Search, borrow, and order
At the Social Sciences Faculty Library (Sambib), you can borrow and read literature and access other resources within the subjects offered in social science and behavioral science. Here, you will find information on how and what you can borrow from us. Please get in touch if you can't find what you're looking for.
Find what you're looking for
Finn helps you find all the books, journals, articles, and databases at Lund University. You can make requests and manage your loans and reservations when logged in. Students and staff also have access to the electronic material that’s available in full text.
In Finn you use the same login details you used in LUBcat. If you have an account in LUBsearch, it will be available via EBSCOhost databases.
Finn - The Libraries' Search Tool
If you know within which subject you are searching for information, try taking a search route via our subject guides.
In the library there is a selection of research method literature.
If you are a student at the Social Sciences Faculty, you are welcome to contact us for guidance in literature searching for a thesis or a specific topic. We will schedule a meeting to discuss your search strategy, refine your search results, and help you identify and use relevant databases and resources.
Take a look at the guide How to search for scholarly sources – you might find answers to your questions in the guide.
Everything you need to know about borrowing books
Before you can start borrowing, you need a library card and a library account. As a student, you first need to obtain an LU card, which serves as your library card. Then, you create a library account by registering in the libraries' search tool, Finn.
Finn - The Libraries' Search Tool
Other users, please visit the library desk. Remember to bring valid photo identification.
You need a library card to borrow books. Students and staff use their LU card as library card. Other users receive a library card at the circulation desk. The library card is valid in all the Lund University libraries.
Getting a library card
Students and staff: Pick up your LU card at a card station.
Read about card stations at the LU card website
Other users, not affiliated with Lund university: Go to any of the libraries at Lund university to pick up a library card. Bring a valid photo ID.
Remember your PIN code; you'll need it when borrowing from the self-service machine.
Direct pick-up
When the book is listed in Finn as being at "Social Sciences Faculty Library" under the section "Available on shelf", you can pick it up yourself.
Finn - The Libraries' Search Tool
Most books are classified by author surname. Exceptions are books with an editor or books with more than three authors, which are placed on the shelf according to title.
You borrow your books in our self-service machine.
Returning books
You can only return books during library opening hours. We don't have any book drop. Course books that are overdue then will generate an overdue fee.
Books which were borrowed from a library within Lund University can be returned at any of the University’s libraries.
View the other libraries within the Lund University and their opening hours - lub.lu.se
Course books
Loan period 14 days, with automatic renewal, if there is no reservation for the book. Course books can be renewed maximum 5 times. Also applies to older editions.
Other books
Loan period is 28 days at a time, with automatic renewals if there are no holds. The maximum number of automatic renewals is 5 for students and the general public, and 12 for researchers/teachers. A notification will be sent to your email when the book is due.
You will always find the correct return date when you log in to Finn.
E-books
The conditions for e-book loans vary and are governed by the publishing house that produced the book.
You can find the publishers' conditions and loan periods here
Check the return date in Finn
Books borrowed from different libraries at the University may have different loan periods. Check the return date under Your summary in the libraries' search tool Finn.
All the books you borrow from us are automatically renewed up to five times, as long as there is no waiting list for them. You can also manually renew these loans ahead of time through your account in Finn. Please note that by doing this, you'll use one of your allowed renewals.
Finn - The Libraries' Search Tool
Should you wish to extend your borrowing period beyond the maximum limit, kindly bring the book to the library.
You can receive the book by mail
Once your account is activated, you can request literature and have it sent home on the condition that it is available for off-site loan. The service is only available with domestic mail. Reference books and journals are examples of material that no one is allowed to remove from the library. You can request both course books and other books from Sambib's collections. The loan period for course books is 14 days plus a few extra days for shipping. Other texts can be borrowed for at least 4 weeks and a maximum of 6 months.
You pay the postage when returning
Please note that you are responsible for the cost of postage when you return the book. If you return the coursebook late, you will be charged a late fee of SEK 10/day and book.
Search the catalogue and send us an e-mail
Our books can be found in the libraries' search tool Finn. When you have found what you want and established that the material is available, send an email to the below email address. State the author and title and whether you want a particular edition. If a book you want is out on loan, you can reserve it. Please email the address below.
E-mail: distans [at] sambib [dot] lu [dot] se
Finn - The Libraries' Search Tool
Do you live nearby?
If you are able to make your way to one of the Lund University Libraries in Malmö or Helsingborg you don't have to make a distance loan. Instead, you may proceed by ordering the book directly in Finn to your preferred library. Before visiting the library, please pick up your LU card at a card station.
The library charges a late fee of SEK 10/book and day for course books returned after the loan has expired. This applies to all borrowers.
- The late fee is applied as of the day after the stated return date. No fee is generated during days when the library is closed, or during weekends.
- Books, returned in book drops, are checked in the following working day. Course books that are overdue then will generate an overdue fee.
- The late fee is capped at SEK 280 per book.
- If you have SEK 100 or more in unpaid late fees, you are automatically denied any new loans and renewals at all libraries within Lund University. The debt must be paid in full before you can start borrowing books again.
Paying your fees
If you have outstanding fees on your account you can pay online. Log into your Finn account and click on your charges, just below the overview of your fees there is a payment button. You may also pay your fees at the Circulation desk during hours when the library is open
Finn - The Libraries' Search Tool
Invoice
If the book has not been returned 28 days after the return date in spite of two reminder notices, an invoice is generated. The replacement cost is 600 SEK per lost item.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact us.
E-mail: krav [at] sambib [dot] lu [dot] se
Requesting interlibrary loans
If you are a student or employee at the Faculty of Social Sciences and you need materials for study or research which are not available from any library at Lund University, you can request the materials by interlibrary loan through us.
Search first
Firstly, search in Finn. You can find some articles that have been published in printed journals via the Lubito service.
Lubito - scanned articles from the University Library's collection
Some older Swedish literature (printed before 1957) may not be listed in LUBcat. This type of material can be requested via the University Library (UB).
Catalogue -1957, older literature at the University Library
Requesting directly through Libris
If you find a book you are looking for in Libris, you can request it directly via Libris. Before making your first request, you need to create an account. Library card (lånekort), a field in the registration form, is the last 10 digits of your LU card number.
Create an interlibrary loan account in Libris (form only in Swedish)
If you can't find the book in Libris
If the material you want to request is not listed in Libris, you can use the request form below.
Interlibrary loan request form, for material not found in Libris
How much does it cost?
Borrowing books and articles is free of charge for students and researchers.
How long does it take?
How long it takes to receive a requested book or article depends on availability and the home library of the requested book or article. Articles tend to arrive faster than books, and you should expect to wait at least a week for a book. We notify you via email when the requested material has arrived. It can be picked up at the information desk. If you have any questions, please contact us.
E-mail: ill [at] sambib [dot] lu [dot] se
If there are materials you'd like to see added to the library's collections, submit a purchase request and we will look into acquiring it. Please provide your suggestions using the form below. The book or journal you suggest may be purchased in electronic format; please indicate your preference. The time it takes to acquire a recommended book depends on availability and the supplier.
Contact
E-mail: info [at] sambib [dot] lu [dot] se
Phone: +46 46 222 09 90