About borrowing and requesting

Last changed: 29 November 2024
Close up of a open book, photo

The SLU University Library is a public library and open to everyone. Here you will find information on how to borrow and request literature, both from SLU Library and from other libraries.

Borrowing and requesting books

With our search tool Primo you can find books held by the SLU Library. As an SLU employee or student, you automatically have a loan account and can borrow and request materials using your usual SLU login. All you need to do is register a PIN code to use our self check machines.

Users not affiliated with SLU should contact the library to register a library account.

When the book has arrived

When you request a book, you choose which SLU Library you want to pick it up from and you will then receive an email when it is ready for pick up.

You must pick up the book within four working days.

Loan periods

Loan periods and conditions vary depending on the material you borrow.

Regular loans: 30 days

  • You are guaranteed a loan period of 30 days and you can keep the the book for up to 365 days as maximum.
  • The loan is automatically renewed as long as nobody else has requested the book, or you have reached the maximum loan period. In that case you will receive a notice reminding you to return the book.

Fiction books: 30 days

  • You are guaranteed a loan period of 30 days and you can keep the the book for up to 60 days as maximum.
  • The loan is automatically renewed on time, as long as nobody else has requested the book. In that case you will receive a notice reminding you to return the book.

Course books: 8 days

  • You are guaranteed a loan period of 8 days and you can keep the the book for up to 180 days as maximum.
  • The loan is automatically renewed as long as nobody else has requested the book, or you have reached the maximum loan period. In that case you will receive a notice reminding you to return the book.

Reference books: 1 day

  • SLU students and employees can borrow a reference book for 1 day, and it should be returned before midnight the following day. Should this be a day when the library is closed, the book should be returned the next open day.
  • A late return means a fee of SEK 100. 
  • The loan cannot be renewed, and it is not possible to borrow the same book again for 24 hours.
  • Requests are not allowed.
  • External users not affiliated with SLU are not allowed to borrow reference books.

Interlibrary loans

  • For loans from libraries outside SLU the loan period and rules of the lending library applies.
  • You cannot renew an interlibrary loan yourself. Contact the SLU Library to renew the loan.

Requesting articles

SLU students and employees can request articles that are not available online via our request form.

Please note that as a student you cannot request articles that are available in printed format at your local SLU University Library. You must scan or copy these yourself.

When the article has arrived

If you are a SLU employee, we normally deliver the article in PDF format to your email address. If you are a student, you can pick up your article at the library during our staffed opening hours.

Interlibrary loans from other libraries

When the literature you need for your studies or research is not available in the SLU Library, you as a student or employee can request an interlibrary loan. The easiest way to place your request is to use our request form.

You can also request an interlibrary loan or a copy of an article via Libris. The first time, you need to create a user account in Libris. After logging in, you can search for the material and place a request.

Interlibrary loans from libraries outside the Nordic countries cost SEK 250. We will contact you before we fulfil your order if there is a charge.

When the interlibrary loan has arrived

When you request an interlibrary loan, you choose which SLU Library you want to pick up the book from and you will receive an email when it is ready for pick up.

For distance students

If you are a distance student, you can have books and articles delivered to your home address. You do not have to pay the return postage. Contact us and we will send you a return shipping label.

You will also have a slightly longer loan period for the course literature to compensate for the postal service.

Please note that you must contact the library yourself to be registered as a distance student.