into the curriculum of all Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes at HAFL. This includes introductions to literature research, bibliographic databases and the reference management programme Zotero.

Offer in German

Die Studierenden des Departements Gesundheit erhalten curricular eingebundene Einführungen in die Bibliothek und ins Zitierprogramm Zotero. Auch Workshops zu Literatursuche und Recherche in spezifischen Fachdatenbanken werden im Rahmen des Studiums durchgeführt.

Die Online-Literaturrecherche-Refresher für Masterstudierende finden im Frühlingssemester statt und stehen allen Interessierten offen.

Kontakt: bibliothek.gesundheit@bfh.ch

At the start of the autumn term, short introductory sessions are held at the HKB Media Library.

At the start of the autumn term, short introductory sessions are held at the HKB Music Library.

On their first day of study, all new students (HF Wood Technology, BFH Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes) visit the library. As part of the ‘Methodology & Communicating’ lecture for HF Wood Technology and Bachelor in Wood Technology students, students receive an introduction to the library and training in the reference management software Zotero during their first semester. For Master’s students, the library offers an introduction to conducting research using academic databases.

Students from all divisions receive introductory training, integrated into the curriculum, on using the library, conducting literature searches and accessing subject-specific databases. For some degree programmes, the library also offers refresher courses. The training materials can be found in the Moodle course Biblio AHB-TI.

Offer in German

Refresher Literaturrecherche
 

  • Recherche von wissenschaftlicher Literatur
  • Rechercheplattform swisscovery
  • Fachdatenbanken und Zeitschriften

Die Refresher finden online per MS Teams statt. Der Link zur Besprechung wird jeweils eine Woche im Voraus über Moodle – (Digitales) Lernen im BSc verschickt.

Kontakt

bibliothek@soziale-arbeit.bfh.ch

Refresher Literaturrecherche für Studierende der Sozialen Arbeit (PDF, 1 MB)

Assistance

Do you have any specific questions about searching for scientific literature? Book an appointment – either via bibliothek@bfh.ch or directly at your local library.