Viikki Campus Library serves all who need information of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Agriculture and Forestry, Pharmacy or Veterinary Medicine.

Street address
Viikinkaari 11 A (P.O.Box 62)
FIN-00014 University of Helsinki

Service telephone
+358 9 191 58040

Renew your loans and make reservations online

Opening hours

Mon - Fri 8 - 20
customer service 9 - 20
Sat 10 - 16
Exceptions to the normal opening hours

Frequently asked questions by subject area

Frequently asked questions

Right of use and library card

Who is entitled to use the University of Helsinki libraries?
The larger University of Helsinki libraries are open to everyone. Residents of Finland who have reached the age of 15 years may borrow materials from the libraries. In some libraries there are restrictions on access and borrowing; information about restrictions can be found on the web sites of individual libraries.

Who can get a library card?
Residents of Finland who have reached the age of 15. Applicants also need to have a Finnish personal identity number. Poste restante is not an acceptable address, nor is a foreign address. Foreign nationals residing in Finland can obtain a personal identity number r from the local register office (maistraatti).

How can I get a library card?
Bring some form of official personal identification and fill in a registration form in the library. Then go to the information desk, and a HELKA card will be issued to you in just a few minutes. At the same time you can get guidance in how to use the library and making requests in HELKA.

Alternatively, if you have a UniCard or Lyyra card (a student card issued by HYY or a University of Helsinki staff card), it can be activated as a library card. Do as above.

How much does a library card cost?
The first HELKA card is free of charge, but for a lost card there is a replacement fee of 5 euros.

There is always a fee for the Lyyra smart card

Can I get a library card even though I do not study at the University of Helsinki?
Yes, if you are a resident of Finland and have reached the age of 15. You also need to have a Finnish personal identity number.

Can I use my Helsinki City Library/Helecon Information Center/Helsinki University of Technology Library/ University of Art and Design Library card in the University of Helsinki libraries?
No. You need a HELKA or UniCard/Lyyra card.

My HELKA card has been lost / stolen. What should I do?
Immediately call the service number of a University of Helsinki library, and we will block your card. You can also report the card missing in the nearest University of Helsinki library.

A new card costs 5 euros. Also bring some official personal identification when you come and get your new card. If you have reported the card stolen to the police, you get a new card for free. Please bring the police report when you come and get your new card.

I've found my lost HELKA card. How do I reactivate it?
Go to the nearest HELKA library and present some ID, and we'll unblock your card.

I got my HELKA card before I had my UniCard/Lyyra card. Will the UniCard/Lyyra card now work as a library card? Do I have to start using the UniCard/Lyyra card?
You may continue using your HELKA card and don't have to do anything.

Your UniCard/Lyyra card will only work as library card if it's been activated in the library. In that case your loans and requests are transferred from your HELKA card. Present the UniCard/Lyyra card, some ID and your HELKA card at the library service desk. You must choose which card you want to use as your library card, you can only have one.

Do I have to notify the library of a change in address, even though I've already reported it to the University?
Yes. You always need to report a new address to a HELKA library as well, even if you have notified the University. You can report your new address in the nearest library or by phone.

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Circulation and loan periods

Are all materials available for home loans?
Most materials are available for home loans. Exceptions are reference collections, some journals and books published before 1900. The rules for circulation vary in different libraries.

Materials that are not available for home loans can be read in the library.

How long are the loan periods?
Loan periods are different in different libraries and collections. Check the loan period in the Helka database or on the library web site.

The loan period for textbooks is 28 days (14 days for some textbooks). The loan period for short term loans is 2 days.

Can you see the loan period for a book in HELKA?
Yes. The loan period can be seen after the name of the library on the Holdings screen. (Note that the same book may have several different loan periods within the same library depending on what collection it belongs to.)

When can short term loans be checked out and when do they have to be returned?
Short term loans can be checked out anytime, and it must be returned on the due date before the library closes. Remember that there are exceptional opening hours for example on holiday eves.

How many books can I check out at a time?
There are no limits.

Are the loan periods longer during the summer?
No, the loan period is the same as usual, unless the library is closed for a period.

