Guide for new students

The entrance to Academill from Brandgatan

Åbo Akademi university library's service unit in Vaasa is the Academill Library, which is divided into three departments:

• Agneta (E3): course books, short loans and journals
• Övre Torget: humanities, social and health sciences, political science
• Bokhyllan (E4): education, language and research methodology

You find a map of the library and an overview of the call numbers for the collections at the bottom of this page. 

The collections are available when the building is open. ÅA-affiliated with a HID key also have access to the collections when the key is activated. Staff is present during the service hours, see Alma-Finna search portal for current information. Remember to choose the right service unit in the menu! 

Use the self-service machines to check out books with your library card and PIN code. There is one self-service machine in the lobby next to Agneta and another one on Övre torget.

The self-service machine in the lobby is also used for returning books, follow the instructions on the screen. There is a drop box for returning books outside the entrance from the alley, but note that loans left there will be registered as returned on the next opening day.

The loan and return machine outside Agneta

The course books are often on loan and it is worth reserving them in the Alma-Finna search portal. They circulate quickly because there are several copies. Also check the short loan of the course books (due next weekday by 12 p.m.). 

• The loan period for printed course books is 2 weeks and for other books 4 weeks. The loan period for electronic books varies. 
• With the exception of short loans, your loans are automatically renewed for up to 6 months (coursebooks) or 12 months (other books) as long as the book is not reserved . If the book is reserved or the automatic loan period has expired, you will receive a message to your e-mail or phone.  
• You can find all information about your loans in the Tuudo app and in Alma-Finna under My Account. 
• Overdue fees for course books are €1/day  and for short loans 10€.  Other books have a overdue fee of  0.30€/day. Please note that your borrowing rights are suspended when fees amount to 10€ or more.

Loans between Turku and Vaasa

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.

In Agneta, on Övre torget and Bokhyllan there are about 60 seats where you can study. Some of the tables in Agneta can be raised and lowered. On Bokhyllan there are two group study rooms (Gösta and Gertrud), which can be reserved in Peppi (for 2 hours per time).

In Agneta there are also two charging stations for computers or phones. 

Charging station in Agneta

As a student at ÅAU, you get a certain amount of credits each academic year that can be used for printouts. You can buy more credits via the ÅAU webshop  (requires login). 

Multifunction printers are found in the lobby outside of Agneta and by the computer classroom G405. 

You do not need to log in to an ÅA computer to print! Go to print.abo.fi from your own computer or mobile phone and upload a PDF file for printing. Read more about printing, print queues, etc. on the intranet.

Don’t let any reading disabilities be an obstacle to your studies! You can borrow course books with an extended loan period of four weeks (28 days) by contacting the library and presenting a certificate showing that you have a reading disability.

Celia, a national centre for accessible literature and publishing, provides literature and textbooks for those who have difficulties reading a printed book.  Books are available as audiobooks, e-books and in Braille. For more information, go to the Celia website. The library can register you as a customer, but please contact us in advance so that we know you are coming (via email to library@abo.fi or call 02 215 4180). Registration can also, in some cases, be done remotely via Zoom.

Use the talk-back function

You can have e-books read aloud by using a suitable app on your smartphone. Unfortunately, the talk-back function does not work the same on all resources; for example, it does not work at all in the Biblio service. Note also that other e-resource providers may have their own solutions for accessible functions.

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

Else (E410)