FAQ
On this page you will find answers to the most commonly asked questions at Turku University Library. If you could not find an answer to your question, please contact us by email library@utu.fi.
- Who can get a library card?
- How can I get a library card?
- How much does a library card cost?
- Can I use the library card of Turku City Library/Library of the Turku School of Economics/Åbo Akademi University Library/Turku Polytechnic Library at Turku University Library?
- My library card was lost/stolen. How do I prevent someone from using it?
- What is the difference between a call slip and a request?
- If I order a book from the Main Library's closed stacks by call slip in the morning, can I borrow the book during the same day?
- Do I have to make a call slip to the books in the Main Library's open-shelf collection?
- Is it possible to renew overdue loans?
- Can I renew a loan before its due date?
- Do other Turku University libraries renew books borrowed from the Course Book Library?
- Can I renew loans on the web?
- Can I renew loans by email?
- I tried to renew my loans on the web, but I have forgotten my PIN code.
- What should I do, if I'm unable to renew my loans on the web, because I have used up the number of renewal times?
- Can I return books to any Turku University library?
- Can I return books, that I have borrowed from other libraries, to Turku University Library?
- Can I return books borrowed from Turku University Library somewhere, when the Library is not open?
Loan services
Right to use
Who can use Turku University Library?
Turku University Library is open to everybody.
Library card
Turku University Library is open to everybody. You can get a Turku University Library card by filling in an application form and presenting a valid identity card. For Turku University students, the student card issued by the student union is also their library card. The library cards or student cards of other universities and polytechnics can also be used as library cards at Turku University Library after the card holder's information has been entered in to library's customer database.
You can get a library card from any of Turku University Library service desks by presenting a valid identity card and giving your contact information. For more details, see Libraries.
How much does a library card cost?
First library card is free. If you lose your card, the replacement will be charged according to the Pricelist of Services.
The library cards of the Library of Turku School of Economics, Åbo Akademi University Library and Turku Polytechnic Library can be activated at Turku University Library. The library card of Turku City Library cannot be used at Turku University Library.
My library card was lost/stolen. How do I prevent someone from using it?
You should notify the library immediately after your library card has been lost or stolen to prevent malpractices. Visit the nearest Turku University Library service desk, where the library staff will mark the card lost/stolen so that it cannot be used by another person.
Borrowing and loan periods
What is the loan period for course books at the Course Book Library?
At the Course Book Library the loan period for course books is 14 days and for short-term loans 2 days. The reading room copies of course books can be borrowed as overnight or weekend loans two hours before closing time. You can also make reservations to overnight and weekend loans 14 days in advance. For more details, see Course Book Library.
Call slips
What is the difference between a call slip and a request?
A request (=reservation) can be made for books on loan. A call slip (=ordering the book from the closed stacks) can be made mainly for books not on loan in the Main Library (Call Numbers PÄÄ Fennica, PÄÄ Genera). You must make a call slip in advance (start by "Request" button in the Volter library database!).
If the call slip has been made before 12 o?clock on workdays (Monday to Friday), the material will be available for pickup the next workday after 3 pm. Otherwise it will be available for borrowing the next workday after 12 o?clock. Materials will be held at the loans service for three working days, and after that they will be returned back to the closed stacks.
Do I have to make a call slip to the books in the Main Library's open-shelf collection?
You don't have to place a call slip to the books in the Main Library's open-shelf collection (call number PÄÄ Avo). Materials situated in the Main Library's closed stock collections (call number PÄÄ Fennica or PÄÄ Genera) have to be requested one day in advance by placing a call slip.
Renewals and returns
Is it possible to renew overdue loans?
Yes, unless nobody else has reserved them and you are not in a loan ban. If you are in a loan ban, you must contact the library and sort things out, before you can renew your loans. After the due date, charges will be collected also from overdue days until the loans have been renewed. Overnight and weekend loans cannot be renewed.
