Library introduction for new students
New student at LiU? Welcome to the Library! On this page we have collected key information that you need to get the most out of library services during your studies at LiU.
Three basic steps
Obtain your LiU-ID and register for a course
Your LiU-ID is your key to access library resources online, IT services, Liunet and Lisam. To be able to access library e-resources, you first need to be registered for a course.
Pick up your LiU-card
Your LiU-card is also your library card. You can use it to borrow books and access facilities during self-service hours.
Access library resources at liu.se and Liunet
Visit LIU’s website and Liunet, the intranet for LiU students, to get full access to the Library’s resources and services.
Library at liu.se
Library at Liunet (sign in with LiU-ID)
Meet us in C building
During the start of the autumn term 2025, we will be available in C building at Campus Valla:
Ask us
From 2 September, we will be on hand in “Colosseum” in C building to answer your library-related questions.
Book return
You can also return library books there. Keep a look out for the “pop-up” library!
Hours
• Tuesdays 9.30 am to 10.30 am and 12.15 pm to 13.00 pm • Thursdays 11.45 am to 13.45 pm • Fridays 10.30 am to 11.45 am and 12.30 pm to 13.15 pm
A short list of library terms
Here are a few terms that can be useful to know when using library resources and services. Words in bold have their own entry.
A
Automatic renewals
Means that when the loan period for a standard loan item expires, the loan will be renewed automatically for another loan period (unless there is a reservation for the item).
B
Bokladan
Linköping University Library’s common stacks, located in Kärnhuset at Campus Valla. You can place reservations on items available in Bokladan via UniSearch and order articles from print journals via the article request form. More about Bokladan
Book collection
Non-fiction library books for home loan use. Each campus library – Campus Norrköping Library, Medical Library and Valla Library – have their own book collection from which books can be requested from one library to another. To request a book, place a reservation in UniSearch. LiU libraries also have collections of fiction.
Byggmästare John Mattson Library
The library at Malmstens Linköping University at Campus Lidingö. More about Byggmästare John Mattson Library
C
Campus Norrköping Library
The library in Kåkenhus at Campus Norrköping. More about Campus Norrköping Library
D
Database
A web-based resource for searching and accessing various types of material, such as scholarly articles or newspaper articles. Via Linköping University Library, you can access hundreds of databases with various types of content and covering different subject areas. You can find them via the database list on liu.se.
Day-loan
A day-loan item can be borrowed over the day only, i.e. you are obligated to return it on the same day you borrowed it. For example, all reference copies of textbooks are day-loan items. More about textbooks
Dewey, DDC
The Dewey Decimal Classification System (DDC) is the classification system used by Linköping University Library, according to which books are classified with a numerical code signifying a specific subject. More about library classification system
DigiMaker
The Library’s makerspace, where LiU students and employees can explore and test technologies such as 3D printing, 3D modelling, programming, and video and podcast recording. In DigiMaker, there are also VR gear, a green screen, sewing machines and Lego. More about DigiMaker
Digital Library
The term used for the collections of library resources and services that you can access online, for example e-books, e-journals and databases. You can read more about how to get access to the digital library at Library online
Dissertation
A scholarly publication which is the product of a doctoral student’s research. Also called a PhD thesis. More about scholarly publications
E
E-resources
Electronic resources are e-books, e-journals and databases that you can access via the Library online
F
Fråga biblioteket
The name of the Library’s chat and email service. If you want to contact us via email, the address is biblioteket@liu.se
I
Interlibrary loan
A library item not available in the local library collection but which is delivered from another library, usually in another town or city. As a student at LiU, you can request books and articles as interlibrary loan via the dedicated request forms. The Library does not execute interlibrary loans on items that are in the library collection but currently checked out. More about interlibrary loans
J
Journal
A periodical publication where each issue includes a number of articles, which is the most common way to publish research results. Most scholarly journals are published online. The ones that you have access to via the Library can be found via the Journals list
L
Library stacks
Facilities where library materials, such as books and journals, are kept on compact shelves. The bulk of Valla Library’s collection is placed in the stacks on the first floor in Studenthuset, and you can visit them during opening hours and self-service hours. Linköping University Library’s common stacks, “Bokladan,” are located in Kärnhuset at Campus Valla. You can place reservations on items in Bokladan via UniSearch and order articles from print journals via the article request form. More about library stacks
M
Medical Library
The library at University Hospital Campus in Linköping. More about Medical Library
My Loans
Self-service portal where library users manage their loans and reservations. Go to My Loans
P
Plagiarism
Using somebody else's work or ideas and presenting it as one’s own, which is a serious offense against good academic practice. More about plagiarism
R
References
Are used in academic texts to show from where information has been collected and to guide the reader to further reading. References are written according to specific styles that may vary between academic disciplines and subjects. More about Citation technique and styles
Reference copies
A reference copy is a library item for in-house use or dayloan use only. Reference copies of textbooks are examples of day-loan items. More about textbooks
Reference manager
A software used to simplify the process of writing references and lists of references. EndNote and Zotero are two examples of such software. More about reference management
Reservation
A request or order of a book, which is done in the library search service UniSearch. As soon as the book is available for pick-up, you will receive a notification via email. Reservations are placed on a specific shelf in the library: you pick the book from the shelf and borrow it at the self-service station or at the library enquiry desk.
S
SAB Collection
A collection of older books kept in closed stacks in Bokladan. You can reserve books in the SAB Collection via UniSearch and have them sent to the campus library of your choice.
Scholarly/scientific article
A form of publication usually published in a journal. The most common way to publish research results. More about scholarly publications
Search support
A service available to students who are working on a thesis to book a one-to-one session with a librarian. Booking search support is done via Liunet Student.
Self-service hours
The hours when students and employees at LiU have access to library facilities during unstaffed hours on a self-service basis. More about self-service hours
Standard loan copy
A standard loan copy can be borrowed for a longer period of time, for example 21 days which is the standard loan period for library books.
T
Talking books
Students with a reading impairment may have access to talking books via Legimus. More about special needs
U
UniSearch
The Library’s search service, where you can search for books, journal articles and other publications. Also see Database. Go to UniSearch
V
Valla Library
The library in Studenthuset at Campus Valla in Linköping. More about Valla Library