Accessibility at the Main Library in the Kaisa House

The Main Library of the Helsinki University Library is located in the heart of the city, in Kaisa House, Kaisaniemi.

A number of trams stop at the Kaisaniemenkatu stop, in front of Kaisa House.  

Metro users can access the Library by lift directly from the University of Helsinki metro station or from Kaisaniemenkatu just outside the station. 

Several bus routes also serve the area, but stop a little further from the Library. 

From the Helsinki Central Railway Station, the library (Kaisaniemenkatu entrance) is about 400 metres walking distance. Part of the route is slightly uphill. 

On Fabianinkatu, near the main entrance of the library, there is a parking space for people with reduced mobility. The accessible parking space is located outdoors less than 10 m from the entrance. The width of the parking space is less than 3.6 m.  

Entrance from Fabianinkatu 

There is a steep slope on the passage. The only accessible route to the entrance is without a threshold, sufficiently wide and illuminated. There is a ramp less than 6 m long at the entrance.  There is a canopy above the entrance. There are 3 consecutive steps at the entrance. The stairs have contrasting markings.   

Outside the door there is sufficient room for moving, e.g. with a wheelchair. The exterior doors open with a motion sensor. The draught lobby has a revolving door and an electrically operated, push-button door to the library.  

Entrance from the metro station 

The entrance from the metro station has lifts that take you to the Kaisa House. The library service area is located on a different floor (3rd floor) from this entrance.   

The entrance is difficult to see but illuminated. The access route to the entrance is flat, wide enough and illuminated. To get to the lifts you must use a ramp, which is less than 6 m long but steep.   

There is sufficient room outside the lift door to accommodate, for example, a wheelchair. The door opens automatically by pressing an opening button. The lift can fit a wheelchair. The floor numbers in the lift can be felt with fingers The button for the exit floor stands out from the others.   

Entrance from Kaisaniemenkatu 

At the entrance from Kaisaniemenkatu there are lifts to the library. The library service area is located on a different floor (3rd floor) from this entrance.   

The access route to the entrance is flat, wide enough and illuminated. There is a canopy above the entrance. Outside the door there is sufficient room for moving, e.g. with a wheelchair. The door opens automatically by pressing an opening button. There is a threshold of more than 2 cm high at the entrance.   

There is a lift with wheelchair access and the door opens automatically. The floor numbers in the lift can be felt with fingers. The button for the exit floor stands out from the others.   

The library is wheelchair-accessible in all areas. The customer service area (3rd fl.) and the Kaisa Hall (7062) have an induction loop.

The return and lending machines are at seat height, as are some of the library terminals. The lending machine in the reservation pick-up area is 96 cm high.   

In basement floors K3 and K4, part of the material is stored on mobile shelves, which can be difficult to move depending on the material. There are over 2 cm high thresholds between the shelves.  

If you need assistance, staff will help you move around the library and use the collections and devices. 

Customer service area  

The service area is located near the Fabianinkatu entrance. The waiting area in the service area is equipped with a queuing system. There are no seats in the waiting area. The customers wait standing up. 

There are chairs for customers at the service points. Part of the staff desks at the service points are electronically adjustable. 

Lifts  

The library has so-called talking lifts, which tell you in Finnish which floor you are entering.  

The lifts have braille on the floor selector. 

Toilet facilities  

There are accessible toilets on all floors of the library, with the exception of basement floors K3 and K4. The toilets are either left or right-handed and this is indicated on signage. 

The accessible toilets are located in the same place on floors 4-7. The accessible toilet on the 3rd floor is located to the right of the Fabianinkatu entrance. The accessible toilet on the 3rd floor also has a baby changing table. The toilet on the 2nd floor is located in a corresponding place. 

The location of the accessible toilets can be checked on the signage on the respective floors. 

Staircase  

The design of the staircase is very broad. The inner edge of the staircase is also passable. The front edge of the staircase has a darker groove to increase contrast and distinctiveness. 

Signs and information displays  

Signage has been designed to be distinctive through height, contrast and font.  

Information displays provide information about library services and university events. 

From the entrance floor (3rd floor) there is access to Fabianinkatu 32, the Learning Centre Aleksandria and Porthania.  

Access from the library to the café on the lower floor (Vuorikatu) requires the assistance of a porter. The porter can be reached in the lobby of Aleksandria or by phone on 02941 23265. If the porter is not at their desk, they can be contacted via the telephone in the lobby.  

When moving from the cafeteria to the library, assistance is available from the cafeteria staff. 

Workstations  

Kaisa House has workstations and different types of seating at different heights to meet the different needs of customers.  

There are several height-adjustable desks on the 2nd floor of the library. Some of the desks are equipped with either a fixed computer or a docking screen. On the fourth floor, an oval light well surrounds the work area at standing height. In addition, on the 6th floor there is a reading room with height-adjustable desks (room 6042). 

Acoustics  

Special attention has been paid to acoustics. The ceilings are fitted with acoustic panels to reduce noise. 

Lighting  

Lights along the shelves are not glaring. Lighting is motion-activated, for example in bookcase areas and toilets.  

There is a separate reading light in some work spaces.  

Large windows and glass surfaces prevent reflections and backlighting. 

The Library has a fire alarm system that can be seen and heard, and it will direct the Library's customers in cases of emergency.

The staff are trained to assist people with disabilities in cases of emergency.