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For freshmen

Welcome to the Aalto University Otaniemi Campus Library! This guide contains brief instructions for new users of our library. You will find out more about it during the library excercise which is due in the beginning of your studies.

Where is the library located?

Kirjasto

The library is located in Otaniemi, Espoo, right next to the Aalto University School of Science and Technology main building at Otaniementie 9.

There are also other libraries at the Otaniemi campus:
Libraries of the faculties and departments

When is the library open?

During semesters the library is open from Monday to Friday. During summer the opening hours are less comprehensive.


Mon–Fri 9.00–21.00
Sat 9.00–16.00
Days before holiday 9.00–16.00

Opening hours

Is everyone free to use the library?

Sisäänkäynti

The Main Library (Otaniemi Campus Library) is open for everybody. Collections of the library are located on four floors of which three are open for customers.

It is easy to move around in the library and there are guides. Here are maps of the floors to assist you:
Floor maps

How to find a book or an other publication?

Data of publications and electronic books in the collections of the Otaniemi Campus Library and the libraries of the faculties and departmens can be found in TEEMU collection database.

Kirjat

From TEEMU you can find out for instance if a book you need is in the collections of the libraries at the Otaniemi campus, if it can be borrowed, and in which shelf it can be found. You can perform searches in various ways, for instance by title, author's name, or words that appear in the title. There are instructions for information retrieval in TEEMU.
TEEMU

When searching for text books check from TEEMU if it is available for borrowing or as an e-book. You can also use the reading room copies of text books within the Main Library.
Text books

Most academic journals are nowadays subscribed in electronic form. You can search for e-journals and access articles via Nelli search portal. The School of Science and Technology has access to 26,000 electronic journals. TEEMU only has data of printed journals. Via Nelli you can also use other e-materials such as electronic books, reference works, dictionaries, and databases.
Nelli portal

How to borrow books?

Lainausautomaatti

To borrow you need a library card. Students use their student cards as library cards. Data of new School of Science and Technology students is automatically sent to the data system of the library. New students without student cards can apply for a temporary library card, which they should return to the library once they have received their student cards. Take your student card with you when going to the library since you need it when borrowing, also if you are using the self-service machine.

Data of your loans is saved in TEEMU database. You can check your status yourself from TEEMU and for instance renew your loans via internet in TEEMU.

Information of borrowing, renewing, returning, reserving a borrowed book, and overdue fees can be found here:
Borrowing from the library

Where to get help?

You can seek advice and contact the library in many ways:

Library instruction – How to learn information searching?

The library arranges library exercise to new students as part of their introductory studies. Also during later stages of your studies, for instance when beginning to work on your thesis, the library provides instruction that will help you to find the information and literature you need.
Library instruction, courses

There are instructions of information retrieval on the website of the library:
Information retrieval

What kind of premises and facilities does the library have?

Lehtilukusali

There is a reading room, reading spots and group work rooms which can be reserved via internet. You can study for exams and work with your student friends in the library. You can use the workstations of the library, your own portable computer, and copying machines of the library which require chargeable copy cards. All of our copying machines can be used to scan for free of charge.
Premises and facilities

What can be done without coming on the spot?

You can use electronic resources and many services of the library via the web with your computer, via e-mail, or by phone. People who work or study at the School of Science and Technology and who have valid IT permissions can use electronic journals and other e-materials also from outside of the School of Science and Technology network, for instance from home or on the road.
Remote use