Using the OCA libraries

Registration and access to the OCA libraries (terms and conditions)

 The 3 libraries of the Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur (OCA) are accessible :
- freely for OCA members ;
- by appointment for the Université Côte d'Azur (UniCA) members and other external persons.

The use of OCA libraries' resources and services is submitted to prior registration.

The borrowing of documents by UniCA members is authorized after registration.
2 registration request forms are available : for OCA members and for UniCA members

Electronic form			Paper form (pdf )
OCA member (registration request)			OCA member (registration request)
UniCA member (registration request)			UniCA member (registration request)

 It allows :

For OCA members
- to borrow and return documents in any OCA library ;
- to access to the electronic resources (bibliographic databases ; book collections ; periodicals) ;
- to request to send or supply documents at any time (articles ; book purchase ; ILL).
(The cost is fully supported by the OCA library within the limits of the budget allocated and prior agreement) ;
- to access to specific services (alerts ; help to search ; guides and tutorials ; training ; visits...).

For UniCA members
- to borrow and return documents in any OCA library ;
- to access to specific services (alerts ; help to search ...).

The borrowing rights and the access to electronic resources varies according to its status, geographical location and its affiliated institution. They are specified at the time of registration.

Borrowing, renewing & returning library materials

Reader account

Each user has a reader account open at the time of registration. You can access to the account via our online catalog (password is required). The reader account allows to : - consult your loan list ; - book a document in any library. The  document will be delivered to your main library. (If you have lost your password, contact us : biblio@oca.eu)

The borrowing and renewing rights :

• (1) The non-circulating materials : journals, reference books, internal documents and historic collections do not circulate (exception : a special authorization may be granted for permanent employees to borrow old documents for temporary exhibitions).
  

Terms of borrowing :
- free access to the reading rooms and archive rooms during the librarians' working hours with the exception of the space "Old Books and Archives" (Nice Mont-Gros) and the room A216 (Sophia-Antipolis) ;
- each book is equipped with a loan form (located at the beginning or end of the book according to the library) to be filled in and placed in the box provided for this purpose.This box is located at the entrance to the libraries.
- After reading, the documents are handed to the librarians or deposited in the return box.

Lost or damaged materials and time contraints :
Library borrower is responsible for library materials while checked out under his name, and is responsible for returning items by their due date. If an item is damaged or lost, borrower must replace or reimburse it at the actual cost 

Reading room : opening hours, equipments, ranking of documents 

Opening hours , equipments of the 3 libraries
Click on the photograph of your favorite library to see the opening hours and equipments of the reading room

Nice Mont-Gros		Nice Valrose		Sophia-Antipolis

Ranking of documents on the libraries' shelves :

Nice Mont-Gros Library : the documents are arranged by inventory number in the basement 1 Exceptions : when call number began with letter : A = old books  - Mezzanine (restricted access) C = colloquium -  Ground floor E1  = small format catalogue - Ground floor E2  = large format catalogue  - Mezzanine P = periodicals - Ground floor  + Basement 1 and 2  U  = Usual -  Ground floor W  = OCA documents - Basement 1

How to find doc. in Nice-Mont-Gros library (map) (restricted access to OCA)

Nice Valrose Library (Lagrange library) : The documents are stored in the reading room by classification and then inventory number

Sophia-Antipolis library (Geoazur library) :  The documents are stored in the reading room (room A213) by author's name  followed by a serial number
Exceptions :
Astronomy books of the Grasse library (room A214) : by topics 
Maps, Geological  (room A216) : by suffix "CARTE" + n °
Periodicals = (room A216) : by suffix "P" + n.° 
Thesis, Academic dissertations (room A216) : by suffix "T" + Year + Author

First steps in the OCA library

Some tools can help you to use the OCA library's services and resources for the first time :

- The Online request forms (all)

- Focus : a collection of practical sheets about the OCA libraries 

Focus 1 the quick guide for newcomers (april 2024)		Focus 2 The library user guide (april 2024)
Focus 3 How to access e-journals ?		Focus 4 How to be inform about new books ?