Introduction to the Library

University Library of Tromsø

What we can offer

Organization and location

Main libraries

The HSJ-library = The library of the Humanities, Social Sciences and Law
In addition to literature within the relevant fields, the HSJ-library has international newspapers, general encyclopedia and dictionaries. It is located on campus, entrance by the labyrinth.

The RMH-library = The library of the Sciences, Medicine and Health Care The library is located in the MH-building (the building that houses medicine and health care) at the northern end of the university campus (close to the hospital).

Subject libraries

The Subject library of Psychology: The library is situated at the Department of Psychology at Åsgårdveien 9.

The Subject Library of Biology and Geology: The BG Library The library is located at Gjennomgangsbygget at Dramsveien 20.

The subject Library of Physics The library shares premises with the Department of Physics (at The Northern Lights Observatory, Prestvannveien 10)

The Tromsø Museum Library: the TMU Library The library covers Sami ethnography, archaeology, northern-Norwegian folk music, regional history, botany, zoology, geology and museum sciences. It has special collections of polar literature, northern Scandinavian and Russian regional literature. The library shares premises with Tromsø Museum at Lars Thøringsvei 10.

You find information about the various library departments at: http://www.ub.uit.no/om_ub/avdbibl/avdbibl-e.htm

Opening hours

Finding books and journals: BIBSYS

BIBSYS is a shared database system for the Norwegian university libraries, the National Library, most college libraries, and a number of private research libraries and public institutions. In this database, you find all the books, periodicals, dissertations, (post-graduate) theses, CDs, cassettes, etc. that are found in all the BIBSYS-libraries. When you search in BIBSYS, you can either search the whole base (i.e. the literature bases of all the BIBSYS-libraries), or you can limit your search to one particular library, such as the University Library of Tromsø. The University Library of Tromsø is abbreviated as UBTØ in BIBSYS. (Note that in more local contexts, the abbreviation UB is normally used).

BIBSYS can be freely used by anyone, provided their computer has access to the Internet. No password is required. You get easy access through our home page at: http://www.ub.uit.no/indexe.htm

For information on how to search in BIBSYS, contact the library staff.

Ordering a book or an article from another BIBSYS-library

The BIBSYS libraries are tied together in a network and co-operate in order to serve their users. Thus, if a book is not available in your library, it can normally be ordered from one of the other BIBSYS-libraries, to arrive within a few days. When you have found the book or journal you are looking for, you click the "Order loan or article copy" button at the bottom of the page. On the page that appears next, you choose the order/loan alternative at the top, then you enter your patron ID as well as your surname and click "Send".

Borrowing books

To borrow books, you need a library ticket. To get this, you must fill in a registration card at any one of the library departments. Remember to bring an ID. You can have user rights registered in your student card, i.e. a library ticket and student card in one.

The loan period is 4 weeks for books and 2 weeks for periodicals; however, loans can be renewed provided nobody else is waiting for the item in question. If somebody else is waiting for a book that you have borrowed, you may have to hand it in after 2 weeks.

Finding articles

The University Library has a large number of journals. They are all registered in BIBSYS and can be traced via that channel. Some of them are in paper format and must hence be collected from the shelf. Others are in digital format. Electronic articles can be printed out free in the library. We also subscribe to a large number of article and reference databases, which are accessible to all students and staff. (These are found under "periodicals" and "Academic databases" on our home page)

If you need more information about the databases, contact the library staff.

The subject librarian

Most subjects/disciplines have a subject librarian, i.e. a librarian who is responsible for the literature which belongs to the discipline. In addition to ordering and classifying literature, the subject librarian helps staff and students of the discipline to find literature. If you have suggestions for book orders or need help to find literature, you can contact your subject librarian via e-mail or telephone, or simply come to his/her office. The subject libararian also gives courses in BIBSYS search and article search. To find the subject librarian with responsibility for your subject you click on "Fields of study" on our home page and then on the relevant subject.

Study/reading facilities

There are more than 500 carrels in the HSJ-library (located on the first and second floors and in the basement). The RMH-library has 57 carrels on level 7. Some carrels are reserved (these carry a name tag); the others are free for you to use. Note that even reserved cubicles can be used by others if the "owner" has not shown up by 0830.

Computer facilities

The university has several computer labs for students. 3 of these are located in the library area, in or close to the HSJ-library. There are 2 on the 2nd floor of the HSJ-library. They are called "Ember" and "Dewshine". There is also one in the basement, which is called "Nightfall". In Ember and Dewshine there is an assistant who can help you out in case of trouble, or if you are wondering about something. Dewshine is open from 1100-1600. Ember is open Monday - Friday 0830-2030, while Nightfall is open Monday - Friday 0830 - 2030 and Saturdays 1200-1800.

To use the computers in the computer labs, you need a username and password. In order to get this, you must have a (temporary) personal identification number. You must also fill in a form, which you get from one of the assistants.

Copying

Photocopiers are available in all our locations. Copy cards can be purchased in dispensers or at the loan desks. Prices: 20 copies: 10 kr., 100 copies: 50 kr.

For more information about the library, please contact our staff or visit our home page at: http://www.ub.uit.no/indexe.htm

The University Library of Tromsø, Breivika, N-9037 Tromsø,
Telephone.:(+47) 77 64 40 00, Fax.:(+47) 77 64 45 90
Editor: Library Director Helge Salvesen
Webmaster. Last modified: 10 October - 2002.