What can I find in Discovery?
Our Discoveryis a modern literature research portal based on search engine technology. Discovery offers a quick and easy way to start searching. In addition to our library collection, which includes all kinds of media, the search also covers articles from licensed databases and freely accessible electronic texts. Discovery's responsive web design makes it ideal for mobile devices. Access to your library user account is also integrated.
The default search covers the holdings of the following libraries in the Regional Library Network:
- Rostock University Library (UB)
- Rostock University of Music and Drama HMT)
- Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW)
- Leibniz Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP)
- Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN)
- Historical Library of the Museum of the Barlach Town of Güstrow
- Library of the Rostock Jewish Heritage Centre (Max-Samuel-Haus)
In Discovery, it is possible to extend your search to include other national libraries and additional data sources. Select the "Cross Regional Search" option in the search bar on the left. This search covers more than 320 million titles in over 1,000 libraries across ten federal states and further data sources. Matching literature can be ordered to Rostock via interlibrary loan.
Search Tips and Controls in Discovery
| Search Terms | Enter one or more terms in the search bar. By default, multiple search terms are combined with “and.” |
| Search Areas | Use the search bar on the left to choose between two search areas. In the “Rostock Regional Library Network,” you can search the local collection of the libraries that are part of the network. In the “All Libraries” search area, you can search over 320 million titles from libraries outside the region and other databases. Relevant materials can be ordered to Rostock via interlibrary loan. |
| Narrow your search | In the search bar on the left, select the “All” option to search for your terms across all fields (e.g., person, title, or keyword) at the same time. If you'd like to narrow your search, use the “Person,” “Call Number,” or “Title” options. |
| Filter search results | By default, search results are sorted by relevance—the closest match between your search query and the available data. You can further refine your search using the filters below the search bar. Specify the publication period, language, or location of the title to narrow your search. You can also sort the search results by relevance or year of publication. Please note: The filters vary depending on the selected search scope. |
| Search by Original Text |
If titles are available in their original script, you can also search for them in that form Beispiel: -История текста и биография А. П. Платонова |
| Include or exclude search terms |
If you place a plus sign immediately before a search term, the term must be included in the search results. If you place a minus sign immediately before a search term, you can exclude that term. Example: -+Golf -Car -VW" find Golf but not Car and not VW |
| Wildcard * |
The Symbol * you can place it anywhere in the search term or at the end of the search term. It replaces any number of characters. Use wildcards if you're unsure about the spelling of a search term or if you want to find variations of a search term. Example: -Str*m find stream and stronticum |
| Wildcard ? |
The Symbol ? you can place it anywhere in the search term or at the end of the search term. It replaces exactly one character of your choice. Example: -Publi?ation will find Publikation und publication -W??mar will find Weimar and Wismar |
| Quote Search "" |
Enter one or more terms in quotation marks to get only results with the exact same word order. Example: -"computational engineering" |
| Phonetic Search |
The phonetic search (which can be enabled in the filters) allows you to find terms that are typographically similar. It is useful when you do not know the correct spelling of a name or term. Example: -Tollstoy find Tolstoi, Tolstoj, Tolstoy |
| Boolean Operators |
You can combine search terms using the words AND, OR, and NOT. In Discovery, these words must be entered in English and in all capital letters. Example: (ai OR "Artificial Intelligence") AND education NOT school |
My Account
Access to Your User Account
- Manage items available for pickup, loans, orders, holds, and fees
- Renew items
- Change password
- View your library card
Settings
Set preferences for:
- saving your user account login information under “My Account”
- saving your favorites
- saving your search history
Reset
Reset search
- Clear search results
- Clear search bar
- Clear filters
Favorites
- Display titles marked as favorites in the search results
- Send, save, print, or export favorites
Available
The book is available for immediate checkout or can be accessed online.
Included in
An article is included in a journal or anthology. A link redirects to the main publication.
Limited or no availability
The item may be on loan, located in a special section of the Rostock University Library, or certain volumes of journals may be missing, among other possibilities.
Freely available online
No licensing restrictions: The online resource is freely accessible to everyone and available at no cost.