Here, you can suggest books for purchase or request interlibrary loans and copies of articles. You can also read more about how purchases and orders work, how to access the material and any prices for interlibrary loans and copies. At the bottom of the page, is information on interlibrary loans for other libraries.
Order: suggestions, interlibrary loans and article copies
Use this order form to leave purchase suggestions or to request interlibrary loans and article copies.
Contact the library
Contact us if you have questions about your purchases, interlibrary loans or article copies.
The library's collections are extensive, but not comprehensive. You can request material that we do not have if you need it for your studies or research. We can often purchase the material or order it as an interlibrary loan or as copies.
You order via the form "Order: suggestions, interlibrary loans and article copies". First, search the library search tool to check if the material is already in our collections.
The order link in the search tool will automatically fill in the form
In the library search tool, you can find both material in the library collections and material we do not own. If you find material you need to order, there is a link to the order form directly from the search tool. When you use this link, the information about the material is included in the form.
Search the library search tool
Our priority is to purchase requested literature that the library does not hold. If the requested book is available as an e-book, we will purchase the book in this format. If we do not purchase the publication, we can order it as an interlibrary loan. An interlibrary loan is material that is on loan from another library.
If you need an article from a journal that we do not have access to, we can order it from another library. Usually, you will receive a digital copy of the article, but sometimes, due to copyright, you will get a paper copy instead.
Interlibrary loans are usually free of charge
It is free of charge if we can purchase the material or borrow it from libraries in Sweden and the Nordic countries.
If we must borrow the material from a library outside the Nordic countries, it will cost you SEK 250 per volume. In that case, we will first ask if you are still interested.
Free to order copies of material not in the library collection
Copies of articles or book chapters that we need to order are free of charge. This applies whether you receive the copies digitally or in paper format.
Service for copying from the library's own collections
If you do not have the time or opportunity to copy articles or book chapters from the library's own collections, you can order the material in the form "Order: suggestions, interlibrary loans and article copies".
It costs 100 SEK for 1-40 pages, and for every 40 pages the price is added once more.
Example: A copy of a 53-page article will cost SEK 200 (2 x SEK 100).
Invoicing information
If you are an employee at Umeå University or Region Västerbotten we will send an invoice to your department or clinic.
If you are a student at Umeå University, we will send an invoice to the address stated in the library system (your population register address).
Interlibrary loans are usually free of charge
It is free of charge if we can purchase the material or borrow it from libraries in Sweden and the Nordic countries.
If we must borrow the material from a library outside the Nordic countries, it will cost you SEK 250 per volume. In that case, we will first ask if you are still interested.
Copies of articles and book chapters cost from SEK 100
Copies from the library's own collections or libraries within Sweden and the Nordic countries cost SEK 100.
Copies from libraries outside the Nordic countries cost SEK 150.
Prices apply per 1-40 pages, and for every 40 pages the price is added once more.
Example: A copy of a 53-page article that we order from Norway will cost SEK 200 (2 x SEK 100).
Invoicing information
We will send an invoice to the address you provided in the order form.
E-books
When we purchase your request as an e-book you will receive an email with a link as soon as the book is available. If you do not have an Umu-id you must visit the library and use one of our computers to read the e-book.
Printed books and interlibrary loans
When we purchase a printed book or make an interlibrary loan, you will be notified by email or text when the material arrives at the library.
When we buy the book, it is impossible to say an exact delivery time as it varies for different suppliers and whether we buy it in print or digital format.
When we borrow the book from another library, the delivery time depends on how long it takes for the lending library to deliver the material to us.
As a library patron you may request interlibrary loans for research and studies.
You cannot make an interlibrary loan if the material has been checked out from Umeå University Library or if the material is being held by any other library in Umeå. Please check whether we hold the book at Umeå University Library before you place your order.
The lending library determines the loan period for an interlibrary loan. Please note that the lending library can shorten the loan period if they need the book back. Contact us if you have questions about extending the loan period.
The lending library is responsible for deciding whether you can borrow the book, or you must read it in the library or the supervised reading room. The lending library will also determine if they send us the material as a loan or if they send copies.
If you do not return the loan when recalled, we will suspend your borrowing privileges until you return the book. If you lose or damage the book, you must pay for it.
Read more about the rules for interlibrary loans here:
We purchase all textbooks for courses at Umeå University. However, the purchases are based on the textbook lists in the educational administrative system Selma. Therefore, you cannot 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 Selma.
Students and employees at the University or Region Västerbotten
We primarily order from libraries where you can get a digital copy of the material you requested. When the article is available, you can download it via the email you receive or via My account in the library search tool.
Sometimes, the material cannot be sent digitally for copyright reasons, and you will receive a paper copy instead. We will contact you if we need an address to send the copy.
The general public
If you belong to the general public, you will receive copies in paper format for copyright reasons. We will send the copies to the address you provided in the order form.
The delivery time depends on how long the lending library takes to process the request and deliver the material to us. If the item is delivered digitally, it is faster than paper format.
Most libraries do not lend entire issues but instead send copies of requested articles.
When should I select “book chapter” instead of “book” in the form?
If you need a single book chapter, you can order only that chapter. The lending library decides whether to send you a copy of the chapter or whether to send you the whole book as an interlibrary loan.
If you live outside Umeå municipality, you may request the books you need for your studies via the nearest local library. The local library will then request an interlibrary loan from us (or other libraries). An interlibrary loan means that we send the books to your local library, and you borrow and return the books there.
If you want to borrow textbooks from us by interlibrary loan, your local library must include in the request that you are a distance student at Umeå University. Please note that textbooks have a short loan period.
I am a distance student. Can I request copies of articles and book chapters?
Like any other student you order copies of articles and book chapters through the form "Order: suggestions, interlibrary loans and article copies". Please note that if you order material from the collections of Umeå University Library, it costs 100 SEK per 1-40 pages. You can also ask your local library if you can order copies through them.
Can I suggest journals and databases for the library to purchase?
If you want to submit a purchase suggestion for a journal or database, use our contact form. Select the subject area Electronic resources (databases, journals, e-books).
The National Library of Sweden (KB) have collections of audiovisual media, for example TV, radio, film, music, computer games and VHS. If you are researching and need these materials for your research, you can order audiovisual materials from KB.
Create an account or log in to SMDB services
For a limited time: Online access to requested audiovisual materials
Currently and for a limited amount of time, you may access copyright protected audiovisual materials from KB from a distance, due to an agreement made between KB and Copyswede. In other words, you may access the requested files directly from your computer instead of only accessing them through the library’s supervised reading room.
The agreement is valid until 31 december 2022 and applies to researchers and postgraduate students.
This section provides information for other libraries and organisations that request interlibrary loans from us. Make your requests for interlibrary loans in the same order form as our patrons:
Order: suggestions, interlibrary loans and article copies
Loan periods and loan rules
Find further information on interlibrary loans in our loan rules:
Price list for libraries and other organisations
Swedish libraries
Nordic libraries
Libraries outside the Nordic countries
Contact and further information
Contact us if you have any questions regarding interlibrary loans. Find our contact form, phone numbers and addresses at this link: