About the Library - Welcome!

The Helsinki University Library is Finland’s largest multidisciplinary university library. It provides information and library services across a number of disciplines at four university campuses. The Library is available open to all and offers open access to the sources of scientific knowledge.

The Helsinki University Library aspires to be one of the leading multidisciplinary research university libraries in the world by the year 2020.

The Library began operating as an independent institute of the University of Helsinki on 1 January 2010. The Library comprises the City Centre, Kumpula, Meilahti and Viikki campus libraries as well as centralised services. The City Centre Campus Library also began operations as a single administrative unit on 1 January 2010. The City Centre Campus Library, along with the Helsinki University Library’s centralised services, will move under a single roof (the Kaisa Building) in 2012. 

As an independent institute, the Helsinki University Library now has its own administrative regulations and board. The head of the Library is Library Director Kaisa Sinikara, TT (D Theol). The City Centre, Kumpula, Meilahti and Viikki campus libraries have their own campus library directors. The library also has advisory boards for the different campuses.  

The Library has approximately 250 employees and an annual budget of over €21 million.

The Library receives some two million visits annually and provides 2.5 million library loans. The Library offers its patrons access to extensive collections of printed and electronic materials. The Library’s printed books and journals add up to nearly 81 shelf kilometres, and 16,000 electronic journals and 260,000 e-books are available through Library-acquired licences. Everyone has the right to use the Library, and all residents of Finland over the age of 15 may borrow Library materials. All patrons may use the Library’s electronic materials at a Library facility; University staff and students also have online access through the University network.