Start with the institution that grants access
AVA’s user guidance says participating-library membership is the basis for access. Search your library’s digital resources list for AVA before entering credentials on a portal found through a general web search. This establishes both participation and the intended sign-in destination.
A Berlin public-library member and a university researcher may be sent to different branded portals. The shared AVA name does not make their credentials interchangeable. Keep the institution and portal URL together when writing down instructions for another household member.
Distinguish library-card and institutional sign-in
The general user route describes a library card ID and password. The HBZ FAQ also refers to institutional SAML or Shibboleth authentication. Use the route offered by your actual institution; do not assume every screen should contain the same fields.
If sign-in fails, verify current library membership and the exact identifier required before resetting unrelated film-service accounts. For an institutional route, a campus identity problem and an AVA video problem should be investigated separately. The library can clarify which identity is authorised.
Inspect the actual local collection
AVA focuses on European and international features, documentaries and shorts. Its library model means a general showcase or another institution’s page is not a reliable promise of your own collection. Open the local portal and confirm the selected work there.
For a class preparation session, note the film year, runtime, language and available subtitle options. If using the film beyond private viewing, ask the library about the specific permitted use rather than treating a home-streaming login as an automatic public-screening licence.
Resolve membership before paying elsewhere
AVA’s user guidance describes access included within a cooperating library’s membership arrangement. That does not make obtaining or renewing the library membership itself universally free. Ask the institution about its own eligibility and fee rules.
If a title is missing or access expires, retain the local portal URL, work title and visible message. Start with the library for membership questions and use the platform support route for a recognised-account playback issue. Do not purchase an unrelated streaming plan to repair library authentication.
Questions about this guide
Will any library card work?
Only a card or identity accepted by a cooperating library’s AVA arrangement.
Are HBZ and VÖBB the same account?
They represent different institutional contexts; follow your own library’s sign-in instructions.