As you open Vilnius University Library doors for the first time, many questions might arise in your head. How to become a Library user? How to find the necessary book among nearly five million documents that are kept here? How to place a request for a book or to which reading room out of several dozen are you supposed to go? Therefore, we provide you with this memo so that you could familiarise yourself with the Library services faster and get the needed help. Once you read it through, you will not be strolling around the Library in vain!
How to become a Library user? What can LSIC offer?
Lithuanian Student Identity Card (LSIC) gives students of Vilnius University the right to use the Library services.
International Student Identity Card (ISIC) does not give you the right to use the Library services.
Have you got more questions about LSIC? Please, contact LSIC coordinators of VU Students’ Representation https://vusa.lt/en/lsic
For the use of the Library services, you have to register in VU e-identity management system. Your VU ID and password are necessary for the use of computers, EDUROM wireless network, copying and printing services and accessing your Virtual Library account.
Library places. Which reading room to choose?
Vilnius University Library consists of Central Library (CL) that is located in the Old Town, Scholarly Communication and Information Centre (SCIC) located in Saulėtekis and open 24/7, and other branches in Vilnius and other cities (in Kaunas and Šiauliai). On the whole, the Library has more than several dozen specialised reading rooms where you can find both study materials (the rest of them is kept in the book storage) and comfortable study spaces. Which reading room to choose?
If, for example, you are studying at the Faculty of Communication, most likely you will find books and other resources you need in the Communication Reading Room which is located in the SCIC. Therefore, in order to find the necessary document, first of all, choose the reading room title which matches the subject you study.
CL Reading Rooms: here
SCIC Reading Rooms: here
ŠAIC Reading Rooms: here
Faculty Reading Rooms: here
Book search and borrowing
Search for necessary books by using our search system called the Virtual Library. You can also find the search field on the main page of Vilnius University Library website.
Enter your keywords in the search field, and once you find the necessary book, note in which reading room the book is kept (this information will appear after clicking on the book title). Note or write down the call number that is written next to the name of the reading room and go with all this information to the indicated reading room. Look for the indicated call number on the shelves. The call number shows the section you need to look in. After finding the section, look through it alphabetically. If the document has a green sticker, you can borrow it using the self-service devices.
If you cannot find the book you need, our staff members working in the reading rooms or at the Information Desk will be happy to help.
More information is available on the Library’s website in the Borrowing section.
Reading and downloading electronic publications
Search for e-books, other e-resources, and printed materials in the Virtual Library. For the use of e-resources not from the University or Library network computers, you will additionally need to set up a VU VPN. Find more information on the VU VPN service here: https://santaka.vu.lt/display/DUK/Installing+and+using+VU+VPN
The Library offers many collections of electronic textbooks, books, encyclopaedias, dictionaries, and journals.
More information is available on the Library’s website in the Databases section.
Booking of study spaces in the Library
The Library offers some study spaces that meet everyone’s needs: quiet study spaces in the reading rooms, rooms for individual or group work, IT Laboratories, and informal places for conversations and leisure. If you want to sit and study in any reading room, there is no need for booking. However, members of the VU community have to book a study space via the booking system to be able to use rooms for individual or group work, IT Laboratory, or seminar rooms.
Access to the Library computers and wifi
Members of the VU community can use the Library computers in the reading rooms.You can access computers with your VU ID data.
While in the Library, you can access the EDUROAM wireless network. You can find instructions on how to access the EDUROAM network on the webpage of the Information Technology Services Centre.
Information search issues
You are welcome to have a consultation with a friendly librarian supervising a certain research field so book a time slot for the consultation or information literacy trainings. On the Library’s website, in the section Subject Librarians you will find professionally selected, reliable and high-quality scholarly information resources as well as contacts of your faculty’s subject librarian.
Librarian Simas. If you have any urgent questions for the Library and want an answer right away, use the live chat that pops up in the right corner of the Library website as soon as you log in. Your queries will be answered by our virtual colleague Librarian Simas.
Training
Looking for a way to successfully prepare your research papers?The Library provides students with trainings during which you will learn to search for and select reliable scholarly information necessary for your studies or research papers, get acquainted with academic ethics requirements, proper citing of other authors and proper description of used resources, as well as learn to use information management programmes allowing to access collected information by clicking on several computer keys.
Follow the information about trainings in the News section of the library website or contact the subject librarian of your faculty.
Copying, printing.
If you need to print your papers, copy a chapter of a book or to scan your work-book, you are welcome to use multifunctional devices or copy stands of the Library. Multifunctional devices of the Central Library are located in the Copy Room. Multifunctional devices of the SCIC can be found in the Leisure, Technology, Communication, Law, Economics and Business reading rooms. One of the multifunctional devices can also be found in the Medicine and Geosciences Reading Room. Multifunctional devices of the ŠAIC are located in the Universal, Periodicals and Arts reading rooms. More >>
Short instructional videos on using VU Library's printing, copying and scanning devices: here
Mobile app
We recommend to all students install VU Library mobile app. With the app, you can:
- easily search for Library printed items,
- view your borrowed items and extend active loans,
- view current fines,
- receive reminders about expiring books or other documents loans,
- access e-shelf and see loans, requested or saved items
- receive relevant information about the Library.
By selecting the following links, you can install the app.
Android: https://bit.ly/3vrSXTZ / iOS: https://apple.co/3u5Lslb
Library opening hours: here
Library website: here
Library plans and rules: here
Virtual Library: here
Have you got any questions? You may contact us via phone or email, and we will gladly answer: ; +370 5 219 5051
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2024-08