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About the library

Here you can read about Umeå University Library and some of the areas we work with, such as open science. You will also find links to our social media channels.

Umeå University Library is the most extensive research library in northern Sweden. Our target groups are primarily students and employees at Umeå University and employees at the University Hospital, but the library is also open to the public.

Umeå University Library (UmUB) consists of three libraries:

  • the University Library (UB) in the centre of the campus
  • the Medical Library (MB) at the University Hospital
  • Arts Campus Library.

Here you can read more about the different libraries:

Our libraries

The library then and now

History

Umeå University Library originates from "Vetenskapliga biblioteket i Umeå" (the Scientific Library in Umeå) which was established at Umeå stadsbibliotek (Umeå City Library) in 1950. In 1958, when the government decided to establish a medical college in Umeå, a medical library was created as well, leading to an enhancement of the activities at Vetenskapliga biblioteket.

In 1965, when the Umeå University inauguration ceremony was held, its library had already existed for one year. The first library director at UmUB was Paul Sjögren. There were immediate plans to set up a new library building on Campus. The constructions were initiated in the spring of 1967, and in 1968 the main building of the University Library, in the heart of campus, was finished. The circulation desk opened on 2 December the same year, the Research Hall a few days later and the textbook reading room opened on 3 March 1969. At the time the library building attracted attention for its interior and open access system. Since then several reconstructions and additions have been made to UmUB, the latest in 2006. A new building for the Medical Library was built in the autumn of 2002.

Donations

Umeå University Library has received several donations over the years, for example those from Sigurd Curman and Olof Östergren, and through the Stiftelsen Seth M. Kempe minnesfond, has been able to receive parts of book collections belonging to Nils Ahnlund, Björn Collinder, Eli Heckscher and Gustaf Hellström. The library also houses the archive of author Sara Lidman.

Legal deposits to the library

Everyone who copies or publishes a work for general distribution in Sweden is obliged by law to send one copy each to seven specific libraries. Umeå University Library is one of these libraries, and this is an important part of the development of the library collection. The Law for Legal Deposits encompasses printed books, newspapers, brochures, maps, posters, postcards etcetera. Umeå University Library makes a selection of the material. 

European Documentation Centre (EDC)

Umeå University Library is a European Documentation Centre (EDC).
EDC is a body designated by the European Commission. The purpose is to develop studies and research and make information from the European Union (EU) available to the general public. There are ten EDC libraries in Sweden.

You can access EU databases via the library:

EU legislation (list of databases)

Eurostat (EU statistics)

Contact the library for information on how to find legislation and statistics from the EU.

Contact person for EDC

Equal opportunities

At the library, we work with equal opportunities on the basis of Umeå University's policy and vision. 

We are currently actively working on equal opportunities in the following ways:

  • The library has an equal opportunities officer as support for the management team.
  • We have rainbow flags visible on the information desk in all our libraries, this is part of our goal to make visible and include LGBTQ+ people and show that the library supports equal rights.
  • Pride at the libraries - book exhibition in all our libraries in connection with the Pride week in Umeå every year.
  • Focus on the protected grounds of discrimination in signage and selection of books.
  • Thematic signage in national minority languages.
  • Information about accessibility in our physical premises on the web.
  • Reading and writing support for students.

Open science

Open science is about making research more accessible, transparent, and inclusive. Research results should be easy to disseminate, read, and use. Here are some examples of how the library works with open science:

  • We work to ensure that Umeå University’s research is disseminated, for example through agreements with various publishers who offer discounts for open access publishing in journals. We also manage the university's publication database DiVA, where many research publications are available in full text.
  • We conduct analyses of the University's publications, for example to examine the dissemination and impact of the University's research and to evaluate the University’s open access publishing. We also support the University Management by compiling bibliometric data for allocating funds and evaluating research projects.
  • We support the University's researchers in their research data management, for example by advising and reviewing data management plans and providing the DMP online service. We also quality review metadata descriptions of research data made available by university researchers in SND's catalogue for research data (the Swedish National Data Service).
  • We are continuously digitising our collections to preserve them and make them accessible. We include open resources in the library’s search tools and catalogue services so that they are equally visible as the resources we subscribe to or purchase.
  • We provide education on areas of open science, including courses given to doctoral students and researchers. We also work with developing freely available courses and other open educational resources.

