Guide for new students

Welcome to Åbo Akademi's library.

Here you will find gathered information about the Library Services available to students at the Open University, this information does not apply to degree students at Åbo Akademi University.

If you are a degree student at Åbo Akademi University, you will find information about the library's service under the tabs New student in Åbo and New student in Vasa. The information on this page therefore does not apply to students who are enrolled at Åbo Akademi University but are taking courses through the Open University. 

All new Open University participants automatically receive an ÅAU username. Students from other Finnish colleges and universities, who log into the Moodle pages of the ÅAU courses with their own universities' HAKA, are also recommended to use an ÅAU username. 

The username gives you access to the library's e-resources, which you can find in the library's Alma search service. With an ÅAU username, you also have the option to download the Tuudo app, where your library card is located. See more in the library card tab. 

You can get the ÅAU username from ICT service : helpdesk@abo.fi  

At the beginning of each course, you will receive a list of course literature or links to course material available online. You can find the course books in our search portal Alma. In Alma, you can also see if the book is on the shelf or if it has been borrowed. 

The printed course books can be found in the ASA library in Turku and in the Academill library in Vaasa . Note that there is also a list of call numbers in Academill and a map of the Academill library here .

The ASA building in Turku. The entrance to the library is on the left inside the hall. The entrance to the Academill building from Brandgatan in Vaasa.

The course books can also be found in public libraries and you can then borrow them from there. You can search for books and other materials in Finna, which is a national search portal which includes almost all public and university libraries in Finland. Please note that Vaasa city library and the Åland libraries are not included in Finna. 

If you do not live in Turku or Vaasa and it is difficult to get hold of the books, you can contact your local library and ask them to order the books as interlibrary loans for a fee. Your local library will provide more information about this. 

There is also the possibility of so-called ÅAUL- loans . These are loans between Turku and Vaasa, that is, if you want to borrow material that is in Åbo Akademi's library, but the material in question is only available in the other location  (that is, only in Turku or only in Vaasa). You can order the material as an "ÅAB loan" for pickup at the Book Tower in Turku or the Academill Library in Vaasa.

You cannot order an ÅAB loan directly in the search portal Alma, but should fill in the order form for ÅAB loan . Please note that you need an ÅAU username to be able to order an ÅAUL- loan.  

To be able to borrow, request and reserve, you need a library card. To borrow using a self-service machine, you also need a PIN code. 

You get a  digital library card  by downloading the Tuudo app and logging into the app via Haka with your ÅAU username. Go to the library tab and select "I don't have a library card." Fill in your details and a PIN code. The PIN code is used when you borrow from the self-service machines. 

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 library user rules.

The course books are often on loan, but it is always 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 noon: 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. So check that your information is correct! 

You can find all information about your loans in the Tuudo app and in Alma 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.

Alma is a search portal where you can find all our material, both printed and digital. There you will also find all your loans and reservations.

You log in to Alma via Haka with your ÅAU-username and password, or with your library card number and PIN code if you don't have Tuudo. 

Remember to  log in  to access the e-resources. You can also use  VPN  to access the digital resources remotely! You will find instructions for remote connection on the intranet ( Microsoft ,  macOS , requires ÅA login). 

For students with dyslexia or other reading disabilities, it is possible to use talking 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.  

There is also an information search guide designed for students at the Open University . You will also find the library's other user guides here .