Interlibrary Loans

The National Library collaborates with both Faroese and foreign libraries in providing users with books and journal articles. All libraries, institutions and companies can borrow books from foreign libraries through the National Library on behalf of their users.

Books are not borrowed from the Tórshavn Public Library (Býarbókasavnið) or other libraries in the Tórshavn area through the National Library.

Card holders can always order books from search results in Bókasavn.fo by signing into the system.

If material is not found, users must send a request to utlan@landsbokasavnid.fo. Requests are binding and items that are not picked up will always be charged to the person's library card.

Registered users can keep up with the status of their loans in My Loans.

Waiting period and return date

Waiting period can vary from a few days to several weeks, depending on the material. For an article, the waiting period is two days in general and the minimum is one week for books. Loan period for books that are borrowed from a foreign library is mostly three to four weeks. Teachers and staff of the University of Iceland receive the articles by internal mail, but students and other users need to pick up the articles from the Service Desk. Books need to be collected by everybody from the service desk.

Faroese libraries

Faroese libraries can request interlibrary loans from the National Library.

Fees for interlibrary loans

Library cards and interlibrary loans are free of charge if material is collected and returned within the loan period. Cost of material for teaching and research of staff member of the University of the Faroe Island is put onto the account of the department, institution or research topic and is collected twice a year. Invoices to companies and institutions are sent out quarterly.