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 for current information. Remember to choose the right service unit in the menu! 

You get a digital library card by downloading  the Tuudo app. Go to the library tab and select "I don't have a library card." Fill in your details and a PIN code.  

If you are unable to use a digital library card, you can apply for a physical card using this form. 

Also remember to read the user rules of the library. 

In Alma you find our print and digital material. There you also find information about your loans and can make requests and reservations. You log in to Alma via Haka with your ÅAU username. 

Remember to log in to access the e-resources. You can also use VPN to access the digital resources off campus. You will find instructions about VPN on the intranet (Microsoft, macOS, requires login). 

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 Alma. 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 e-books varies. 

With the exception of short loans, your loans are automatically renewed for up to 6 months (course books) or 12 months (other books) when the book is not reserved. If the book is reserved or the automatic loan period has expired, you will receive an e-mail. Check that your information is correct! You find information about your loans in Tuudo or in Alma under My Account. 

Overdue fees for course books are 1 €/day and for short loans 10 €. Other books have a late fee of  0.30 €/day. Please note that your borrowing rights are suspended when fees amount to 10 € or more.

Request books from Turku (ÅAUL-loan)

You know the book is in Vaasa when it says (Vaasa) Academill in the holdings information in Alma. Items can be requested and sent between our service points in Vaasa and Turku for free. Request an ÅAUL-loan using the ÅAUL-loans request form if you want to borrow a book from the ÅAU library in Turku.

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). Note! The library does not sell credits. 

Printer and scanner machines are found in the lobby outside of Agneta and by the computer classroom G405. In the computer classroom G403 you can use a book scanner, which is more gentle on books than a regular scanner. There are instructions next to the scanner. 

The book scanner in G403

For students with dyslexia or other reading disabilities, it is possible to use audio books. It is Celia, the national library for accessible literature and publishing in Finland, that offers services for everyone who has some form of reading disability. Contact the library if this is a service you need and we will tell you more and register you as a customer with Celia. 

You can also get an extended loan period for printed course books if you have a reading disability certificate. You will receive the certificate from your study supervisor.  

Else (E410)