Users and Library Cards

• In order to make loan requests and borrow material from the collections, an individual must be a registered user at the National Library of Sweden. All persons of legal age are eligible.
• The library card is for the exclusive use of the individual to whom it was issued.
• Residents of Sweden must provide a home address in Sweden and provide proof of identification with valid, official, Swedish identification document with a photo and including the personal identification number.
• Non-residents of Sweden must provide a full address in their country of domicile. If the stay is 30 days or more, a residential address in Sweden must be provided instead. A valid passport must be shown. Schengen residents may instead show valid photo identification.
• Reading room loans collected on behalf of another user are permitted upon proof of identification and a letter of authorization (see separate form).
  
• The library card is valid for four years, but the validity period can be extended upon request. The user account is deleted one year after the validity period has expired.

Users' Obligations

• The library card must be presented when placing loan requests and borrowing.
• The user is responsible for all loans on the library card until the items are checked in again.
• A lost or misplaced library card must be reported to the library without delay. The user is responsible for all loans placed up until the card is reported as missing. A fee will be charged for a replacement card.
• Should your name or address (including email address) change, you must inform the National Library immediately.
• The user will adhere to handling the National Library’s materials according to the regulations set out in this agreement, as well as other instructions provided to the user by the National Library.
• If copying or photographing items from the National Library’s collections, the user undertakes to comply with the Act (1960:729) on Copyright in Literary and Artistic Works.

Visitor Rules and Conduct Guidelines

• Visitors and staff shall be treated with respect.
• Outerwear, briefcases and bags shall be left in the storage lockers in the public wardrobe. The lockers may be used only for the day. A lost key will incur a fee.
• Food, fruit, sweets and drinks are not permitted in the library. Smoking and snus (moist small packets of tobacco) are not allowed in the library building. Pets are not permitted access.
• Reading rooms are intended for the study of the National Library’s materials. Seats may not be reserved. Library staff have the right to remove materials brought into the library and refer visitors with their own material to other study areas. Silence is required in the reading rooms.
• Private conversation may be held outside the reading rooms to the extent that it does not disturb other people. A mobile phone call may only take place in the café and restaurant.
• Photography and filming in the National Library’s public areas are permitted, provided that appropriate consideration is shown. The use of flash and tripods is not allowed.
• Visitors agree to show their carried study material at both the entry and exit of the library. If someone disturbs the order or constitutes a danger to others, or the property of others, the security guard has the right to intervene.
• Avoid leaving your belongings unattended. The national Library takes no responsibility for personal property such as computers, telephones, etc.

Handling the materials

• Utmost care must be taken of all material in the National Library’s collections.
• Writing in or marking materials is not permitted in any form. Items that could harm the collections are not allowed, for example paper clips, self-adhesive labels, tape, etc.
  
• It is forbidden to place hands or arms on material in the collections. Always wash your hands before handling the materials. Grease and dirt can damage and destroy.
• It is not allowed to put hands or arms on text or images. Always wash your hands before handling the materials. Grease and dirt can damage and destroy.
  
• The materials may not be used as a desk pad for writing on top of.
• The arrangement of volumes and enclosures may not be disturbed. Loose-leafs must remain in their jackets.
• Uncut materials are to be returned to the staff for attention.
• In the Special Reading Room, note-taking on personal paper is permitted using wooden pencils only. Pens and mechanical pencils are not permitted.
• Cotton gloves must be worn when studying photographs and postcards. Photographic materials must always be placed image-side up.
• The study of particularly sensitive items may require full supervision of the National Library’s staff.
• Private viewings of the collections are not permitted.

Loan requests and borrowing

• The materials are mainly held in closed storage rooms, and loan requests must be placed in order to gain access.
  
• Loan requests for printed materials are primarily made through the National Library’s local catalogue, Regina, via www.kb.se. Material not available for ordering via Regina can be requested through online order form. Search services for other collections are also available at www.kb.se.
• The National Library reserves the right to determine the number of loans and check-outs permitted per user, per day.
• The user does not retain unconditional loaning rights. For example, the National Library reserves the right to deny loan requests due to the physical condition of the item (preservation).

Reading Room Loans

• Material belonging to the Swedish collection may be studied only in the Reading Room. This collection includes Swedish literature, literature published in Sweden, literature translated from Swedish to another language, and literature concerning Sweden, Swedes and Swedish conditions.
• Foreign literature printed prior to 1900, foreign literature of significant value or in fragile condition, as well as foreign periodicals and brochures may be borrowed for Reading Room study only.
• Reading Room loans must be returned the same day. Upon request, the National Library may retain these materials for the user at the Information and Loans Desk for a short period. Loaned materials may be subject to recall after 30 days.
• The Researcher Reading Room is reserved for users with book lockers according to regulations. Applications are to be submitted online at www.kb.se.