Can I renew a loan before its due date?
Yes, unless nobody else has reserved it. Overnight and weekend loans cannot be renewed.
Do other Turku University libraries renew books borrowed from the Course Book Library?
No, they don't. You can renew your loans yourself on the web, start by signing in to your Patron info in the library catalogue Volter. If you have problems with renewing your loans, please contact the Course Book Library by email kurssikirja@utu.fi or by phone (02) 333 5477.
Yes, you can, if nobody else has reserved them. You can sign in to your Patron info in the library catalogue Volter, where you can renew your loans.
Each library has an email address where you can renew your loans. For example, you can renew books borrowed from the Main Library by email uusikirja@utu.fi and books borrowed from the Course Book Library by email kurssikirja@utu.fi. For the email addresses of other libraries, please see Contact information.
I tried to renew my loans on the web, but I have forgotten my PIN code.
If you have forgotten your PIN code, please visit library and you will get the default PIN code (the ID card or passport must be presented). After that you can access your patron info in Volter, where you can replace the code with your personal one.
You must bring the books to the same library from which you checked them out, and they will be marked as returned. You can borrow the books again, if nobody else has reserved them.
Can I return books to any Turku University library unit?
Borrowed items have to be returned to the same library, from which they were checked out.
Can I return books, that I have borrowed from other libraries, to Turku University Library?
No you can't. Borrowed items have to be returned to the same library, from which they were borrowed.
Can I return books borrowed from Turku University Library somewhere, when the Library is not open?
Some Turku University libraries provide a return box outside the library, where you can return books when the library is closed.
Requests
What is the difference between a call slip and a request?
A request (=reservation) can be made for books on loan. A call slip (=ordering the book from the closed stacks) can be made for books not on loan in the Main Library (Call Numbers PÄÄ Fennica, PÄÄ Genera). You must make a call slip one day in advance (start by "Request" button in the Volter library database!).
What does it cost to reserve a book?
When the book is ready for pickup, you will receive an item available notice. The item available notice sent by email is free of charge, but if the notice is sent by regular mail a fee of 1 euro will be charged upon pickup. A fee of 1 euro will also be charged for a book that has not been picked up, if the item available notice has been sent to you by regular mail.
Overdue loans
Will I be charged if I return my loans late?
You will receive an overdue notice (recall) for overdue items. The recall fine will be charged according to the Pricelist of services. Overdue fine will be charged for course books and special materials.
Overdue fines will be charged according to the Pricelist of Services.
When will a customer be placed in a loan ban?
Borrowing rights will be suspended, if home loan is late for 28 days. In the Course Book Library you will also be blocked from borrowing, if overnight/weekend loan is returned late. A customer with 10 euros of overdue fines will also be blocked from borrowing.
Can I pay the fines with a cash card, a credit card or a Visa Electron card?
Yes, it's possible in the Main Library, in the Library of Education and Social Sciences, in the Course Book Library and in the Medical Library. We accept all bank cards and also Visa, Visa Electron, Mastercard and Mastercard Maestro credit cards.
Interlibrary services
You should cancel your interlibrary loans request as soon as possible, if you do not need the material you requested any longer. You will be charged an interlibrary services fee, if the material you requested has already been sent from the lending library. For more information, see Interlibrary services.
Copying
Can I photocopy in the library?
Yes, you can. Most of Turku University libraries have photocopiers for public use. You can buy copy cards from the larger library units.
Printing
Printing is possible in most library units, but practices vary. In some units you can print to a printer at the loans service desk. In other units prints can be printed out from a photocopier in which case you need a copy card. Please, ask for more information at the loans service desks.
Other questions
Anyone may access the library catalogs and the Library's web pages from any Internet-connected computer. Licensed electronic resources, such as the union catalogue LINDA or journal article databases have access restrictions. Turku University students or staff can connect to these resources using the Library's Nelli portal proxy service. For more information, see Remote access to electronic resources.