Photos of our libraries

Opening hours

  • University Library
    08:00–22:00
    • Monday
      2/12
      08:00–22:00
      Tuesday
      3/12
      08:00–22:00
      Wednesday
      4/12
      08:00–22:00
      Thursday
      5/12
      08:00–22:00
      Friday
      6/12
      08:00–18:00
      Saturday
      7/12
      11:00–17:00
      Sunday
      8/12
      12:00–18:00
    • Monday
      9/12
      08:00–22:00
      Tuesday
      10/12
      08:00–22:00
      Wednesday
      11/12
      08:00–22:00
      Thursday
      12/12
      08:00–22:00
      Friday
      13/12
      08:00–18:00
      Saturday
      14/12
      11:00–17:00
      Sunday
      15/12
      12:00–18:00
    • Monday
      16/12
      08:00–22:00
      Tuesday
      17/12
      08:00–22:00
      Wednesday
      18/12
      08:00–22:00
      Thursday
      19/12
      08:00–22:00
      Friday
      20/12
      08:00–18:00
      Saturday
      21/12
      11:00–17:00
      Sunday
      22/12
      12:00–18:00
    • Monday
      23/12
      09:00–15:00
      Tuesday
      24/12
      Closed
      Wednesday
      25/12
      Closed
      Thursday
      26/12
      Closed
      Friday
      27/12
      09:00–15:00
      Saturday
      28/12
      Closed
      Sunday
      29/12
      Closed
    • Monday
      30/12
      09:00–17:00
      Tuesday
      31/12
      Closed
      Wednesday
      1/1
      Closed
      Thursday
      2/1
      09:00–17:00
      Friday
      3/1
      09:00–17:00
      Saturday
      4/1
      Closed
      Sunday
      5/1
      Closed
    • Monday
      6/1
      Closed
      Tuesday
      7/1
      08:00–22:00
      Wednesday
      8/1
      08:00–22:00
      Thursday
      9/1
      08:00–22:00
      Friday
      10/1
      08:00–18:00
      Saturday
      11/1
      11:00–17:00
      Sunday
      12/1
      12:00–18:00
    • Monday
      13/1
      08:00–22:00
      Tuesday
      14/1
      08:00–22:00
      Wednesday
      15/1
      08:00–22:00
      Thursday
      16/1
      08:00–22:00
      Friday
      17/1
      08:00–18:00
      Saturday
      18/1
      11:00–17:00
      Sunday
      19/1
      12:00–18:00
    • Monday
      20/1
      08:00–22:00
      Tuesday
      21/1
      08:00–22:00
      Wednesday
      22/1
      08:00–22:00
      Thursday
      23/1
      08:00–22:00
      Friday
      24/1
      08:00–18:00
      Saturday
      25/1
      11:00–17:00
      Sunday
      26/1
      12:00–18:00
  • Medical Library
    08:00–22:00
    • Monday
      2/12
      08:00–22:00
      Tuesday
      3/12
      08:00–22:00
      Wednesday
      4/12
      08:00–22:00
      Thursday
      5/12
      08:00–22:00
      Friday
      6/12
      08:00–18:00
      Saturday
      7/12
      11:00–16:00
      Sunday
      8/12
      12:00–18:00
    • Monday
      9/12
      08:00–22:00
      Tuesday
      10/12
      08:00–22:00
      Wednesday
      11/12
      08:00–22:00
      Thursday
      12/12
      08:00–22:00
      Friday
      13/12
      08:00–18:00
      Saturday
      14/12
      11:00–16:00
      Sunday
      15/12
      12:00–18:00
    • Monday
      16/12
      08:00–22:00
      Tuesday
      17/12
      08:00–22:00
      Wednesday
      18/12
      08:00–22:00
      Thursday
      19/12
      08:00–22:00
      Friday
      20/12
      08:00–18:00
      Saturday
      21/12
      11:00–16:00
      Sunday
      22/12
      12:00–18:00
    • Monday
      23/12
      09:00–15:00
      Tuesday
      24/12
      Closed
      Wednesday
      25/12
      Closed
      Thursday
      26/12
      Closed
      Friday
      27/12
      09:00–15:00
      Saturday
      28/12
      Closed
      Sunday
      29/12
      Closed
    • Monday
      30/12
      09:00–17:00
      Tuesday
      31/12
      Closed
      Wednesday
      1/1
      Closed
      Thursday
      2/1
      09:00–17:00
      Friday
      3/1
      09:00–17:00
      Saturday
      4/1
      09:00–17:00
      Sunday
      5/1
      09:00–17:00
    • Monday
      6/1
      Closed
      Tuesday
      7/1
      08:00–22:00
      Wednesday
      8/1
      08:00–22:00
      Thursday
      9/1
      08:00–22:00
      Friday
      10/1
      08:00–18:00
      Saturday
      11/1
      11:00–16:00
      Sunday
      12/1
      12:00–18:00
    • Monday
      13/1
      08:00–22:00
      Tuesday
      14/1
      08:00–22:00
      Wednesday
      15/1
      08:00–22:00
      Thursday
      16/1
      08:00–22:00
      Friday
      17/1
      08:00–18:00
      Saturday
      18/1
      11:00–16:00
      Sunday
      19/1
      12:00–18:00
    • Monday
      20/1
      08:00–22:00
      Tuesday
      21/1
      08:00–22:00
      Wednesday
      22/1
      08:00–22:00
      Thursday
      23/1
      08:00–22:00
      Friday
      24/1
      08:00–18:00
      Saturday
      25/1
      11:00–16:00
      Sunday
      26/1
      12:00–18:00
  • Arts Campus Library
