Borrowing from the library

How borrowing from the library works

In order to borrow books and other materials, you will need a UMU card (students and employees) or a library card (the general public). Use our self-service machines to borrow books and return them using the return machine or book drop. 

The loan period is usually:

• 14 days for textbooks;
• 30 days for regular books.

Keep track of your loans in the library search tool

Use the library search tool to manage your loans:

• Log in to the library search tool to renew your loans and check if you need to return any of them.
• There is no upper limit to the number of renewals, provided no one has requested the book.
• In the library search tool, you can also view your requests and any blocks on your account.
• You are always responsible for keeping track of your loans and due dates.

Log in to the library search tool

Automatic renewals – unless the item is requested 

Books are automatically renewed two days prior to their due date unless they are requested. If a book cannot be automatically renewed, we will send you an email informing you that you must return it within two days. If, for any reason, you do not receive the email, you are still responsible for returning the book on time. 

Blocks and fees for overdue books

This is what happens if you do not return your books on time:

• If your loan period expires, your library account will be blocked from making new loans until you return the overdue books. 
• If you are late returning a textbook, the block will also remain for six weeks after the book is returned. 
• If your account has been blocked, you are still able to renew your loans.
• If an invoice has been sent before you have returned late items, you still need to pay an administrative fee for each late book. 

You are responsible for returning your books on time, regardless of whether you have received the library’s email or not.

Tip! Always check your loans before any extended absence.

Read more about our loan rules and fees

Use the library’s contact form for questions about claims and blocks

Fees for damaged or lost books

You are responsible for the books you borrow. If you lose a book or return it in a damaged condition, you will need to pay a replacement fee in accordance with the library’s price list.

Please note:

• Pencil marks and notes are considered damage.
• If a book is damaged when you borrow it, you can ask staff to make a note of it so that you do not risk being charged for the damage.
• Never try to repair a damaged book yourself, as this may cause further damage. The library’s bookbindery handles all repairs.

Read more about our loan rules and fees

Use the library’s contact form for questions about claims and blocks

Other situations where books must be returned

If you are no longer a student or an employee at Umeå University, your library account will eventually be closed. You will then no longer be able to renew your books and will need to return them to the library. You can continue borrowing books from us by visiting the library and switching to a library card for the general public. Remember to bring a valid photo ID.

Get a library card

If you are a student or an employee, your UMU card serves as your library card. You need to get your UMU card before you can borrow books from the library.

Anyone over the age of 18 can obtain a library card, even if you are not a student or an employee. Fill out our online application form “Library card for the general public” to register.

FAQs on borrowing and returning books

Borrowing, renewals and requests

How do I borrow books using the self-service machines?

When using our self-service machines, you can verify your account with your:

• UMU card/library card;
• UMU ID; or
• personal identity number.

You will need to enter your PIN. It is the same four-digit PIN you have chosen for your UMU card or library card. If you have a UMU card, you can change your PIN via the UMU card portal.

Place your books on the marked area on the self-service machine and make sure that all titles appear on the screen. Once you have finished you will receive a receipt with information about your borrowed items and when they are due.

How do I change my PIN?

Students and employees

If you are a student or an employee, you can create a new PIN in the UMU card portal.

The general public

If you have a library card that is not a UMU card, you must visit the library to change your PIN. Please bring a valid photo ID and talk to the staff at one of our information desks.

How do I request a book?

If the book you want to borrow is already on loan, you can request it.

• Find the book you want using the library search tool and choose “request”.
• You will receive an e-mail notification as soon as your book is available. If your mobile phone number is registered with us, you will also receive a text message.
• Collect your requested book from the pick-up shelf in the library. To locate your book on the shelf, look for the personal code in the notice you received.
• You must collect the book within three days. Don't forget to borrow the book at the self-service machine.

Your requests are visible when you log in to “My account” in the library search tool.

My account

Normally, only books that are already on loan can be requested. Right now, you can also request books that are not on loan but are located in closed stacks due to the University Library's renovation. Library staff will collect the books, and you can usually borrow them within 24 hours.

How do I renew my loans?

Log in to the library search tool and select “Loans”, or use the “My loans” shortcut on the library’s home page. There you can view your current loans and see whether or not they can be renewed.

You can:

• select “Renew all”;
• check certain books and select “Renew selected”; or
• renew each book individually by selecting “Renew”.

If you select “Renew all”, you will receive a message if any books are reserved and therefore could not be renewed.

Tip! Since there is no upper limit on the number of renewals, you do not need to wait until the loan period is about to expire before renewing. Instead, you could make it a habit to renew your books once a week. This will help you see well in advance if any books need to be returned.

How do I borrow books as a distance student?

If you do not live in Umeå municipality, you can order the books you need for your studies through your local library. Your local library will arrange an interlibrary loan from Umeå University Library. We will send the books to your local library, where you will borrow and return the books.

If you want to borrow a textbook, it is important for your local library, to state in its order that you are a distance student at Umeå University. It is important to consider that course books often have a short loan period.

If you live in Umeå municipality, you cannot make an interlibrary loan. You have to borrow your books at any of our libraries, for which you will need your UMU card.

Return books

How do I return books?

The libraries have self-service return machines where you can return your books and receive a receipt.

When the libraries are closed, you can use our book drops:

• The University Library's book drop is currently in the vestibule in the Social Sciences Building entrance, facing the Humanities Building. The book drop is available around the clock. It is automated, and you can receive a receipt confirming that the books have been returned.
• There is also a book drop by the entrance to the Arts Campus Library. The book drop is available when the building in which the library is located is open. Books are checked in when staff empty the book drop, usually the next working day. You will not receive a receipt.

Can I return a book to a different library than where I borrowed it?

Books borrowed at Umeå University Library can be returned at the University Library or the Arts Campus Library.

Books borrowed at other libraries cannot be returned to us.

Can I return books by mail?

It is possible to send your borrowed books to the library by mail. You are responsible for a borrowed book until it has been checked in at the library.

Addresses to the libraries

E-books, interlibrary loans and purchase of books

How do I borrow e-books?

If you are a student or an employee, you have access to the library’s e-book collection and our other e-resources when you log in to the library search tool. Find the book you need. Once you are able to view the full text version, you will find further information about what applies to a specific book.

If you do not have a UMU ID, you will need to visit the library and use our computers to access e-books and other e-resources.

Read and download e-books

Can the library buy or make an interlibrary loan for books that I need?

If material that you need for your studies or research is missing, it may be requested.

• We primarily purchase requested literature that is not available in our library collection.
• If a book is available as an e-book, we will purchase it in that format.
• If we determine not to purchase an item that you have requested, we may make an interlibrary loan.

Read more and place your order here:
Suggestions, interlibrary loans and article copies

Is your request related to a textbook? Our purchases of textbooks are based on the course literature lists in Ladok. Therefore, it is not possible to submit a purchase suggestion if a textbook is not in the library's collection. Instead, the teacher of the course needs to update the information in Ladok.

Contact information (e-mail, phone number and address)

How do I update my contact information?

I am a student with a UMU card

The contact information for students is retrieved from Ladok (the University's system for student records). Log in to Ladok to update your phone number and e-mail. Contact Infocenter if you need more information.

Log in to Ladok

Infocenter

I am an employee with a UMU card

Contact information for employees is retrieved from the University’s personnel administration system. You may change your information via the staff self-service system PASS.

Staff self-service (PASS)

I have a library card (not a UMU card)

If you have a library card that is not a UMU card, you must visit the library to change your contact information. Please bring a valid photo ID and talk to the staff at one of our information desks.