---
type: Documentation
title: Frequently asked questions and use cases
description: Answers to frequently asked questions and typical workflows in Librario.
resource: https://www.librario.de/en/docs/grundlagen/faq
language: en
revision: e114aa541d24c57e452957a2313c85d2014b716b
tags:
- docs
- grundlagen
---

# Frequently asked questions and use cases

This page answers frequently asked questions and walks you through typical workflows.

## Finding literature

### How do I find the current state of the art on a topic?

1. Search with suitable keywords in the [full-text search](/en/docs/grundlagen/publikationen-durchsuchen)
2. Under **Sort by**, choose **Date** to see the newest publications first
3. Use the **Year** filter (for example **Last 5 years**) to hide older publications
4. Check the references in relevant publications for further current sources

### How do I combine search terms?

- By default, the search finds publications that contain **all** the terms you enter
- Put terms in quotation marks to search for an exact phrase: `"Eurocode 2"`
- The search automatically takes different spellings and word forms into account

### How do I find a standard by its number?

1. Enter the standard number in quotation marks, for example `"EN 1992-1-1"`. Without quotation marks, other parts such as EN 1992-1-2 appear too
2. If there are many results, use the **Publication type** filter to show only standards

See [searching by standard number](/en/docs/grundlagen/publikationen-durchsuchen) for details.

### How do I know whether a standard is still valid?

1. Open the standard's detail page
2. Check its **Status**: **Active** or **Withdrawn**
3. For a withdrawn standard, **Successors** names the standard that replaces it. If that standard is in your library, click its number to open it

The status is the one your library team recorded in Librario; Librario does not check it against the DIN catalogue.
If in doubt, ask your library team.

### Where do I find the paper copy?

On the publication's detail page, the list of [hard copies](/en/docs/grundlagen/publikationen-durchsuchen) shows where each copy is kept and whether it is available or on loan.
Reference-only copies can only be used on site.

### Why can't I find a text I know exists?

Check the following:

1. Is the PDF file searchable? For scanned documents, your library team can [improve the text recognition](/en/docs/bibliothekswesen/best-practices/volltextsuche-optimieren)
2. Did you search for the right terms? Try synonyms or other spellings
3. Has the publication been catalogued yet? If in doubt, ask your library team

### Can I search straight from the browser's address bar?

Yes. Librario offers itself to your browser as a search engine, named after your account followed by "Library".

1. Open Librario in your browser
2. In your browser's search engine settings, add the Librario search engine or activate it. Chrome lists it under inactive shortcuts at first
3. Give it a shortcut there, for example `lib`. Then type `lib`, a space and your search term in the address bar

Safari does not support custom search engines.
On Windows you can also add Librario to [Windows Explorer](/en/docs/integration/windows-explorer).

## Working efficiently

### How do I keep track of important publications?

1. Add relevant publications to your [favourites](/en/docs/grundlagen/favoriten-verwalten)
2. Use [collections](/en/docs/grundlagen/sammlungen-verwalten) for literature that belongs together by topic

### How do I stay up to date on new literature?

1. Create a [collection](/en/docs/grundlagen/sammlungen-verwalten) for your field
2. In the search, choose **Date** under **Sort by** to see new publications first
3. Check the collection regularly

### How do I cite a publication correctly?

1. Open the publication's detail page
2. Use **Export** and pick the format you need (BibTeX or EndNote)
3. Import the data into your [reference manager](/en/vergleiche)

## Working with others

### How do I point others in the team to a publication?

You have two simple options:

1. On the detail page, click **Share publication** to send the link by email
2. Add the publication to a shared [collection](/en/docs/grundlagen/sammlungen-verwalten)

### How do we organise literature for a project?

1. Create a [collection](/en/docs/grundlagen/sammlungen-verwalten) for the project
2. Under **Users & permissions**, give everyone on the project the Editor role
3. Add relevant publications
4. Record project-specific notes in the collection's description
5. Link to the collection from your project management tool

### How do we share expertise in the team?

1. Create [collections](/en/docs/grundlagen/sammlungen-verwalten) for different subject areas
2. Document the key works and essential background reading
3. Name experts as points of contact in the collection description
4. Link to supporting resources (for example internal wikis or calculation tools)