Borrow books
Students, staff and external users may borrow books from Stockholm University Library. Students and staff at Stockholm University may borrow all items marked as home-loan or course literature. With your university account you can access all the library’s e-resources remotely. Staff can also borrow items on limited loans to their offices.
If you are not a student or staff member at Stockholm University, you may borrow all items marked as home-loan, but not course literature. You can access the library’s e-resources on-site in the library.
The library catalogue contains some Swedish words, even if you change the language settings to English. To help you understand the information we have compiled a list with the words translated to English.
Swedish words in the library catalogue
Borrow and return books
To be able to borrow books, you need to have a library account with Stockholm University Library.
You borrow books at the library's self-issue machines located on both sides of the entrance. To borrow, you use your personal identity number or T-number and the PIN code you chose when you created your library account.
To return your borrowed books you use the self-issue machines to the left as you enter the library.
Loan periods and loan renewals
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.
Coursebooks
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.
Video: Find the book
Video in Swedish with English subtitles (YouTube).
Library rules for borrowed items
Fees for overdue books
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 600 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.
Lost or damaged books
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 600. Any late fees incurred must also be paid.
Request books
Some library books are located in our closed stacks. These are not available for you to pick up. Instead you request these books via the library website.
If all copies of a book are out on loan you can place a request on the book. However, it is not possible to request books which are available in the library in our open stacks. If one or more copies of the book are available you need to come to the library and get it from the shelves.
Request books out on loan
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 “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.
- Click on the title of the book in the list of results.
- Scroll down to where it says “Stockholm University Library”. Click on the blue icon “Request”.
- A new box opens. Click on the blue button marked ”Queue”.
- Another box opens where you can confirm that you want to queue for the book. Click “OK”.
- You have now placed a request for the book.
Request a book from the closed stacks
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 home page and search for the book by typing the title of the book in the search box. Click on the title of the book in the list of hits.
- Scroll down to where it says “Stockholm University Library”. Click on the blue box that says “Request”.
- A new box opens. Click on the blue button marked “Order”.
- Another box will open where can confirm that you want to order the book. Click on ”Yes”.
- The book is now requested.
Direct delivery for staff
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 “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
Submit purchase suggestions or order interlibrary loans
Students and staff at Stockholm University can make a purchase suggestion for books, articles and other media resources which are not already available in the library.
The library buys or borrows requested books and articles, provided they are relevant for current studies or research at Stockholm University. The library decides from case to case whether the ordered material should be purchased or borrowed by interlibrary loan.
Generally, the library buys resources published in recent years, while older material is borrowed.
Form to submit purchase suggestions or order interlibrary loans
When the material is available, you will be notified by e-mail.
You can follow your order under My Requests at My Library Account
Interlibrary loan for other libraries and organisations
Borrowing library books is free of charge. Articles are scanned or copied and sent for a fee. Order an interlibrary loan by form or via Libris.
Form for ordering interlibrary loans for other libraries
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.
Contact
- Chat
Monday - Friday 9.00-15.00
- Office hours
The information point is staffed:
Monday - Thursday 9.00 - 21.30
Friday 9.00 - 18.00
Saturday - Sunday 9.00 - 17.00
- Phone hours
Monday and Tuesday 10.00 - 11.00
- Irregular office hours
On Friday 1 November the library will close at 12.00
Saturday 2 November the library is CLOSED
Last updated: October 10, 2024
Source: Stockholm University Library