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Returns

Can books be returned to other libraries than the one they were borrowed from? Can books from other libraries be returned to the Undergraduate library?
No. Books have to be returned to the library from which they were checked out. This way, no time is wasted in transportation, and the next customer can get the book he or she needs immediately.

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Requests

On the Holdings screen, there is a due date. Can I be sure that the book will be available on that date?
You should make a request for the book, because otherwise the current borrower can renew it. A loan may be returned before the due date, or after it. When a book that you've requested is returned, you will be notified by letter or e-mail, if you've given your e-mail address to the library.

When can I make a request for a book?
You can request a book that is out on loan. Note that you may NOT request a book that you currently have on loan. Short term loans can not be reserved.

How do I make a request?
You can make a request online through HELKA or by calling the library service number. If you need help making a request, contact the library information desk. You need the number of your library card to make a request (always have your card with you when you want to borrow or make requests in the library).

How much does a request cost and when do I pay?
A course book request cost 1 euro, payable when you pick up the book. You have to pay 2 euros if you don't pick up the book, unless you have cancelled the request before the book was returned to the library.

Can I make a request online/by phone/by e-mail/by fax?
You can make a request online in the HELKA database. Through the Undergraduate library phone service you may make three requests per call. Requests can not be made by e-mail, letter or fax.

Can I request a book that is available on the shelf?
No.

According to HELKA, a book I need urgently is "In process". How can I get it?
If you come in to the library and make a request at the service desk we will process the book as fast as possible. You must pay the request fee of 1 euro when you pick up the book.

HELKA tells me that a book has been ordered. What does that mean and can I make a request for the book?
The library has ordered the book, but it hasn't arrived yet. Because it's difficult to assess when the book will be available, and because sometimes we are unable to get the books that we've ordered, it is not possible to make requests for ordered items. You can make a request when the book has arrived and its status is shown as "In process".

I've received a pick-up notice for a book that I won't be able to pick up in time. Can I extend the time limit?
Yes, you can get a few extra days if you call the library no later than the last pick-up day.

Can I have my husband/wife/parent/friend etc. pick up the books I've reserved?
Yes, if you give him or her your library card. Keep in mind that you are responsible for all materials checked out with your card.

Can I get notification of an item available for pick-up without waiting for the pick-up notice?
Yes. You can check the current situation online through HELKA or by calling the Undergraduate library service phone.

I got a pick-up notice for a book I no longer need. What should I do?
You needn't do anything. If you want to, you can cancel the request by phone or in the library, but you still have to pay the request fee, because the book has already been returned to the library.

Can I pick up my request at some other library than the one the book belongs to?
No. Requests must be picked up in the library the books belong to.

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Renewals

Can I renew my loans?
Yes, provided there are no reservations, you are not blocked and the renewal limit (12/50) has not been reached. Short term loans can not be renewed.

Can I renew overdue loans?
Yes, unless the loans are 14 days or more overdue or you are blocked for some other reason. You still have to pay the overdue fines. You should pay overdue fines as soon as possible, because if you have more than 15 euros in unpaid fines you will blocked and unable to borrow or renew.

How many times can I renew a loan?
Short term loans can not be renewed. Textbooks can be renewed 12 times (3 times for the Kumpula Science Library) and other materials 50 times. After that the books must be returned to the library from which they were checked out. The books can be checked out again if there are no requests for them. Some loans can not be renewed at all.

Can loans be renewed before the due date?
Yes.

Can I renew loans from other libraries in the Undergraduate library?
Yes. All renewable loans can also be renewed online in the HELKA database.

Note that if you've used your HELKA card in some other library (for example the Helecon Information Center), those loans can not b renewed through HELKA.

Do other HELKA libraries renew books from the Undergraduate library?
Mostly they do, but make sure by asking in the library in question.

Why can't short term loans be renewed?
A short term loan is intended as "emergency relief" when all textbooks are out. That is why the same customer may not keep a book without giving others a chance to get it (short term loans can not be reserved).

Can I renew loans by phone?
Yes. You can find the number and service hours for the service phone on the web site of the Undergraduate library.

