To make use of your library’s services, such as borrowing catalogue items, you’ll first need a library account with a pin code. Creating an account is free, and you can use your account at any library in Värmland.

If you’re 18 years or older, please follow these steps to create a library account:

1. Visit the website www.bibliotekvarmland.se/protected/bibliotekskonto and fill in the application form. You can do this either at home or at the library.
2. Visit any library in Värmland to sign the agreement that will allow you to use library services. Please bring valid photo identification with you.

If you’d like, we can issue you with a physical library card connected to your library account, although you don’t need a physical card to be able to use library services. Please contact your local library if you lose your card for any reason, so the library staff can help you to cancel it.

If you’re under the age of 18, you can create a library account by filling in a special agreement available on the website and at local libraries. Your legal guardian must sign this agreement on your behalf.

The website shows every item available for loan from local libraries. You can also find information on library events, activities and opening hours, book tips and much more.

You can view any items you’ve borrowed and their due dates for return by logging in to Mina sidor on the website. You log in using your Personal Identity Number (personnummer), or the number on your library card and your pin code.

Search for the book directly using the search field on the website. After you click “Search”, you can then filter the results by language. Look for the heading Språk, where you can filter results according to the language of your choice.

The normal loan period is four weeks, although there are some exceptions. Whenever you borrow a library item, you’ll receive a receipt stating the date on which you must return the item. You can also see when your loans expire by logging in to Mina sidor on the website. Please ask any of the library’s staff if you are unsure about loans and returns.

If you’re not yet finished with a book, you can easily renew your loan on the website.

How to renew loans:

1. Click Logga in in the top right-hand corner of the website. Log in using your library card number or Personal Identity Number (personnummer) and your four-digit pin code.
2. Select Mina sidor at the top right-hand corner of the web page.
3. Your current loans are listed under the heading Mina lån. If you want to renew a loan, click the button Låna om.

You can also call your library and ask the staff to help you renew your loan.

If you return library items after the due date, you will be charged a fine. The size of the fine depends on the item and how late you returned it. Remember that you can usually extend a loan period by renewing your loan.

Find information about your library’s opening hours and more by doing the following:

1. Click Bibliotek & öppettider in the menu on the website.
2. Next, find your library in the list of local libraries. Libraries are grouped by municipality.
3. You can now view opening hours and other information about your local library.

Local libraries offer plenty of support for people who want to practise their Swedish. Please ask the library staff for help with this.

The following are some examples of aids provided for Swedish-learners:

• Books in easy-to-read Swedish
• Language exercise books
• Dual-language books
• Informal språkcafé gatherings for practising spoken Swedish are sometimes held at local libraries.

Our "Boken kommer" service is intended to help those who can’t visit a library to borrow books. In such cases, we deliver books to the person’s home instead. Ask the staff at your library about "Boken kommer" for more information.

PressReader lets you read digital versions of thousands of newspapers/magazines in many different languages.

How to use PressReader:

1. Log in at the Bibliotekvarmland.se website using your pin code.
2. Go to the page bibliotekvarmland.se/pressreader-hemma
3. Click the link Använd PressReader/Use PressReader at the bottom of the page.

You’ll now be redirected to PressReader’s website and can start reading publications. Click “Languages” in the top left-hand corner of the PressReader site to view publications in the language of your choice.

If you’re connected to the library’s Wi-Fi network, you won’t need to perform the above steps. Instead, you can go directly to www.pressreader.com or use PressReader’s app for iPhone/iPad or Android.

The Världens bibliotek website is part of Sweden’s public library service. It offers e-books in languages other than Swedish for both reading and listening. You’ll need to create an account at Världens bibliotek to use this service. The service is free of charge.

The Bläddra app offers users access to e-books in Sweden’s national minority languages. It’s available for iPhone/iPad and Android devices and doesn’t require users to create an account. The app is free to use.

You can also borrow e-books and audio books via the Biblio app. Most titles available inside this app are books written in Swedish, however. You can download the app for use on both iPhone/iPad and Android devices. Log in using your Personal Identity Number (personnummer), or your library card number and pin code. After that, you’re free to start borrowing and reading books in Biblio.

Most municipalities in Värmland offer the film service Cineasterna. Cineasterna lets you stream thousands of films from home for free. Its collection includes films in many different languages for both adults and children. All you need to use Cineasterna are the following:

• A library account and a pin code
• A computer, smartphone, or tablet to play the film on
• An Internet connection.

How to use Cineasterna:

1. Visit the website www.cineasterna.se
2. Select your library from the drop-down menu in the middle of the screen and then click the “Continue” button.
3. Next, search for a film you’d like to watch.
4. Enter your Personal Identity Number (personnummer), or your library card number and pin code.

Done! You can now watch the film you selected for a period of 48 hours.