The University Library's lending terms and conditions
Here you can read the University Library's lending terms and conditions. They are valid from 2026-07-01.
1. Purpose of the lending terms and conditions
Here you can read the terms and conditions that apply when borrowing materials from the University Library. By registering as a library patron, you agree to comply with these lending terms and conditions and to keep yourself informed of any changes. The current lending terms and conditions are available on the University Library’s website.
2. Borrowing
To borrow materials from the University Library, you must register as a library patron and accept these lending terms and conditions. Anyone over the age of 18 with a valid email address may register as a library patron.
Students and staff register by linking their MDU account to the University Library system.
Private individuals must present valid identification by visiting the University Library to activate their library account.
3. Library account
Your library account is personal. You are responsible for all loans registered on your account. If you believe that someone else has gained access to your PIN code or password, you must block your library account by contacting the University Library.
You are responsible for keeping your personal information, such as your email and postal address, up to date.
4. Patrons’ responsibilities
Any fees charged to your library account must be paid as soon as possible by logging in to My library pages on the University Library’s website.
When borrowing books, you are responsible for noting the loan period and ensuring that borrowed items are returned no later than the due date.
You remain responsible for borrowed materials until they have been returned.
Books returned via the University Library book return box are returned at your own risk. The same applies to books returned by mail.
5. Loans
Most materials in the University Library collection may be borrowed, with the following exceptions:
• Course reference books.
• Journals and magazines.
• Newspapers.
• Interlibrary loan books that the lending library does not allow to be taken home.
• Particularly fragile materials.
The University Library may limit the number of books a patron may have on loan at any one time.
6. Loan period
• The standard loan period is 3 weeks.
• Books with a request queue have a loan period of 2 weeks.
7. Renewing loans
The maximum loan period is 6 months. For university employees, the maximum loan period is 1 year, after which the book must be returned.
8. Requests
Requested books must be collected from the University Library. If a requested book is not collected within the specified period, usually four working days, the request will be cancelled.
9. Overdue, lost, or damaged books
It is your responsibility to keep track of loan periods. The University Library is not obliged to send reminders.
If borrowed books are not returned on time, you will be charged an overdue fee. The overdue fee is SEK 5 per day.
A book that has not been returned 21 days after the due date will be considered lost. You will then be required to compensate the library for the item.
The fee for a lost book is SEK 500. If the value of the book exceeds this amount, the fee may be increased to cover the actual replacement cost.
If a book is returned after it has been declared lost, you will still be required to pay any overdue fees that have accrued.
If you have unpaid fees totaling SEK 100 or more, your borrowing privileges will automatically be suspended until the fees have been paid.
If a book is damaged during the loan period, the University Library may require compensation. The fee for a damaged book requiring replacement is SEK 500. If the value of the book exceeds this amount, the fee may be increased to cover the actual replacement cost.
10. Interlibrary loans
Books and copies of journal articles required for research and study purposes may be obtained through interlibrary loans (borrowed from other libraries) free of charge for students and employees of Mälardalen University.
The University Library does not request interlibrary loans for materials that are already available in its own collections.
For interlibrary loans, the lending library’s terms and conditions take precedence, with the University Library’s lending terms and conditions applying secondarily.
In cases involving lost or damaged interlibrary loan materials, the compensation requirements of the lending library apply. An administrative fee may also be charged.
The University Library reserves the right to limit the number of interlibrary loans available to an individual patron.
11. Payment of fees
You are responsible for paying any fees charged to your account. Payments can be made by logging in to My Loans on the University Library website.
12. Suspension of borrowing privileges
Anyone who fails to comply with these lending terms and conditions may, by decision of the Library Director, be suspended from borrowing materials from the University Library.
You will automatically be suspended from borrowing if you have outstanding fees of SEK 100 or more (see Section 9).
13. Confidentiality and processing of personal data
Library operations are subject to confidentiality provisions under Chapter 40, Section 3 of the Swedish Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act (2009:400), regarding information in records relating to an individual’s loans, requests, or other forms of requests.
When you create or activate a library account with the University Library, your personal data is processed in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
The purpose is to administer your loans and to ensure secure identification of you as a borrower. For further information, please refer to the university’s information on the processing of personal data.
14. Review of decisions
If you are dissatisfied with a decision made based on these lending terms and conditions, you have the right to appeal to the Library Director and have the matter reviewed.