    10:00–16:00
    • Monday
      2/12
      10:00–16:00
      Tuesday
      3/12
      10:00–16:00
      Wednesday
      4/12
      10:00–16:00
      Thursday
      5/12
      10:00–16:00
      Friday
      6/12
      10:00–16:00
      Saturday
      7/12
      Closed
      Sunday
      8/12
      Closed
    • Monday
      9/12
      10:00–16:00
      Tuesday
      10/12
      10:00–16:00
      Wednesday
      11/12
      10:00–16:00
      Thursday
      12/12
      10:00–16:00
      Friday
      13/12
      10:00–16:00
      Saturday
      14/12
      Closed
      Sunday
      15/12
      Closed
    • Monday
      16/12
      10:00–16:00
      Tuesday
      17/12
      10:00–16:00
      Wednesday
      18/12
      10:00–16:00
      Thursday
      19/12
      10:00–16:00
      Friday
      20/12
      10:00–16:00
      Saturday
      21/12
      Closed
      Sunday
      22/12
      Closed
    • Monday
      23/12
      Closed
      Tuesday
      24/12
      Closed
      Wednesday
      25/12
      Closed
      Thursday
      26/12
      Closed
      Friday
      27/12
      Closed
      Saturday
      28/12
      Closed
      Sunday
      29/12
      Closed
    • Monday
      30/12
      Closed
      Tuesday
      31/12
      Closed
      Wednesday
      1/1
      Closed
      Thursday
      2/1
      Closed
      Friday
      3/1
      Closed
      Saturday
      4/1
      Closed
      Sunday
      5/1
      Closed
    • Monday
      6/1
      Closed
      Tuesday
      7/1
      10:00–16:00
      Wednesday
      8/1
      10:00–16:00
      Thursday
      9/1
      10:00–16:00
      Friday
      10/1
      10:00–16:00
      Saturday
      11/1
      Closed
      Sunday
      12/1
      Closed
    • Monday
      13/1
      10:00–16:00
      Tuesday
      14/1
      10:00–16:00
      Wednesday
      15/1
      10:00–16:00
      Thursday
      16/1
      10:00–16:00
      Friday
      17/1
      10:00–16:00
      Saturday
      18/1
      Closed
      Sunday
      19/1
      Closed
    • Monday
      20/1
      10:00–16:00
      Tuesday
      21/1
      10:00–16:00
      Wednesday
      22/1
      10:00–16:00
      Thursday
      23/1
      10:00–16:00
      Friday
      24/1
      10:00–16:00
      Saturday
      25/1
      Closed
      Sunday
      26/1
      Closed
  • Archives and Special Collections
    09:00–16:00
    • Monday
      2/12
      09:00–16:00
      Tuesday
      3/12
      09:00–16:00
      Wednesday
      4/12
      09:00–16:00
      Thursday
      5/12
      09:00–16:00
      Friday
      6/12
      09:00–12:00
      Saturday
      7/12
      Closed
      Sunday
      8/12
      Closed
    • Monday
      9/12
      09:00–16:00
      Tuesday
      10/12
      09:00–16:00
      Wednesday
      11/12
      09:00–16:00
      Thursday
      12/12
      09:00–16:00
      Friday
      13/12
      09:00–12:00
      Saturday
      14/12
      Closed
      Sunday
      15/12
      Closed
    • Monday
      16/12
      09:00–16:00
      Tuesday
      17/12
      09:00–16:00
      Wednesday
      18/12
      09:00–16:00
      Thursday
      19/12
      09:00–16:00
      Friday
      20/12
      09:00–12:00
      Saturday
      21/12
      Closed
      Sunday
      22/12
      Closed
    • Monday
      23/12
      Closed
      Tuesday
      24/12
      Closed
      Wednesday
      25/12
      Closed
      Thursday
      26/12
      Closed
      Friday
      27/12
      Closed
      Saturday
      28/12
      Closed
      Sunday
      29/12
      Closed
    • Monday
      30/12
      Closed
      Tuesday
      31/12
      Closed
      Wednesday
      1/1
      Closed
      Thursday
      2/1
      Closed
      Friday
      3/1
      Closed
      Saturday
      4/1
      Closed
      Sunday
      5/1
      Closed
    • Monday
      6/1
      Closed
      Tuesday
      7/1
      09:00–16:00
      Wednesday
      8/1
      09:00–16:00
      Thursday
      9/1
      09:00–16:00
      Friday
      10/1
      09:00–12:00
      Saturday
      11/1
      Closed
      Sunday
      12/1
      Closed
    • Monday
      13/1
      09:00–16:00
      Tuesday
      14/1
      09:00–16:00
      Wednesday
      15/1
      09:00–16:00
      Thursday
      16/1
      09:00–16:00
      Friday
      17/1
      09:00–12:00
      Saturday
      18/1
      Closed
      Sunday
      19/1
      Closed
    • Monday
      20/1
      09:00–16:00
      Tuesday
      21/1
      09:00–16:00
      Wednesday
      22/1
      09:00–16:00
      Thursday
      23/1
      09:00–16:00
      Friday
      24/1
      09:00–12:00
      Saturday
      25/1
      Closed
      Sunday
      26/1
      Closed

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Quick facts

4000
Visit our libraries every day
1 500 000
Books
1 300 000
Searches in the library's search tool every year
350
Accessible databases

Contact us

Latest update: 2023-08-08