Borrow books

Loan periods are either 7 or 28 days. Books with a loan period of 7 days are course books and can only be borrowed by students and staff at Stockholm University. Books with a loan period of 28 days can be borrowed by all library patrons.

Journals and older material can only be read in the library.

Your loans are automatically renewed, up to 25 times, as long as no other patron has requested the book. You can also renew your loans yourself via "My Library Account". There you also see if someone has requested the book.

My library account

Coursebooks have a loan period of 7 days and can only be borrowed by students and staff at Stockholm University.

You find the coursebook collection to your right as you enter the library. 

Stockholm University Library's borrowing rules

The library charges fees for overdue books, both for books requested by another patron and for books where the loan has been renewed a maximum number of times. The overdue fee is SEK 10 per book, per day.

If you have more than SEK 100 in overdue charges, your library account will be blocked for further loans.

A book not returned within 30 days of the return date is considered lost. You will then be charged an additional SEK 800 in fees for each lost book. If the book is returned, only the late fee is to be paid.

If the book is borrowed via interlibrary loan, the delay fee is determined by the library that lent the book. After a third reminder, or if the library has sent you an invoice, you will be temporarily unable to borrow materials from the library until the matter has been resolved.

How to pay late fees:

• You pay your late fees via “My Library Account” on the library’s website. You can pay by bank card or via Swish.
• You can also pay to the library’s bankgiro transfer 812-0669. When paying by bank transfer, it is important to state your name, personal number and what the payment is for. Please note that it takes at least three banking days before the payment is processed with us.
• You can also pay by bank card at the library.

If you have lost or damaged a book, you will need to replace it.

You can replace a book that has been lost or damaged by purchasing a new copy of the same book, or a later edition, and leave it at the information point at the library. This is usually the cheapest option for replacing a book.

If you cannot buy the book yourself, you can replace it by paying a standard fee of SEK 800. Any late fees incurred must also be paid.

If all copies of a book are out on loan, you can place a request on the book. Then the books is reserved for you when it is returned to the library. Placing a hold is free of charge.

Once the books is available you will receive an e-mail from the library. You will also see this information under “My Library Account”. You have three days in which to pick up and check out the book. Only the person who requested the book can borrow the book.

How to place a request

• Go to “My Library Account” and log in with your university login, or under “Others", if you are not a student or member of staff.
• Go back to the homepage and search for the book by typing the title of the book in the search box.
• Find the title of the book in the list of results and click on the "Låna/Borrow" button.
• A new page opens. Click on the blue button marked ”Place hold”.
• Another page opens where you can confirm that you want to queue for the book. Click “Continue”.
• You have now placed a request for the book.

My Library Account

Some of the library books are located in closed stacks. These books are not available for you to pick off the shelves. Instead you need to request them via the library website.

A request placed before 7.00 on a weekday will be available to be picked up sometime during the same day. Requests placed after 7.00 will be available to be picked up sometime during the next weekday.

When the book is available you will receive an e-mail from the library. You have three days in which to pick up and borrow the book. You can also see on “My Library Account” when the book is available. Only the person who requested the book can borrow it.

How to request a book from the closed stacks

• Go to ”My Library Account” and log in with your university login, or under “Other Login”, if you are not a student or member of staff.
• Go back to the homepage and search for the book by typing the title of the book in the search box.
• Find the title of the book in the list of results and click on the "Låna/Borrow" button.
• A new page opens. Click on the blue button marked “Request from closed stacks”.
• Another page will open where can confirm that you want to order the book. Click on ”Yes”.
• The book is now requested.

My Library Account

Staff at Stockholm University are offered delivery of books to their respective departments, as a complement to borrowing on-site in the library. To use the service an active library account and a correct department address are required. Certain material cannot be ordered as direct delivery. If the button  ”For Direct Delivery” is missing when ordering, this means that this title cannot be sent as a direct delivery.

When the book is ordered, the loan is registered in your account and sent by internal mail to your mailbox at the specified department address. Delivery takes about four weekdays. As a borrower, you are responsible for the book throughout the loan period.

How to order direct delivery 

• Log in with your university login in “My Library Account”.
• Then search for the book in the library catalogue.
• When you have found the book, click on the button that says “Låna/Borrow”.
• A new page opens. Click on the blue button marked "Direct delivery"
• Check your address and click “Continue”.

Material not available for direct delivery

• Course books
• Reference books
• Books printed before 1900
• Fragile books
• Folios and journals

Borrowing library books is free of charge. Articles are scanned or copied and sent for a fee. However, during 2025 articles are free of charge for Swedish university libraries. Order an interlibrary loan by form or via Libris.

Form for ordering interlibrary loans for other libraries

Order via Libris

Rules for interlibrary loans of books

• For monographs, a loan period of 28 days is guaranteed.
• There is maximum of 25 automatic renewals, if no other patron has requested the book. 
• If the title is reserved, the book must be returned immediately, if the guaranteed loan period has expired.
• Books marked “EJ HEM” may only be borrowed as reading room loans by the borrowing library.
• Rarities, folios, reference books, course literature, children’s literature and books from the Slavic collection are not available för interlibrary loans.
• Journals – copying only.
• Degree projects and essays are not available at the library. Please contact the respective department.

Rules and prices for interlibrary loan of articles 

Articles are sent via e-mail if the agreement so allows, otherwise via regular mail. The article must be printed and submitted to the borrower in paper form in accordance with current legislation.

Please note in the order if you wish to pay with IFLA vouchers.

Prices

Price per article available in our e-inventory:

100 SEK or 1 full IFLA voucher.
Price per article that needs to be scanned or copied:

1-20 pages 100 SEK or 1 full IFLA voucher.
20-50 pages 200 SEK or 2 full IFLA vouchers.