In order to borrow, renew and request printed materials at all Helsinki University Library locations, you will need a Helka library card.
In the Helka database, you can search for material from both the Helsinki University Library and other Helka libraries, and see the availability and location of the material in different libraries.
By logging in, you have access to all self-service functions in Helka. You can renew and request materials from the library’s printed collections.
Logging in into the Helka requires that you have provided the library with your email address.
A Helka card can be granted to persons over the age of 15 who present an official ID card and have a valid street address in Finland, with the exception of exchange students and researchers from abroad who can be granted a card regardless of the aforementioned terms.
The card is valid only in Helka libraries which include, in addition to Helsinki University Library, five specialised libraries outside the University.
The library card is personal and as its holder you commit to following the rules of all Helka libraries. Notify the library immediately if you lose your card. A small fee will be charged for the issuing of a new library card.
If you need assistance with accessing the library services, for example due to a physical disability, you may get your card marked for special services.
Students at the University of Helsinki can acquire a digital Helka library card via the Studies Service. If you acquire a digital Helka card, you do not need a plastic Helka card at all.
Once you have the library card, you can request books, renew loans and, when necessary, pay overdue fines in the Helka database. Your library card will also be digitally available in Helka.
Please notify university services of any changes in your contact information, as the contact information is automatically updated from the background systems of the University of Helsinki (students: Sisu, staff: SAP).
If you prefer a plastic library card, you can acquire a Helka card from the library's customer service.
Once you have the library card, you can request books, renew loans and, when necessary, pay overdue fines in the Helka database. Your library card will also be digitally available in Helka. You can use the digital card at the self-service lending machines instead of a physical card.
Please notify university services of any changes in your contact information, as the contact information is automatically updated from the background systems of the University of Helsinki (students: Sisu, staff: SAP).
By logging in to Helka, you’ll have access to all self-service functions. You can reserve books, renew your loans and, if necessary, pay fees related to your customer information.
Logging in to Helka requires that you have provided the library with your email address.
Helka is the joint catalogue and lending system of all Helka libraries, that is, Helsinki University Library, Institute for the Languages of Finland, The Finnish Heritage Agency Library, Finnish Literature Society, Library of the Labour Movement and Baltia-Library.
By obtaining a library card, you commit to following the terms of use for all Helka libraries.
The Helka customer register will send you only email reminders relating to services.
As a customer, you are responsible for keeping your user data up to date.
All library locations provide plenty of reading and working space for all customers. In the library, you will find spaces for working both while seated and standing up. In addition to the traditional reading spaces equipped with only a desk and a chair, the library provides a variety of spaces with armchairs and couches for a more relaxed reading position.
Reading and working areas are marked with orange signs.
Please note that some of the reading spaces are intended to be used exclusively by University of Helsinki students, researchers and staff. These spaces are marked with signs.
Silent areas in the library facilities and Learning Centres are marked with red and they are reserved for quiet work. The workspaces in the silent areas are mostly equipped only with a desk and a chair.
Please note that some of the silent reading spaces are intended to be used exclusively by University of Helsinki students, researchers and staff. These spaces are marked with signs.
The small silent reading room on the second floor of Kaisa House is reserved for work without laptops, but in other silent areas the use of laptops is allowed.
An accessible work room (6042) is available on the sixth floor of Kaisa House.
The work room is primarily intended for customers who use wheelchairs and for customers who wish to work while standing.
The room has reading and study space for one to four people and two easily adjustable electric desks.
The room cannot be booked.
The library has designated phone areas and booths which are meant for making calls.
Do not take up a phone area as a personal reading or study space.
Phone areas can be found in the Main Library, the Kumpula Campus Library and the Meilahti Campus Library in Terkko Health Hub.
If a phone area is not available or you cannot find one, please make your call somewhere to the side, so you do not disturb others.
You can use your own laptop at all library locations.
If you do not have a University of Helsinki user account, you can use HelsinkiUni Guest network to access e-resources with your own devide.
The password of the HelsinkiUni Guest network is uniguest. Members of the University community can use the Eduroam network.
You can print from your own device or from a library terminal using the Print In City service.
The library provides terminals for use by all customers.
You can use the library terminals to browse the Helka database, read the licensed electronic materials acquired by the library, log in to your Helka user profile as well as search and read the digitally stored theses of the University of Helsinki.
The library terminals also provide you with access to customer functions in the Helka database, such as saving your searches and favourites as well as saving and forwarding references to your own email address.
Please note that the library terminals do not provide regular access to the internet and you will not be able to work on your own files using them.
University of Helsinki students and staff can use the terminals to log in to their personal user accounts with their University IDs.
In the Kaisa House, microfilm reader is located on the fourth floor in room 4044. Lense for microfilm reader is available from the customer service desk on the third floor by giving your library card as a deposit.
Customers from outside the University of Helsinki can book a microfilm reader from the Kaisa House customer service or via email at kirjasto@helsinki.fi.
