Borrowing Books in the Exceptional Situation

Changes to the library's opening hours can occur quickly during an exceptional situation. The library follows the recommendations and regulations of the University of Helsinki, the Finnish State, the University Central Hospital (HUS) and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).

Kaisa House

The Main Library's restricted services are available on weekdays 8-20.

Easter opening hours: Thu 1.4. 8-20, Fri-Mon 2.-5.4. closed.

May Day opening hours: Fri 30.4. 8-18, Sat-Sun 1.-2.5. closed.

• Borrowing print materials and reservation pick-ups are available on the 3rd floor.
• Other floors and all reading and working areas are closed at least until April 30, 2021.
• Entrance to the Kaisa House is only through the main door on Fabianinkatu 30.
• The lift from the metro station and Kaisaniemenkatu is only used for accessible route to the library. See Entrances to the Kaisa House during the exceptional situation below for more information.
• Well Cafe Kaisa-talo on Vuorikatu is closed for the time being.

Viikki Pop-up Library

Reservation pick-up service is available on weekdays 11-18.

Easter opening hours: Thu 1.4. 11-18, Fri-Mon 2.-5.4. closed.

May Day opening hours: Fri 30.4. 11-16, Sat-Sun 1.-2.5. closed.

• Borrowing print materials and reservation pick-ups from the reservation shelf.
• The self-service lending and returning machines are available.
• Collection areas and all reading, working and group study spaces are closed at least until April 30, 2021.

Kumpula and Meilahti Campus Libraries

Kumpula Campus Library as well as Meilahti Campus Library, Terkko Health Hub and learning centre Mocoma are closed at least until April 30, 2021.

Learning Centres

Minerva is closed at least until April 30, 2021.

Aleksandria is closed at least until April 30, 2021. For the time being, Aleksandria is not available outside the opening hours with the night access key. To get the entrance to Examinarium electronic exam room, please call the porter tlf. 02941 23265.

Each customer is responsible for following these safety instructions in all Library premises.

• Only visit the library when you're healthy. Long and unnecessary stays at the library should be avoided, so please keep your visits as short as possible.
• Use a face mask.
• Please take care of hand hygiene.
• Keep adequate distance from other customers and library staff.
• Borrowing of print material and reservation pick-ups are available only from the limited areas. Other library facilities are closed.
• Use disinfectant towels to clean the keyboard and mouse of shared computers. You can get disinfectant towels from library’s customer service or from the building’s porter.
• Follow the instructions for the corona situation displayed in the library.

Borrowing of print material from Kaisa House is available for all Helsinki University Library customers who have a Helka library card. You can also order books from Kumpula, Meilahti and Viikki collections to be picked up at Kaisa House by making a normal reservation for the book in the Helka database.

The entrance level (3rd floor) of Kaisa House is open on weekdays 8-20. Textbooks, short-term loans and study support materials are available as usual. You can retrieve books from these shelves and borrow them using the self-service lending machines.

The rest of the floors of Kaisa House are closed. You can order books from closed collection floors to be picked up from the 3rd floor by making a normal reservation for the book in the Helka database. When you receive an email notification from Helka, the book can be picked up from the reservation pick-up area on the 3rd floor.

Reservations and other materials that have been requested in advance are available from the reservation pick-up area. Only one person is allowed in the pick-up area at a time.

• Reservations are arranged on the pick-up shelf according to the last pick-up date and request IDs.
• Check the last pick-up date and the request ID from the email notification you have received from Helka. The request ID is personal and stays the same in all your reservations.
• Open the email notification when you go to the reservation shelf.
• Check the last pick-up date from the notification. Pick-up dates are marked on the reservation shelf with green tags.
• Go to the last pick-up date mentioned in your email notification and search for your reservation with your personal request ID. Reservations are in alphabetical order according to the first letter of the request ID.

Reference library material, which is not available for home loan, can be accessed by visiting the customer service desk at Kaisa House. Reference library material includes journals, printed master’s theses and some of the digital theses. The reference library requests are retrieved during weekdays between 10 am and 6 pm. See Access to reference material below for more information.

The self-service lending and returning machines and library terminals are available on the 3rd floor. Use disinfectant towels to clean the surfaces of the devices. You can get disinfectant towels from library’s customer service.

