There are currently problems with the email for the university's employees. Therefore you might not receive notices and reminders from the library, or you might not get an answer if you try to contact us. You can log in to My loans to see if you have material to pick up or return, and you can contact our libraries by phone or online via Zoom.
Using the library as a new student
Welcome as a new student! Covid-19 have an effect on the autumn semester 2020, which means that the library's opening hours and services are adjusted. Here are some things that are good to know when you start using the University Library's services.
Due to covid-19, all loans temporarily have automatic renewals and access to the libraries' study environments has been limited. Updated information about our service during the autumn can be found below.
Our libraries
At the University of Gothenburg there are eight libraries which together constitute the Gothenburg University Library. You will find information about the libraries' opening hours, addresses and contact information on each library page.
The GU card is your library card
As a student at the university, you can use your GU card as a library card to borrow books, journals and other materials.
About GU card and library card
Find and borrow textbooks
The library often has several copies of the textbooks used in courses at the University of Gothenburg. You will find the University Library's textbooks and other material in Supersearch. Choose the filter Textbooks to limit your search results.
When you find a book in Supersearch, you can see where it is located and often pick up the book directly from the shelf. The textbooks are arranged in alphabetical order, sorted by book title. You can make a reservation for the textbook if it is out on loan.
Loan periods for textbooks
The loan periods for textbooks is 14 days. In order to reduce the number of visits to the library, all loans temporarily have automatic renewals. The loan is renewed up to nine times if no one has made a reservation for the book.
About borrowing at the library
Return loans
We will contact you when it’s time to return your loans. If you return a textbook too late, an overdue fine of SEK 10 per book and day will be added. When the libraries are closed you can return books in book drops located at the Biomedical Library and the Humanities Library.
See loans and reservations in My loans
Log in to the My loans service to see your loans and update your contact information. You log in with your GU account or library card. In My Loans you can:
- check when your loans are due for return
- see which books you have reserved, and what place you have on the waiting list
- find out if you have any overdue fines to pay
- update your contact details.
Use the library's study places
The libraries have study places in different types of environments. In order to avoid the spread of contagion, the study places are thinned out during the autumn semester 2020. Group study rooms can only be booked at the Humanities Library. The study places with computers are closed at the Music and Drama Library and the Art Library. In our other libraries, computer workstations are placed further apart to reduce the risk of contagion.
You will find up-to-date information on the study places and services available on each library page.
If you have a reading impairment
Students who have a reading impairment are entitled to adapted course literature and longer loan periods for textbooks.
Our service for students with reading impairments
At each start of the semester, the University Library invites you to drop-ins, where we talk about talking books, apps, software and reading studios that are equipped with useful programs. These will be held via zoom during the fall of 2020.
Contact us
Contact us if you have questions or need practical help using the library's services, information resources and premises.