Using the Library

Getting started – here’s how!

Get a library card
To borrow books and use our services, you’ll need a library card. You’ll find more information about how to get one below.

Get to know Alma-Finna
Alma-Finna is the library’s search tool. Here you can find books, articles, e-resources, and archive materials from Åbo Akademi.

Want to improve your search skills? Check out the search help in Alma-Finna – it offers tips on how to find e-journals, articles, and much more.

Check out the guide for new students
We’ve created a special guide just for you if you’re new! It helps you get started with information searching and shows you how to use the library’s resources.

Subject guides from the library
Looking for materials in a specific subject area? Our guides are tailored for students and researchers at Åbo Akademi and Novia. They include reading suggestions and search strategies designed for your field.

Get a Library Card – Here’s How

Students and staff at Åbo Akademi and Novia (Turku):
You can easily get a digital library card by registering as a borrower in the Tuudo app. You’ll receive access to the electronic library card right away, and you don’t need to visit the library in person.

• Download the app
• Fo to the Library tab
• Select I don’t have a library card
• Fill in your details, and choose a PIN code.

For other users:
If you’re not affiliated with Åbo Akademi, you can apply for a physical library card by filling out the form below.

More information is available on this help page.
Don’t forget to read through the library’s user rules.

Use Your Mobile as a Library Card
You can use your library card directly on your phone:

• Log in to Alma-Finna and go to the Library Card page, or
• Use the Tuudo app.

PIN Code
You’ll need your PIN code when borrowing books using a self-service machine. You can change your PIN code anytime by logging in to Alma-Finna:
Go to My Account > My Profile > “Change contact details and PIN code”.

Library Card After Graduation
When you finish your studies:

• Remember to return all borrowed books and pay any outstanding fees.
• Fill out this form if you have a library card or a digital card in the Tuudo app.

How to borrow materials from the library

1. Search for materials in Alma-Finna
Use the Alma-Finna search service to find what you need. Depending on where the material is located, there are a few different ways to access it:

• Order in advance if the book is in storage or needs to be retrieved. You will need to log into Alma-Finna in order to make a request.
• Reserve if all copies are currently on loan – you’ll be placed in a queue and notified when it’s your turn.
• Borrow directly from the shelf if the book is available in the library.

2. Borrow and pick up your materials

You can borrow items yourself using the self-service machine or ask for help at the customer service desk.
Ordered or reserved items will receive a code and be placed on a self-service pickup shelf.

Pickup times are:

• 7 days for regular loans
• 3 days for course books

Materials that are for reading room use only must be picked up via customer service.
You’ll need to pick up the material at the library where it belongs – items are not sent between libraries in the same city.

3. Returning materials

You can return your loans at any ÅAUL service point – no matter where you borrowed them.

In Turku:

• When the library is open, return items as usual.
• When the library is closed, use the return slot at the ASA Library (next to door A).
• Items returned via the slot will be registered as returned the next time the library opens.

In Vaasa:

• You can return items using the self-service machine inside the library.
• There is also a return slot at the entrance from Brandgatan.
• Items returned via the slot will be registered the next time the library opens.

Order books to your campus building
(for staff in Åbo)
Do you have an office on campus? Then you can have books delivered to the same building – quick and convenient!

However, there are a few exceptions:

You cannot order to your campus building if:

• the book is for reading room use only
• the book is located at the ASA Library
• the book’s regular pickup point is in the same building as your office

Here’s how to do it:

1. Log in to Alma-Finna and make sure your campus address is up to date.
2. Search for the material you want.
3. Choose the delivery option “Office on campus” when placing your order.

Home loans

• Loan period: 28 days
• Maximum duration: 12 months for students, 36 months for staff
• Automatically renewed (unless another user has reserved the book)
• Can be reserved by others
• Ordered/reserved material on the pickup shelf must be collected within 7 days
• Overdue fee: €0.30 per day (max €6 per loan) – does not apply to staff

Course book loans

• Loan period: 14 days
• Maximum duration: 6 months
• Automatically renewed
• Can be reserved by others
• Ordered/reserved material on the pickup shelf must be collected within 3 days
• Overdue fee: €1 per day (max €10 per loan) – applies to staff as well

In-house loans

• For use within the library premises
• Loan period: 28 days
• Maximum duration: 3 months
• Automatically renewed
• Can be reserved by others
• Remember that these must also be returned on time

Short-term loans

• Must be returned by 12:00 noon the next working day at the same service point
• Overdue fee: €10

Automatic renewal and reminders

• Loans are automatically renewed 3 days before the due date
• If a loan cannot be renewed, you will receive a notification by email
• If you do not return items on time, reminders will be sent after the due date
• You will receive a borrowing ban if your fees reach €10
• See the library’s price list for all fees

Important: Notifications are sent via email. You are responsible for keeping track of your loans – even if a message does not reach you.

If the material is only available in Turku or Vaasa, you do not need to travel between cities to get it. You can ask the library to send the material to you so that you can pick it up at:

• Arken library (Turku)
• Academill Library (Vaasa)

Please note:

• You cannot order loans between Turku and Vaasa directly in Alma-Finna – use the order form.
• These loans are subject to the usual loan terms.
• Delivery time may be over a week.
• You can order a loan from the other city also, if all the books at your local service points are already on loan.

Interlibrary loan means that the library helps you borrow material that is not available in our own collections.
If you need a book or an article that is only available at another library – in Finland or abroad – we can order it for you.

The service is intended for students and staff at Åbo Akademi University Library and Novia (Åbo), and applies to both printed books and copies of articles.

For libraries wishing to request interlibrary loans from us

If you work at another library and would like to order material from Åbo Akademi University Library, please review our guidelines for interlibrary loans between libraries. There you’ll find information on how to proceed and the applicable terms and conditions.

Extended loan periods for course books
Reading difficulties shouldn’t hinder your studies! You can get an extended loan period for course books – up to four weeks. Talk to your study advisor and they will help you arrange it.

Access to audiobooks via Celia
The Accessibility Library Celia is a national library that offers books in accessible formats – such as audiobooks, e-books, and braille – for those who have difficulty reading printed text. Celia’s services are also available to people who temporarily struggle with reading due to, for example, exhaustion, stress, or depression.
You can read more on Celia’s website.
Here you can view Celia’s collections and their guides.

Want to become a Celia user?
Contact the library in advance via email (biblioteket@abo.fi) or phone (02 215 4180), and we’ll help you register. In some cases, we can also register you remotely via Zoom.

Use the talk-back function
You can have e-books read aloud by using a suitable app on your smartphone.

Accessibility at ÅAU

On the intranet, you can find information for students with disabilities or needs for special arrangements for studies and participation. 

More information about various smart tools can be found here:

1. About listening to printed and digital texts
2. University of Applied Sciences Laurea Library’s guide on accessible functions

You can find information about how we process your personal data in these data protection notices:

• Publication repository at Åbo Akademi University (in Swedish)
• Borrower register at Åbo Akademi University Library and the Donner Institute Library (in Swedish)
• Archive collections at Åbo Akademi University Library (in Swedish)
• Purchase suggestions to the Library
• Chronoshub