Students and staff of the University of Helsinki can book the equipment in the special work rooms through the University’s Office365 calendar.
Name of the device in the Office365 calendar:
Helsinki University Library has multifunction printers for customer use. University community uses multifunction printers with a personal ID card, other customers via Print in City service. The library staff will be happy to help you if you have any problems with using the printers.
The multifunction printers can be used with a personal ID card and the University of Helsinki user account for copying, scanning and printing. When using a multifunction printer for the first time, you will need to register an ID card (for example, an HSL travel card) using your own University username and password.
University of Helsinki students can add credit for using the multifunction printers at Unigrafia’s print quota shop.
You can copy and scan documents by using the Print In City service even if you do not have a University of Helsinki user ID. The service allows you to add credit for printing, copying and scanning.
You can print from the library terminals using the Print In City service or save PDF documents or HTML pages to your own USB flash drive.
The default print option is double-sided black and white. If you require single-sided or colour printing, you can select these options in Print In City.
When saving to your USB flash drive, the file is first loaded on to the library terminal’s cache memory. After this, you can save the file to your USB flash drive in File Manager. Please note that the files are deleted automatically from the cache memory when you close the browser window or when the library terminal has been inactive for two minutes.
When you are using the Print In City service for the first time, you must sign up to the service and purchase credit.
NB! You can log in to the Print In City service on library terminals only to print – signing up to the service and adding credit to your account require using your own device (laptop, smart phone or tablet).
A link to the Print In City service is available on the bookmark toolbar of the library terminals. Instructions on how to sign up and add credit to your print account are available in the Print In City service.
You can pick up your printout from the nearest Print In City device within 48 hours of uploading your file(s). Your account will be charged only when you print out your document from the device.
Instructions for use of the premises are summarised in the library rules. You will find other rules, such as the rights and responsibilities of the customer and the library, in the Helsinki University Library Terms of Use.
The library’s reading and study areas are general purpose areas, marked as the orange zone. In the orange zone, talking quietly is allowed, and this is the generally appropriate voice level for the library.
Please note that some of the reading spaces are intended to be used exclusively by University of Helsinki students, researchers and staff. These spaces are marked with signs.
Do not leave personal property unattended and watch out for thieves. Also make sure your bag or other belongings do not take over the spaces near you, preferably keeping them in the lockers.
When using a reading space, you may leave for a short period, but no longer than 30 minutes. Leave a note indicating the time of departure, but please remember that a note alone is not sufficient to reserve the space. If you are away for more than half an hour, another customer is authorised to take your place and put your belongings aside – they do not need to ask the library staff to do so. The library is not responsible for things you leave behind at the reading space.
Please make phone calls in the designated phone areas or somewhere to the side, so you do not disturb others.
Keep the rooms tidy and clean up after yourself. Please eat your packed lunch in the recreational facilities.
Some of the desks in the library’s general working areas are fitted with computers. Similarly to the reading areas, computer desks and rooms are marked as the orange zone where talking quietly is allowed.
All computers in the library customer facilities require logging with a University of Helsinki user account, that is, they are meant to be used only by the University's students and staff. You are required to observe the IT Centre terms of use when using the computers.
Do not leave personal property unattended and watch out for thieves. Also make sure your bag and other belongings do not take over the spaces near you, preferably keeping them in the lockers.
When using a computer desk, you may leave for a short period, but no longer than 30 minutes. Leave a note indicating the time of departure, but please remember that a note alone is not sufficient to reserve the space. If you are away for more than half an hour, another customer is authorised to take your place and put your belongings aside – they do not need to ask the library staff to do so. The library is not responsible for things you leave behind at the computer desk.
Please make phone calls in the designated phone areas or somewhere to the side, so you do not disturb others.
Keep the computer desks and rooms tidy and clean up after yourself. Please eat your packed lunch in the recreational facilities.
Silent areas are marked with red and they are reserved for quiet work.
Please keep all your devices in silent mode and work quietly. Be considerate and let others work in peace.
Please note that some of the silent areas are intended to be used exclusively by University of Helsinki students, researchers and staff. These spaces are marked with signs.
The small silent reading room on the second floor of Kaisa House is reserved for work without laptops, but in other silent areas the use of laptops is allowed.
Do not leave personal property unattended and watch out for thieves. Also make sure your bag or other belongings do not take over the spaces near you, preferably keeping them in the lockers.
When using a reading space, you may leave for a short period, but no longer than 30 minutes. Leave a note indicating the time of departure, but please remember that a note alone is not sufficient to reserve the space. If you are away for more than half an hour, another customer is authorised to take your place and put your belongings aside – they do not need to ask the library staff to do so. The library is not responsible for things you leave behind at the reading space.
Keep the silent areas tidy and clean up after yourself. Please eat your packed lunch in the recreational facilities. Please make phone calls in the designated phone areas or somewhere to the side, so you do not disturb others.