The Swedish Institute for Children’s Books’ library is a research library within the field of children’s and young adult literature. It includes books for children and young adults, theoretical literature, academic journals, and more. The library is open for everyone to visit. 

Please contact us if you have any questions about children’s literature, theoretical literature, publishing statistics, how to search the catalogue and request material etc.  

Research Services 

Researchers who wish to spend a longer period of time at the institute are welcome to use the institute’s reading room with access to our research library and library services. 

Library Catalogue, Loans, and Requests 

In our library catalogue, you can search for both children’s and young adult literature, and theoretical literature. 

In order to be able to borrow and request material, you must be registered as a user in our library system. You can bring the theoretical literature home on loan, but the children’s and young adult literature – including children’s magazines – are kept in closed stacks and are only available for in-house use and must be read on site. 

You can request up to 10 titles for immediate retrieval. If you want to look at more than 10 books you need to request them at least a day in advance. Books requested the day before your visit are available from 12 p.m. the next day. Requests made the same day will be collected for you during library hours. 

Returning Books 

Books must be returned to the institute’s library. If you return books outside of library hours, please use the return box next to the main entrance. It is also possible to return books by mail. This is done at your own risk.  

If you do not return your books you will be charged with 500 SEK per book and an administration fee of 250 SEK per invoice. 

Copying and Scanning 

You can make copies (in black & white) and scan pages from the library’s books and journals. Payments for copies are made by the mobile payment system Swish. Some books are too fragile for copying or scanning. Please respect the Swedish copyright law. For more information, please contact the library. 

Interlibrary Loans 

We do interlibrary loans of theoretical literature to other libraries. It is not possible to do interlibrary loans of children’s and young adult literature. You can also request individual articles as interlibrary loans.  

If you are unable to visit us and wish to make an interlibrary loan request, please contact your local library.  

Interlibrary Loan Fees 

Interlibrary loans within the Nordic countries: free 

Interlibrary loans outside the Nordic countries: 2 IFLA vouchers 

Copies of articles within the Nordic countries: free 

Copies of articles outside the Nordic countries: 1 IFLA voucher