Home Loans

• Foreign literature not belonging to the Swedish collection may generally be checked out of the premises as a home loan. However, literature printed prior to 1900, foreign literature of significant value or in fragile condition, and foreign periodicals and brochures are not permitted for off-site loans.
• Home loan period is 30 days. The loan is automatically extended for up to one year if no other user has reserved the item.
• The user is responsible for the prompt return of recalled items, even if he/she is away travelling.
• The user is required to show loaned materials to library security upon exiting the building.

Special Reading Room Loans

• The Special Reading Room is intended for the study of certain materials from the collections.
• A library card and identification must be shown when collecting loaned materials in the Special Reading Room. Only a limited amount of personal paper and book materials may accompany the user.
• The user must show all carried materials to staff upon entry and exit. Materials lent on-site and books belonging to the reference library may not be removed from the Special Reading Room.
• Should the user wish to take a short study break outside the Special Reading Room, loaned materials must first be returned.
• Loaned materials may be retained at the service desk on behalf of the user for a short period. Loaned materials may be subject to recall after 30 days.

Interlibrary loans

• Material from other libraries may in certain cases be ordered as a supplement to loans from the National Library’s collections. The National Library retains the right to determine which materials are applicable. Lending libraries determine the rules stipulating the lent materials.
  
• Interlibrary loans between the Nordic countries are free of charge, while a fee is applicable for interlibrary loans between other countries. If the interlibrary loan consists of a photocopy, then a fee is applicable.
  

Charges and Liabilities

• A user who damages or loses library materials, or fails to return items despite recall, shall be required to compensate for their value and pay an administrative fee. This fee shall apply even if the lost item is subsequently returned and is intended to cover the National Library’s costs in processing the case.
• The National Library issues one recall demand and one reminder; thereafter an invoice will be issued. Recalls and reminders are sent by email, when an email address is registered.
• The National Library issues an additional charge for reminders for invoice payment. Should the user fail to pay the invoiced fee, the claim will be submitted to the local debt enforcement authority for collection.
  

Breach of the Borrowing Terms

• A user who fails to comply with the National Library’s lending rules and regulations risks suspension of privileges. In the case of a grave breach of regulations, the National Library retains the right to terminate the user agreement.
  

Processing of Personal Data and Privacy

With this application, you provide the following information:

• Name
• Email address, telephone number, address
  
• Date of birth or Swedish Personal Identification Number
  

The personal data is necessary to be processed in order for the agreement to be fulfilled.

What is the information used for?

The personal data is connected to a library card number. The information you provide with your application is registered in the system that the National Library uses for managing the library card and loans from the collections.

The National Library uses the information for managing your loans and orders, for access to electronic resources from computers in the National Library’s building or for the administration of interlibrary loans.

Your loans and returns are registered. Personal data is also used to handle claims for non-return of loans. When using the National Library’s public information systems and computers, usage logs are recorded.

The National Library uses anonymised personal data for statistical purposes.

How long is personal data saved?

Your personal data may be deleted one year after the library card has expired.

The individual's rights

You have the right to access the information the National Library holds about you. You can request an extract from the registry containing the data. You are entitled to request that the National Library corrects incorrect personal data. Under certain conditions you have the right to request the deletion of your personal data and to restrict processing.

If you have questions about the National Library’s management of your personal data, wish to request a registry extract, or to change or delete data, please contact:

• The National Library's personal data representative Archivist: Kungliga biblioteket, National Library of Sweden
• Organisation's number: 202100-1710
• Address: Box 5039, 102 41 Stockholm
• Visiting address: Humlegårdsgatan 26, Humlegården, Stockholm
• E-mail to the Archivist: kungl.biblioteket@kb.se
• Telephone (switchboard): 010-709 30 00

You have the right to file a complaint regarding the processing of your personal data to the Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection External link, opens in new window. (IMY), which is the supervisory authority.

Privacy is enforced for all information about an individual’s loans, reservations, other forms of orders or searches in the National Library’s information systems.

The National Librarian

The National Library of Sweden’s user agreement, sanctioned by Emma Stockhaus, Director, Research Support and Collection Management Department, is valid from 5 May 2025.

Upon signature of this document, I agree to comply with the National Library of Sweden’s user agreement.