Services

Registration and borrowing are free of charge. Anyone who is interested can register and receive a library card.  

To use the library services and access the swisscovery service and search platform, you need to register on the Swiss Library Service Platform (SLSP) with a SWITCH edu-ID account.  

Registration is done in two steps:  

Step 1: Create a SWITCH edu-ID account (FAQ)  

Step 2: Register with SLSP (swisscovery) 

If you already have a SWITCH edu-ID account, go straight to step 2.  

Registration guides:  

• HES-SO members
• External users and guest lecturers 

- You can find further information on data protection on the SLSP website.   

- Frequently asked questions about registering for swisscovery   

- Help page for SWITCH edu-ID  

- You must provide notification of any changes to your postal address, email address, or telephone number. HES-SO Valais-Wallis students and staff must inform Academic Services or Human Resources of HES-SO Valais-Wallis of any changes.  

- You can modify certain personal details in your SWITCH edu-ID account in the account management section (e.g. add a second e-mail address, a work address, etc.).  

To borrow an item, you must have a valid library card. 

The following conditions apply:  

• You can borrow up to 100 items  

• Maximum of 28 days per item (varies by type of item).  

• Up to 5 automatic renewals (if the item is not reserved by another person).  

Library card  

To borrow an item, you must have a valid library card. This card is personal and must be presented every time you borrow an item. It allows you to borrow from all HES-SO media libraries, as well as from other libraries in the SLSP network (without additional registration).  

You can still continue to use your old library card. Just enter its barcode number directly into the library card management platform.   

If you don't have a library card, go to an SLSP library. Don't forget to take a valid ID with you.  

Renewals  

Items borrowed via swisscovery will be automatically renewed up to five times (if the item is not reserved by another person).  

To renew an item that cannot be automatically renewed, click on your name (top right), and then on account. This will display a list of your loans, reservations and other transactions. Tick the boxes for the items you would like to renew and then click on renew. The new due date will be displayed. You cannot renew an item that has been requested by another user.  

You can renew items online for a maximum of 5 times the original loan period. After this period, you must return your borrowed items at the loan desk.  

Late fees  

When the loan period is exceeded, the SLSP network sends a notice, followed by three reminders and a return order. Each reminder sent will incur a fee. The fees are cumulative.  

• Initial reminder: Free (1 day after the end of the loan period)  
• 1st reminder: CHF 5.00 per item (7 days after the end of the loan period)  
• 2nd reminder: CHF 5.00 per item (14 days after the end of the loan period)  
• 3rd reminder: CHF 10.00 per item (21 days after the end of the loan period)  

After the third reminder, your library account will be blocked across all SLSP network libraries.   

SLSP will automatically send you a monthly invoice by email to collect any late fees.   

You are fully liable for any costs incurred as a result of damage to or loss of an item, including administrative costs.  

Sign in to your swisscovery account to check your loans, renew them or reserve items. Click on sign in (top right) and enter your login details.

 Tutorial Video : Accéder au compte utilisateur·trice

 

HES-SO Valais-Wallis media libraries provide an article ordering service.  

This service is free of charge for HES-SO Valais-Wallis students and staff.   

For external users, ordering charges will be invoiced in accordance with the conditions set out in Appendix 2 of the “Regulations for the use of collections and services of HES-SO Valais-Wallis media libraries” (in French). 

Order form  

All item orders must be placed using the form OpenILLInk. 

HES-SO Valais-Wallis media libraries are part of the swisscovery network. Your library card allows you to borrow items from any library in the network.   

You can check the rates for interlibrary loans in Appendix 2 of the “Regulations for the use of collections and services of HES-SO Valais-Wallis media libraries” (in French). 

If the item is available to order in swisscovery (SLSP Courier Service)  

The SLSP Courier service creates a network between SLSP libraries that offer this service. SLSP Courier allows you to have items delivered from one library to another within 3 days.    

The SLSP Courier service is free of charge for members of the HES-SO Valais-Wallis community and costs CHF 8.00 per item ordered for external users.   

If the item is not available to order in swisscovery (interlibrary loans)  

The interlibrary loan service allows you to order items that cannot be ordered in swisscovery.  

The courier service is free of charge for HES-SO Valais-Wallis students and staff.  

External users will be charged CHF 12.00 per item requested (only available for items from Swiss libraries).  

Collaboration with Bibliovalais  

If you would like to borrow items from a Valais library outside the SLSP network, please send your request directly by email to one of our HES-SO Valais-Wallis media libraries. We procure the item free of charge from the library that holds it.  

Late fees  

• Initial reminder: Free (1 day after the end of the loan period)  
• 1st reminder CHF 5.00 per item (7 days after the end of the loan period)  
• 2nd reminder CHF 5.00 per item (14 days after the end of the loan period)  
• 3rd reminder CHF 10.00 per item (21 days after the end of the loan period)   

Item transport prices  

Item transport is free of charge for HES-SO Valais-Wallis students and staff, and costs CHF 12.00 per item for external users (this service is only available for items from Swiss libraries).     

You can check the rates for services of HES-SO Valais-Wallis media libraries in Appendix 2 of the “Regulations for the use of collections and services of HES-SO Valais-Wallis media libraries” (in French).  

SLSP will automatically send you a monthly invoice by email to collect any late fees.   

You are fully liable for any costs incurred as a result of damage to or loss of an item, including administrative costs.  

Regulations for the use of collections and services of HES-SO Valais-Wallis media libraries (in French)