Reference material can be copied or scanned using the multi-function printer. The multifunction printer can be used with a personal ID card and the University of Helsinki user account. The Print in City service is not in use. All reading, working and group study areas as well as the recreational facilities are closed. Don’t stay longer than necessary. Don’t sit in the lobby area.

The library’s customer service desk is open on weekdays 10-19. See Customer Service below for more information.

Picking up material from the Viikki Pop-up Library is available from February 2, 2021.

You can also order books from Kaisa House, Kumpula and Meilahti collections to be picked up at Viikki by making a normal reservation for the book in the Helka database. When you receive an email notification from Helka, the book can be picked up from the campus library's reservation shelf in the Pop-up Library.

The Pop-up Library in the 4th floor of the Info Centre is open on weekdays 11-18. People over the age of 12 should wear a face mask at the Pop-up Library.

Reservations and other materials that have been requested in advance are available from the reservation shelf. Only one person is allowed in the pick-up area at a time.

• Reservations are arranged on the pick-up shelf according to the last pick-up date and request IDs.
• Check the last pick-up date and the request ID from the email notification you have received from Helka. The request ID is personal and stays the same in all your reservations.
• Open the email notification when you go to the reservation shelf.
• Check the last pick-up date from the notification. Pick-up dates are marked on the reservation shelf with green tags.
• Go to the last pick-up date mentioned in your email notification and search for your reservation with your personal request ID. Reservations are in alphabetical order according to the first letter of the request ID.

The self-service lending and returning machines are available. Use disinfectant towels to clean the surfaces of the devices. All reading, working and group study areas as well as the recreational facilities are closed. Don’t stay longer than necessary.

The library’s customer service desk is closed. Help is available if needed.  See Customer Service below for more information.

The electronic collections of the library are accessible to all university students and staff remotely, regardless of location.

Electronic resources of the library can be used by the students, teachers, researchers and staff of the University of Helsinki, and students of the Open University of the University of Helsinki. Accessing the electronic resources from outside the library locations via a remote connection requires a University user account.  

Using electronic resources in the library during the exceptional situation

Unfortunately, there are restrictions on the use of electronic materials in the library premises. Customers without Helsinki University user account are not able to stay at the library to read or print e-materials. During the exceptional situation the Library recommends using e-resources remotely, which requires a University user account.

Borrowing of reference library material for Helsinki University and HUS/HUCH staff, researchers and teachers 

Please note that the exceptional situation may cause delay in the response.

• Chat on the library website is available Mon-Fri 9-16.
• Phone service in the Main Library Kaisa House (02941 23920) is available Mon-Fri 8-20.
• The Main Library's customer service desk at Kaisa House is open Mon-Fri 8-19.
• Campus Libraries' customer service desks are closed at least until April 30, 2021.

Questions and feedback can be set also through email or webform.

• Feedback form
• Email: library@helsinki.fi

As a rule, library staff will work remotely. Contact the library experts through service addresses.

The entrance to Kaisa House is through the main door on Fabianinkatu.

Entrance by lift from the University of Helsinki metro station (K1) or Kaisaniemenkatu (1st floor) is not in use during the exceptional situation. The entrances on Vuorikatu or through the lobby of Aleksandria are not in use either, as the Well Cafe Kaisa-talo and the Learning Centre Aleksandria are closed for the time being.

Accessible route to Kaisa House

The lift from the metro station and Kaisaniemenkatu is only used for accessible route to the library. For assistance, please call the library customer service on 02941 23920.

Reserved books can be picked up as self-service from the Main Library and Viikki Pop-up Library.

You can request books from Kaisa House, Kumpula, Meilahti and Viikki collections. Reservations are made in the normal way in the Helka database.

Picking up material from the reservation shelf

Reservations are arranged on the pick-up shelf according to the last pick-up date and request ID numbers. You will find this information in the notification that Helka sends by e-mail. The request ID is personal and stays the same in all your reservations.

• Open the email notification when you go to the reservation shelf.
• Check the last pick-up date from the notification. Pick-up dates are marked on the reservation shelf with green tags.
• Go to the last pick-up date mentioned in your email notification and search for your reservation with your personal request ID. Reservations are in alphabetical order according to the first letter of the request ID.
• Use the self-service lending machine to check out books before leaving the library.

