University of Basel

University Library

Display of access options

This shows whether the licensed e-media of University Library Basel can be accessed from the current device and internet browser:

For members of the University of Basel

Members of the University of Basel have access to an extensive range of e-resources consisting of licensed online databases, e-journals and e-books, both on and off the University of Basel campus.

Devices within the network of the University of Basel can access the entire range of e-resources, without requiring a login. This also applies to mobile devices belonging to members of the University of Basel, provided they are connected to the university network via the eduroam WLAN or VPN. This works because publishers and providers recognise the IP addresses of the University of Basel and these are activated for access to the available e-resources. You can recognise this by the corresponding information on the publisher’s platform, e.g. «Access provided by University of Basel».

To access the e-resource services from off campus, members of the University of Basel must connect to the University of Basel by means of the VPN for the University of Basel network. WebVPN does not work for all providers.

At other Swiss and many international universities you can access the Internet using the eduroam WLAN. However, this does not generally give you access to the e-resources offered by the University of Basel, nor to those licensed by the guest institution. To do so, VPN for the University of Basel network must also be run. Please note that some institutions (e.g. hospitals) block VPN connections.

Screenshot Zugang über Institution

Some publishers offer a specific login for members of educational institutions (e.g. «Login via your Institution»). In order to gain access to a publisher’s e-resource services with this login, access to the University of Basel network is not necessary. However, in order to use this option, members of the University of Basel must have a Switch edu-ID and link it to their Unibas account. Instructions can be found under «Switch edu-ID Linking Service of the University of Basel».

Please note that not all publishers offer this option. For full access to the entire range of e-resources made available by the University of Basel, please use the options described under Access within the university or Access from outside the university.

For private individuals who use the University Library Basel

The University Library Basel is open to the public. The borrowing of printed items is available to everyone free of charge. Access to the available electronic resources is restricted for private individuals compared to access for members of the University of Basel.

With SLSKey, private individuals can use on-site search stations at the University Library locations University Main Library, University Medical Library, University Business and Economics Library.

After registering with SLSKey, you can use the following offers:

  • a large part of the e-resources
  • Internet access
  • Various PC programs (open source)
  • Download on your USB stick
  • Printing (after saving the document in PDF format on the USB stick)

How do you get access to SLSKey Basel?

  • You need a library account to use SLSKey. Are you not yet registered? Create a swisscovery account here.
  • To activate your account, please register once at the Infodesk of the University Main Library, University Medical Library or University Business and Economics Library.
  • You present valid identification (ID, passport, driver's licence, Swisspass).
  • With the activation you accept the terms of use for SLSKey Basel.
  • After one year from activation, access must be renewed on site.

Private individuals have access to freely-accessible e-resources and open access content, to products that are accessible with SLSKey, and to the national licences.

SLSKey from outside the libraries

Products from two publishers are currently available for private individuals via SLSKey. These are the e-books, e-journals and databases licensed for the University of Basel from the publisher De Gruyter as well as the products from Munzinger.

Munzinger Online

To log in, select "Anmeldung", and "Mit Bibliotheksausweis", search for "Basel" and select "University of Basel Switch edu-ID via SLSKey".

De Gruyter

To log in, select ‘Log in’ at the top right, then select «Access through your institution» and search for «Universität Basel». Then select the login option with Switch edu-ID, and click on «Login».

We are committed to expanding the products available to private individuals and our Customer Services would be happy to receive your suggestions.

National licences

The national licences form a comprehensive and frequently-used journal portfolio from the publishers Cambridge University Press, De Gruyter, Oxford University Press and Springer Nature. Access is possible up to the recent past, but does not include the most recent years. Private users with permanent residence in Switzerland can register for free access. You can then access the national licences via swisscovery.

Open Access

Access to freely-available e-resources and open access content

A wide range of e-resources that are freely available on the Internet, such as databases, journal articles, books and open access content are indexed in swisscovery and accessible to all users. This is independent of whether you use swisscovery as a member of the University of Basel, or as a private individual, and no login or account is required. Further information on freely-accessible e-resources and open access content can be found at Finding Open Access content.

1. Select the «swisscovery» search area in «swisscovery Basel», i.e. you extend your search to the whole of Switzerland.

[Translate to English:] Suchbereich Swisscovery

2. Select the «Open Access» option in the filter options in the left-hand column

[Translate to English:] Swisscovery Filter für Open Access

3. The displayed results all have the symbol

[Translate to English:] Swisscovery Symbol für Open-Access-Inhalte

Display of links to available e-resources in the swisscovery Basel search portal

Ansicht mit VPN

what it looks like with VPN

The display of links to available e-resources in swisscovery Basel is controlled by IP address range. Members of the University of Basel who access swisscovery Basel from the university network (on campus or via VPN), will see all links to available e-resources.

Ansicht ohne VPN

what it looks like without VPN

Library users who do not access swisscovery Basel from the University of Basel network will only see links to freely-accessible e-resources and open access content.

Copyright | Restrictions on use

Access to most of the electronic documents and databases offered via the University Library’s websites is based on license agreements between publishers and the university. The licences impose certain restrictions on use. Please take note of the publishers’ copyright regulations on their websites (e.g. under Terms & Conditions).
The licences impose certain restrictions on use, such as:

  • The electronic documents and databases are intended for personal use only, as part of research and teaching at the University of Basel. Commercial use is prohibited.
  • Passing information on to third parties or distribution of information (e.g. via a website) is generally prohibited.
  • Third party use includes uploading licensed content or data to external platforms, specifically ChatGPT and other AI platforms, where storage and future use are controlled by third parties.
  • Documents may be processed in the context of the legally permitted personal use.
  • Systematic downloading or duplication (manual or automated) of whole issues of e-journals, whole e-books or significant portions of databases is not permitted.
  • Passwords and other access information are confidential and may not be shared with third parties. This also applies to the email accounts of the university (@unibas.ch or @stud.unibas.ch).

In general, the IT terms of use at the University of Basel and the Copyright Act apply.

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