Can I renew books online?
Yes. Go to http://helka.linneanet.fi and log in to HELKA by entering your library card number and your last name in the boxes. All HELKA library web sites have links to HELKA.

Can I renew loans by e-mail/letter/fax?
No. Loans can be renewed in the library, by phone or online.

I tried renewing online, but HELKA is rejecting my library card number / my last name. What should I do?
If you are using a UniCard/Lyyra card, the number you should use is the one on the back of the card that starts "21". If this does not help, contact the library and we'll sort it out.

I can see my loans online but see no way of renewing them. What's wrong?
Most likely you are blocked. You may be blocked due to unpaid fines or inadequate customer information. Please contact the library.

I tried renewing online but was unable to, although I know I have no overdue loans or unpaid fines. I'm not trying to renew a short term loan. What's wrong?
Your customer information needs to be updated regularly. If yours hasn't been updated, you may be blocked until the information's been checked. You may also have reached the renewal limit for a book. Contact the library immediately and we'll sort it out.

I've reached the renewal limit and can no longer renew my loan online. What should I do?
If you are unable to return the books, call the library and the loans will be renewed one final time. After that they must be returned, but you can borrow them again if there are no requests.

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Overdue loans

If I'm late returning my loans, will there be a fine?
Yes. Overdue fines are accrued for a maximum of 14 days starting with the day after the due date. You can avoid fines by renewing or returning your loans by their due date.

How much are overdue fines?
Overdue fines for different collections in the Undergraduate library:

Textbooks: 0,70 € / day / book, max 9,80 € / book
Short term loans: 2 € / day / book, max 28 € / book
Other collections: 0,30 € / day / book, max 4,20 € / book

Overdue fines are accrued for a maximum of 14 days starting with the day after the due date. After 14 days the customer will be blocked. Six weeks after the due date, collecting the unreturned books will be transferred to a Collection Agency. The minimum compensation for a lost book is 80,00 € / item. The customer also has to pay the fines incurred and the Collection Agency fees.

When does the library send out overdue notices?
The first overdue notice is sent out the day after the due date, the second 14 days after the due date and the third 28 days after the due date. The notices are automatically generated and will be sent even if there are no requests.

When will a customer be blocked?
When loans are more than 14 days overdue or there are more than 15 euros in unpaid fines.

How can I regain my borrowing privileges?
By returning overdue loans and paying all fines. You have to pay all fines at a time; it is not possible to pay part of your fines.

When will overdue loans be handed over to a Collection Agency?

When they are six weeks overdue. In that case the customer has to pay compensation for the lost material (minimum 80,00 euros), accrued overdue fines and Collection Agency fees. The compensations fee needn't be paid if the material is returned. Overdue fines and Collection Agency fees still have to be paid.

Are unreturned loans automatically transferred to a Collection Agency?
Not if the customer has contacted the library and come to an agreement about compensation.

Can fines be paid to a bank?
No. If you are blocked because of unpaid fines and live outside the Helsinki metropolitan area, please contact the person in charge of customer services.

Can I pay with debit card/credit card/UniCard/Lyyra card?
You can pay with debits cards issued by a Finnish bank, Visa Electron, Visa and MasterCard.

You can not pay with UniCard/Lyyra card.

Why do I have to pay fines for books that there are no requests for?
The library strives to serve all its customers and collects all unreturned loans. A loan is a contract that is valid for a predetermined period, after which the customer may renew the loan (if there are no requests). The customer should return books that are no longer needed. Someone else may want or need the book even if there are no requests.

Frequently asked questions - Top of the page

Photo copies

Can I use the copy cards of Yliopistopaino (Helsinki University Press) in the copy machines?
Yes.

Can I buy copy cards in the library?
In most libraries, yes.

Are the copy card prices different for students and staff?
No, the copy card prices are the same for everyone.

Frequently asked questions - Top of the page

Opening hours

Frequently asked questions by subject area

Right of use and library card

Circulation and loan periods

Returns

Requests

Renewals

Overdue Loans

Photo copies

Other topics

Frequently asked questions

Right of use and library card

Circulation and loan periods

Returns

Requests

Renewals

Overdue loans

Photo copies

Other topics