You can borrow reserved books only with the card used for the reservation. A fee of €3 will be charged for any uncollected reservations. If you do not need the item you requested, please cancel the reservation in your customer data in Helka.

The collection process during the exceptional situation

The Library’s overdue notices are sent out even during the exceptional situation. The second overdue notice (warning about the collection) is also sent out as usual.

Collection of loans was on hiatus in 2020 due to the exceptional situation, but this year collection process will resume again. Collection of loans overdue in 2020 will start in February 2021.

If there is any doubt about the loans or payments, please contact the service address hulib-selvitykset@helsinki.fi

You can return books safely to the check-in machines inside the library (Kaisa House, Viikki Pop-up Library) or to the overnight drop boxes outside the library (Kumpula and Kaisa House).

Kaisa House's overnight return machine on Fabianinkatu may be facing technical issues during the winter time. If you are unable to return your books to the Kaisa House's overnight return machine, you can return them to the Kumpula Campus Library's drop box. The overnight return box is located to the right of the Physicum (Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2) main entrance, next to the grey side door.

If you can't return the books to the library because of the coronavirus situation, please contact the library by phone or email.

Customers' interlibrary orders and acquisition proposals are tried to handle as usual. However, the exceptional situation may cause limitations.

Students and staff of the University of Helsinki

First, you need to activate your customer information in Helka database by signing in with your Helsinki University user credentials. Your Helka card will be ready for pick-up in the next working day. You can pick up your card from any Helsinki University Library location during customer service hours. Please remember to bring an official ID card.

Please note that during the exceptional situation 30.11.2020-30.4.2021 the library card can only be picked up from the main library's customer service at Kaisa House.

Once you have the library card, you can request books, renew loans and, when necessary, pay overdue fines in the Helka database. In order to use the library's self-service lending machines, you need a PIN code which you have to set in your customer account in the Helka database.

Do not update your contact information in Helka, as the contact information is automatically updated from the background systems of the University of Helsinki. So, please notify university services (eg Oodi/Sisu) of any changes in your contact information.

Other customers (no university user credentials)

Order a Helka library card by using the online form. The card will be available for pick-up after three working days. You can pick up your card from any Helsinki University Library location during customer service hours. Please remember to bring an official ID card. 

You can also get a Helka card by visiting the library's customer service desk.

Please note that during the exceptional situation 30.11.2020-30.4.2021 the library card can only be picked up from the main library's customer service at Kaisa House.

Once you have the library card, you can request books, renew loans, update your customer data in the Helka database and, when necessary, pay overdue fines. In order to use the library's self-service lending machines, you need a PIN code which you have to set in your customer account in the Helka database. You need to have a valid e-mail in the system to be able to log in to Helka.

During the exceptional situation, you can study information seeking by taking online courses or via various learning materials.    

• Information Seeking and Management for the Thesis Writer (online course)  
• Student’s Digital Skills (learning material)  
• The library guides (for example about RefWorks, data management)  
• E-book guide 
• ResearchGuides (specific subject guides)

Remote Guidance on information seeking  

If you need online advice how to seek information or use resources, you may book a time for remote information seeking.  You will find the instructions and link to the booking calendar on the remote guidance website.  

Webinars  

You will find the course descriptions and instructions how to register on Weboodi: Instructions and courses > course catalogues > erillislaitokset > Helsinki University Library, 2020-2021.

Research Data Management basic lectures

Research Data Management basic (RDM basics) lectures are provided currently by Zoom. Please sign up for courses, link to zoom-meeting will be sent for those who has signed up. See the timetable & enrollment instructions here.

Data Management Plan Workshops

Insted of Data Management Plan (DMP) workshops University of Helsinki Data Support provides personal support with DMPs during spring 2020. Don´t hesitate to contact us by email: datasupport@helsinki.fi

The Academy of Finland’s September Call and DMPs –webinars

See more details on Data support´s website.

University of Helsinki Data Support

The Data Support at the University of Helsinki assists UH researchers in the management of research data. Contact us with any question concerning research data. Email: datasupport@helsinki.fi