Here you find information on how to obtain a library card and how to borrow and renew books. There is also information about loan dates, reservations, suspensions and much more.
In order to borrow books, you will need a Umu card (students and employees) or a library card (the general public). Use our self-service machines to borrow and return items.
You can obtain a receipt when you return or borrow an item at our self-service machines. When the library is closed, you can return items at any of our book-drops located at the library entrance.
Loan periods and renewals
The loan period is minimally:
14 days for textbooks
30 days for regular books.
You can often keep an item longer.
Items are automatically renewed two days prior to their due date unless they are requested by another user.
Log in to “My account" in the library search tool in order to renew your loans.
You cannot renew a book if another user has requested it. We will send you an e-mail if you need to return an item, but you are always responsible for returning your books on time.
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.
You can register as a library user if you are 18 years of age or more.
Frequently asked questions about borrowing
How do I request a book?
You can only request books that are out on loan.
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, next to the information desk. 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.
Your requests are visible when you log in to “My account” in the library search tool.
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
personal identity number.
You will need to enter your PIN code. It is the same 4-digit PIN code you created for your Umu card or library card.
Place your books on the marked area 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.
Will I be suspended if a book is late?
Suspensions and fees:
If your items are due and you have not returned them, your library account will be suspended until you return the overdue items.
If you are late to return a textbook, you will be suspended for six weeks from the day the book is returned.
If your account has been suspended, you are still able to renew your loans.
If you receive an invoice before you have returned late items, you still need to pay an administrative fee for each late book.
The return date for all your books is visible when you log in to “My account” in the library search tool.
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.
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.
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.
Is there a limit to the number of loans or renewals?
There is no upper limit on how many books you can borrow.
It is possible to renew a book indefinitely, as long as no one else has requested it.
Where can I return items when the library is closed?
When the library is closed you may return your books in book drops located at
the Social Sciences Building entrance opposite the Humanities Building (outdoors)
in Atrium Betula under the Medical Library (indoors)
the UB Arts Campus entrance (indoors).
The indoor book drops are only available when the buildings in which the libraries are located are open.
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.
