Interlibrary loans and article copies

Before placing an interlibrary loan request

Please check first if the book or article is already available at another library in the same city. If it is, unfortunately it cannot be requested as an interlibrary loan.

You can easily search for materials at Finna.fi, a database which brings together all Finnish libraries in one place. In the search results, you can see which libraries hold the material – click on Organisation on the left to get an overview.

Please note that e-books cannot be borrowed through interlibrary loan.

If the material is available at Åbo Akademi Library, but only in Turku or Vaasa, it will also not be ordered as an interlibrary loan. You can read more about how loans between Åbo and Vasa work here.

Interlibrary loans may also be subject to a fee according to our current price list.

You will receive an email notification when your material is ready for pickup.

Where to collect your interlibrary loan:

• Arken Library – if you are in Turku
• Academill Library – if you are in Vaasa

Please observe:

• The interlibrary loan fee is paid upon collection.
• Articles are delivered as paper copies that you may keep.
• Reading room loans must be used on-site – you collect and return them at the service desk each time you use them.

Internal mail:
If you have an office on Åbo Akademi’s campus, the material can be sent to your building via internal mail.

Interlibrary loans are not sent via internal mail if:

• Your office is located in Arken – loans must be picked up at Arken Library
• The book is for reading room use only
• The address is outside Åbo Akademi’s campus area

• The lending library determines how long you may borrow the book and whether it must be used only in the library (reading room loan). The loan period for books is usually four weeks.
• You can view your interlibrary loans in Alma-Finna, along with your other loans.
• You cannot renew interlibrary loans yourself, but they are automatically renewed as long as allowed.
• You will receive a notification when it is time to return an interlibrary loan.

You must return interlibrary loans by the due date:

• In Turku: return them to Arken Library
• In Vaasa: return them to Academill Library

Students

If you have started your bachelor’s, master’s thesis, diploma, or degree project, you can receive interlibrary loans and article copies free of charge during the pilot period that began in 2025 and will continue until further notice throughout 2026.

To receive them for free, your supervisor must send a certificate including:

• your name
• the topic and title of your work
• date
• supervisor’s name

Send the certificate to:

1. Turku: ill@abo.fi
2. Vaasa: ill-vasa@abo.fi

Staff at ÅA and Novia

If you are affiliated with Åbo Akademi or Novia, you may also benefit from free interlibrary loans for research or work-related purposes during the 2025 pilot phase and continuing until further notice throughout 2026.