Library for everyone
Jyväskylä University Library is a scientific library that is open for everyone. The library is a modern centre for learning and working and it offers high-quality scientific materials to support studying, teaching and research. The library’s collections are available for borrowing for everyone.
The library is located on the two basement floors of Lähde building. The library’s service point is on the upper basement floor and collections on the lower basement floor.
Up-to-date opening and service hours can be seen on our web page.
Library card
You need a library card to borrow, renew and reserve printed material. You can get a library card by visiting our service point on the upper basement floor of Lähde during service hours. Please remember to take an ID with a photo with you.
JYKDOK database
In JYKDOK you can see the printed materials in our library’s collections and where they are located. When you log in to JYKDOK, you can renew your loans and make reservations on books that are on loan for someone else. Reservations cannot be made on books that are available on the shelf. You can also pay your library fines via your online bank.
To log in to JYKDOK you need your library card number and password or PIN code. The PIN code is given to you when you get your library card. You can change the code in JYKDOK under Profile. If you forget your PIN code, you can order a new one in JYKDOK or try the default code, which is formed of your birthday (ddmm).
You will need the PIN code also when checking out books on the self-service loan stations.
Borrowing printed books
Anyone can borrow material from our library. Most of the books in Lähde are home loans. The loan period for course books is 14 days and for research literature 28 days. Reading room books can also be taken home for short-term loan with certain restrictions. Magazines cannot be borrowed home.
Material in the Legal Deposit Collection (Fennica) in Kanavuori collection centre cannot be borrowed home, but you can request material for reading room use. You can make the request in JYKDOK or by contacting the library’s customer service: jykneuvonta@library.jyu.fi. The requests are free of charge. The requested items will be available for reading room use usually in 1-2 working days.
When searching for a book, remember also to check other libraries’ collections. Many books in the Legal Deposit Collection can be found for example in Jyväskylä City Library, where you can get them for home loan.
Read more about borrowing from our library.
Would you like to borrow printed books from our library, but do not live in Jyväskylä? Contact your local library and make an interlibrary loan request.
Electronic resources
You can also find electronic resources, such as e-books, e-journals and theses in JYKDOK. Most of the electronic resources require a Jyväskylä University user account. Only the students and staff of the university can use these materials remotely due to licencing clauses of publishers.
Using these resources locally in our library is possible for all customers. On the upper basement floor of Lähde, there are four computers which you can use freely for example to read e-books and e-journals. If you want to print for example articles, you can ask for help at the library’s service point.
Some of the electronic resources found in JYKDOK are open access materials. For example, digitized theses usually have open access. You can find theses and other publications of the University of Jyväskylä also in JYX Digital Repository.
You do not need a library card to use electronic resources.
Workspaces and equipment
There is plenty of reading and working space in the Lähde building. Quiet reading rooms are located on the second and third floor. The group workspaces on the two basement floors can be reserved only by the university students and staff.
In the lower basement floor (room BP 15), there are two archive workstations on which you can use the Radio and Television Archive and digitized newspapers. In the same room, there is a microfilm scanner, which you can use to read microfilms and microfiches. Microfilms and microfiches are in the Kanavuori collection centre and can be requested for use in the reading room. Read more about the facilities and equipment of Lähde.
There is studying and working space also in Aalto Library. In Aalto Library you can find reference collections such as official publications and local histories. This material cannot be borrowed home.
The university does not have an open wireless network. If you study at another university or polytechnic, you can utilize the Eduroam network.
Printing, copying and scanning
There are multifunction devices for printing, copying and scanning in Lähde. You need a user account to use the devices. Customers from outside of the university can buy a copying account from University Printing Services.
In Lähde the janitors will help you use the multifunction devices. The janitors’ service point is located on the first floor. You can also reach them by phone 029 4418069 or e-mail vahtimestarit-seminaarinmaki@jyu.fi.
Guidance for library use
If you need help in library use or information seeking, you can visit the library’s service point or contact us by e-mail: jykneuvonta@library.jyu.fi.
Contact information and location
Guided tours of Lähde
We offer guided tours of Lähde for groups. The tours take about 45 minutes (shorter tours are also possible) and the recommended maximum size for a group is 20 people/guide. The tours are free of charge at the moment and the guides are members of the Open Science Centre staff. Book a guided tour for your group.