Dear first year student - a guide for the new students
We welcome you to the Sourasky Central Library.
The Library staff is at your service and will be more than happy to do whatever they can to
make your learning experience pleasant and interesting.
The aim of this guide is to assist and direct you with the various aspects of the Library's
procedures – it will enable your "safe landing" at the Library.
We are aware of the variety of questions you have on library services and have created a FAQ guide - sorted into subjects.
We will be more than happy to answer your queries and questions and assist you in locating relevant data and directing you to additional resources.
According to the regulations, reference and guidance services are given remotely these days. You can contact us by E-Mail, Chat, Telephone, and WhatsApp (E-Mail address and telephone numbers can be found in the guide). In addition, One-to-One and Group Zoom Tutorials can be coordinated. You can choose your preferred communication channel.
Services are given throughout the Academic Year Sun.-Thu. 09:00-19:45
The Sourasky Central Library is one of the 5 major Campus Libraries. It is located at the
Campus center – next to the Diaspora House and in front of the Gilman Building.
Our emphasis is set on developing the collection in the Arts and Humanities fields as well as
various aspects of the Social Sciences, Gender and Feminist Studies and interdisciplinary
works in the History and Philosophy of Sciences.
At the Library one can find Books, Journals, Newspapers, Theses – some in printed format
and some in an electronic one. Offprints, CD-Roms and miniaturized text can also be
retrieved.
All fiction lovers can find fiction titles in various languages at our Library.
The Library holds some Special collections.
Students can borrow items from any one of the campus libraries – the student card should
be submitted while borrowing the item(s).
If you have not yet received your student card you can use your payment receipt.
Throughout the Academic Year the library is open on Sundays-Thursdays between
08:30-20:00 ; Friday 08:30-12:30
One can enter the library up to 15 minutes prior to the closing time.
Opening hours might change before holidays and during the semester breaks – Relevant
information can be found at the library website and on its facebook page.
Click here for more information.
The collection is mostly organized in an "open shelf" system, which enables direct access to
the items. The books are arranged on the shelves according to the Dewey Classification
System – a decimal system which classifies books according to their subjects (The Music
Dept. books are arranged according to the LC Classification System).
The Code, consists of a combination of digits and letters, is printed on a sticker on the book's
spine and enables one to locate the book easily on the shelf. The Hebrew books are placed
before the non-Hebrew books on the shelves.
e.g. 184 PLA ; 327.01 FOR ; Music Dept.: ML410 BAC
Books can be borrowed via the circulation desk at the entrance floor or by
using an online form. The borrowed books will be collected from the attendant at the entrance.
Books should be returned via the circulation desk or to the dropbox located next to the entrance door.
When returning Interlibrary loan books (ILL) to the dropbox please add a note stating it is an ILL book.
Please keep track of the loan period to avoid a delay in returning the items which would yield paying a fine.
The students are responsible to check whether the book was requested and needs to be returned to the library.
Click here for more information on book loan regulations
Loan renewal
Our library has an automatic renewal system, which renews the loan status on a daily basis – assuming nobody had ordered the item and in accordance to the library regulations.
Alerts notifying you of the need to return items which were requested by other readers will be sent by E-Mail.
You should check your mailer to make sure the items have been automatically renewed and had not been requested.
Please update your E-Mail address in the student portal webpage.
The E-Mails can be forwarded to an alternative E-Mail address via the following website:
https://www.tau.ac.il/forward/forward-en.html
Click here for more info
All Library members are provided with an account on DaTA- our Library search system which can be accessed via the My Account link, or via My Account link on the Library Website.
My Account is accessible via DaTa system after signing in, using your university username and password. Your name will appear on the top right corner of the webpage.
Clicking on My Account provides information about checked out items and their due date, requests, Blocks & Messages, etc.
Accessing information about checked out items and their due dates, requests & fines (My Account) is also possible via the TAU mobile application.
The TAU mobile application can be downloaded from the following websites:
All of our computers are connected to printers and have the MS-Office application installed
They all have USB sockets and most of them have earphones attached.
Payment for printing the jobs could either be done by using a printing/photocopying card or by using a credit card.
Printers
LaserJet black & white printers are located at the reference/circulation hall (Next to room #122), at the corridors of the first & second floor and at
the Gallery floor.
A color printer is located at the reference/circulation hall.
Wireless internet network and Laptops
A wireless internet network is active throughout the campus.
It is accessible using the following gateways: Public-TAU The recommended network for students/staff – enables full access to all library resources.
Registration is done by using the University username and password.
Free-TAU is available for visitors – enables free internet access, but does not enable access to the restricted databases.
Does not require a password other than the free-tau identifying key.
Laptops can be borrowed from the circulation desk. One can find electricity sockets throughout the library – at the groups studying rooms,
and at the two floors corridors.
The photocopying machines can be operated by using a photocopying/printing card or by using a credit card.
All photocopying machines can also be used as scanners.
Copies can be borrowed from this collection for a limited period (3 days).
Dictionaries and encyclopedias cannot be borrowed.
The “Limited loan” books which are located on the first floor (CL1) can be found in book cabinets #106-108; The second floor “Limited loan” books (CL2) can be found in book cabinet #90.
Group studying rooms
In addition to the traditional "quiet" study zones and the computer study work stations, we offer "noise zones" for group study.
Where are they located?
The Gallery floor consists of 11 different sized study rooms and an open space, which enables groups studying using round tables. 56 additional computers are located in the Gallery floor.
The "group studying hall" is located on the entrance level – past the computer class. A coffee vending machine (selling coffee at a symbolic price) is available in that room.
A group studying hall, and 3 study rooms for small groups, are located at the bottom floor of the library.
Right next to them one can use a kitchenette – equipped with a refrigerator, Microwave, Tami 4 water device, coffee, tea & chocolate – provided by the Student Association.
Using the 14 study rooms should be pre-ordered using the online group study room reservation service.
This reservation service is only available for students and staff members from the faculties of humanities and the arts at the Tel-Aviv University.
WiFi is accessible in each one of the study rooms and there is an LCD screen to which a laptop/iPad can be plugged-in.
Laptops can be borrowed from the circulation desk and used in the library premises.
Our way of contacting our readers is by E-Mail.
Please update your E-Mail address and notify us of any change in your phone number(s) (including your mobile).
by an Online Form
Answers will be given within two days.
Have a Question?
At the bottom left corner of our homepage you can find a special search box.
One can ask a question and receive an immediate answer from our Q&A database.
If none of the given options answers your question you can forward it by chat or by E-Mail.
Chat
The service – for short, concise questions is available Sunday-Thursday 09:00-19:00
- The Library is a place for study and research. It is important for all library users to maintain a quiet study atmosphere.
- Use the group studying rooms when studying with other colleagues.
- To preserve a quiet environment in all parts of the Library, mobile phones should be switched off, or set to silent.
- Personal belongings should not be left unattended.
