Borrowing + access to online resources
The HKB Media Library combines the holdings of four divisions: Design and Fine Arts, Conservation and Restoration, Research and the Y Institute.
The HKB Media Library is part of the BFH library and a member of the Swiss Library Service Platform SLSP/swisscovery. It is open to the public and a centre of learning and exchange for HKB students, lecturers and staff.
Mon–Fri
9am–17pm
swisscovery is the national search platform of academic libraries in Switzerland.
In our short course you will learn ...
Information about swisscovery can be found at bfh.ch/slsp
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.
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.
The HKB Media Library combines the holdings of four divisions: Design and Fine Arts, Conservation and Restoration, Research and the Y Institute.
The physical media are generally freely accessible and can be borrowed (prerequisite: swisscovery account). They can be searched via swisscovery.bfh.ch.
Media can be returned outside opening hours via the return box. The return box is in front of the media library and is emptied daily at 9am. Borrowed media items that are dropped off later than 9am will only be registered as returned as of the following working day.
The electronic media or online resources are accessible to students and employees of the BFH in the BFH network, i.e. in the WLAN bfh or via VPN. For other visitors, they are available at the research stations in the library.
The collections of the BFH Library (books and ebooks, periodicals and ejournals, DVDs, etc.; except for the library of the Abegg Foundation) can be searched using swisscovery.bfh.ch.
Database for visual and applied arts, design and architecture. Includes the databases Wilson Art Full-Text and Art Index Retrospective as well as 750 journals in full-text, references and abstracts from renowned international journals (USA, UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Holland), 220 e-books and 63'000 images.
Collections of images from museums, private collectors, photographic agencies, photographers of architecture, etc. for use in research and teaching.
In the image archive of the ETH library more than 500'000 images are available for free download, 100'000 of these images are in the public domain and can be used without restrictions. The collection includes photos of Swiss history of science and technology, the archives of Swissair and the Fotostiftung Schweiz as well as the Baugeschichtliche Archiv of the city of Zurich.
Prometheus is a distributed digital image archive for art and cultural studies. The Prometheus image archive functions according to the principle of a database broker that brings together heterogeneous image databases. The image providers make their databases available to research and teaching free of charge. Prometheus thus enables a comfortable image search via a common interface in different image archives, institute, research and museum databases.
More than 500'000 images of works in the museum's collection have been digitised in high resolution; 200'000 of these images are available in the Rijksmuseum Studio and can be freely adapted.
As part of the Google Art Project this museum has digitised in high resolution approximately 40'000 images of works of art in the public domain, which can be used and adapted by the public.
‘Lost Art’ is the official German database for the documentation of cultural objects seized during the Nazi dictatorship. It contains cultural objects that were displaced or confiscated as a result of organised looting efforts by the Nazis, especially from Jewish owners.
A governmental online portal about artworks plundered by the NS regime. Contains general information as well as information about provenance research.
The HKB Media Library collects the diploma theses of HKB students.
Projects in the field of Conservation and Restoration are integrated into the holdings of the HKB Media Library. BFH swisscovery lists them under their title and author’s name.
Projects completed in the Division of Design and Fine Arts are collected in the Media Library. They can only be viewed on site.
The HKB Media Library owns around 100 valuable, rare publications.
Their classmark is RARA. They are not available for loan. Rarities can only be used for reference on site or borrowed for short-term use in internal classes.
You can use BFH swisscovery to search our rarities.
The browser extension Lean Library leads you directly to electronic full-text content offered by your BFH library.
For best results, always activate the VPN.
Lean Library is available for
Use on mobile devices:
iOS operating system from Apple: Academic Browser
Android from Google: under development
Lean Library enables you to initiate a search on the swisscovery search platform from any website:
If you have any questions, contact us: bibliothek@bfh.ch
The Moodle course BFH Literature Search gives BFH students an introduction to researching scientific literature.
Depending on the type of publication, you can choose the appropriate search tool:
Always look for the “search@BFH” button. It often leads directly to the text you are searching for.
Install LeanLibrary, a browser extension, to support your research.
Activate your BFH VPN, even when using Google or Google scholar, for ex., as this can in some cases lead directly to the full-text.
Journal articles can be found primarily in bibliographic subject databases. You will often find direct access to full-text PDFs here as well. Depending on the database, the design of the download buttons or links can vary greatly: «Full Text», «PDF», «Read», etc.
Sometimes the DOI or «digital object identifier» directs to the full-text.
Also pay attention to the «search@bfh.ch» button, as this can also direct to full-text.
In some bibliographic databases you will find neither full-text access nor PDFs, only citations for the articles you need. In this case, go to the swisscovery search platform.
Search in swisscovery using the title of the journal instead of the title of the article. Then use «Tweak your results», go to the heading «Resource Type» and choose «Journals».
If the electronic version of the journal is available, you will be directed to the journal full-text by clicking on the “Available Online” link and you can then find and download the article PDF. In some cases, you may need to enter a password again (“Passwords”).
If the journal is only available in print, you can copy or scan the article at the library where it is located.
If the BFH Library does not have the journal you need in its collections, broaden your search to include all of swisscovery, i.e. all member libraries (drop-down menu next to the search box). You can often order the journal issue for loan.
Some swisscovery member libraries allow you to order copies or scans for a fee. Alternatively, use the service "Orders for Copies" of the University Library of Bern.
Using reference management software you can
In the Moodle course Literature Management, BFH students and employees receive instructions and training dates for the reference management software Zotero. Instructions and sources of supply for Citavi, EndNote and Mendeley can also be found.
Writing is not a question of talent. Writing is a question of practice. Especially when it comes to writing scientific texts.
In the Moodle course "Schreiben – écrire – writing" BFH students can find instruction in the art of academic writing and helpful suggestions for getting started with the writing process. The course is intended to introduce you to the topic and can later be used for reference purposes, as needed.
The HKB Media Library is part of the BFH library.