Library Lending Policies

1. Library task

The main task of Mälardalen University Library is to meet the needs of the University’s students, teachers, researchers and other employees for quality information. The services and collections of the library are available at the university campuses of Eskilstuna and Västerås. The library is also open to the public.

2. Application and implementation of lending policies

These policies apply to all lending agreements at Mälardalen University Library. Such lending agreements are binding and are validated by the use of an authorized library card.

These policies may be changed. Changes will be published on the library website and will be in effect from the date of posting on the site.

3. Borrowing

Loans are allowed to all persons registered at Mälardalen University Library. Library cards are obtained by making a personal visit to the library. Patrons must prove their identity with valid photographic identification.

Loans are allowed to all persons who are resident in Sweden, have a Swedish social security or coordination number, and are 18 or older during the calendar year. Loans are also allowed to persons who are not resident in Sweden but are guest students or guest researchers at Mälardalen University. A valid address in Sweden is required.

4. Library cards

Students and staff at Mälardalen University may use their personal entrance cards as library cards. External library patrons must apply for a special library card.

Library cards must be used for all materials borrowed, renewed, reserved or requested by interlibrary loan.

Library cards are personal and must be regarded as valuable documents. They should be kept carefully by the owner and cannot be used by anyone else. The loss of a library card must be reported to the library without delay so that the card can be blocked. Patrons are responsible for all loans made using the card until the library has been notified of its loss. If a card is lost by an external library patron, a replacement library card will be provided at a charge (see Library charges). Students and staff must apply for a new personal entrance card at the University Information Desk.

Requested material may be collected on behalf of patrons by a third party. The third party must present the patron´s library card.

5. Patrons obligations

By accepting a library card, patrons agree to follow the current lending policies and any future changes. Patrons are responsible for keeping themselves informed of the current lending polices. Patrons also agree to follow the regulations of Mälardalen University, as stipulated by the University President, and to follow all other guidance, decisions and directions communicated by the University Library.

Patrons are obligated to pay any charges that the University Library may authorize.

Patrons are responsible for observing the return date of all material borrowed. Patrons are obligated to return borrowed material by the date due.

Patrons are responsible for their loans until borrowed material is returned to the University Library at the assigned location (self-return machine) and checked-in.

It is the patron’s responsibility to ensure that check-ins are registered.

Materials are returned at the book-drop at the patron’s own risk. Please note that book-drop returns will be registered on the next working day.

Patrons must pay any overdue fees within 30 days.

Patrons agree to take good care of borrowed material and to return it undamaged.

Patrons must notify the library of any change of contact information as soon as possible.

6. Loans

Loan is permitted of all materials, with the following exceptions:

• Material published prior to the year 1900
• Material from the reference collections
• Journals
• Daily newspapers
• Interlibrary loan materials where the library lending the material has specified that the materials are for in library use only
• Fragile material

7. Loan period

Normally the loan period of library material is 3 weeks.

Books reserved by other library patrons: 2 weeks.

Books marked "Dagslån" (Day-loan) are to be returned to a library info-point on the same day, before the library closing time.

Sheet music: 60 days.

Textbooks and teaching material: 5 days.

The loan period for materials requested from other libraries through interlibrary loans is stipulated by the supplying library.

8. Renewing loans

Loans can be renewed if the material has not been requested by other library patrons.

Loans should be renewed using the BOOK-IT catalogue on the library web site. The library card and a PIN-code are needed. Please contact the library staff to obtain a PIN-code.

If an invoice has been issued for overdue material, patrons cannot renew loans.

9. Reservations

Reservations should be made using the BOOK-IT catalogue on the library’s website The library card and a PIN-code are needed. Please contact the library staff to obtain a PIN-code.

Patrons should state where the materials are to be collected and indicate for how long the reservation should apply. No material on loan may be reserved by the patron who currently holds it.

Reserved books may be collected from a special shelf.

Notification of items available for collection is sent by e-mail. Reserved items must be collected within the time stipulated.

10. Overdue or lost material

Please note that patrons must observe the length of the loan period.
(see 7. Loan period).

The library is not obliged to send reminders.

If borrowed material is not returned on time, patrons must pay any fine within 30 days (see Library charges).

Patrons will not be allowed to check out materials if they owe library fines above a fixed amount (see Library charges).

If overdue material is not returned within 21 days after the end of the loan period, the material will be considered lost and the matter handed over to the university finance department for invoicing. Patrons must compensate for lost material by paying a minimum of 800 SEK per item. Payment of invoices cannot be made to the University Library.

The University Library has the right to decide on how a payment for a fine or charge is to be made.

Patrons may supply the University Library with a replacement copy of lost items at any time before the matter is handed over to the university finance department for invoicing. A surcharge of SEK 100 will be added to any fine owing.

Patrons will be temporarily suspended from further loans or inter-library loans until any outstanding invoices have been paid.

Charges for replacement of lost inter-library loans will be set by the supplying library. A surcharge will be added (see Library charges).

Damaged or lost material that has been paid for remains the property of the library.

11. Return of damaged material

Patrons must, when borrowing material, check its condition. At the request of the patron, the lending library shall note any damage.

If damaged material has to be repaired or replaced, patrons must pay the costs of repair or replacement. Notes or underlining are considered to be damage. The library decides the charges for damaged or lost material.

All repairs are the responsibility of the library.

12. Inter-library loans – loans from other libraries

If an item is not available at the Mälardalen University Library, material for research and study may be requested through inter-library loan by students and staff at Mälardalen University and by students from other Swedish universities.

Inter-library loan of books within the Nordic countries is free of charge. Patrons must pay for copies of any requested articles; for charges, see Library charges.

Notification that material is available is sent by e-mail.

For inter-library loans the lending policies of the supplying library apply first, followed by Mälardalen University Library lending policies.

Charges for replacement of lost inter-library loans will be set by the supplying library. A surcharge will be added by Mälardalen University Library (see Library charges).

The University Library has the right to limit the number of inter-library loans per patron.

13. Inter-library loans – loans to other libraries

Inter-library loan to other libraries is permitted for all materials, with the following exceptions:

• Material published prior to the year 1900
• Materials from the reference collections
• Journals
• Daily newspapers
• Fragile material

Mälardalen University Library decides if material is for in-house use only.

14. Non-compliance with lending policies

Patrons who do not comply with any lending rule may be suspended from borrowing material at the University Library. Library patrons will be temporarily suspended if overdue charges exceed a fixed amount (see Library charges).

15. Secrecy and processing of personal data

In library activities, secrecy provisions in accordance with Chap. 9, § 22 of the Swedish Official Secrets Act (1980:100) apply to data registered on an individual person’s loans, reservations or other library business.

In library activities, it may be necessary to process personal data for which the Swedish Data Protection Act (1998:204) applies. The purpose of the registration of personal data is to facilitate the administration of the patron’s loans and to guarantee a secure identification when opening a library account.

16. Disciplinary measures

In accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, the University Library has the right to suspend anyone who disrupts library activities.

17. Appeal on library policies or procedures

Patrons have the right to appeal to the Library Director against decisions made on the basis of these lending policies.

In case of disagreement concerning these lending policies, the Swedish version will be used as the authority document.