University of Helsinki
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The Main Library in the Kaisa House was open on three Sundays in April as a tryout. The work stations and equipment were available in the facilities as well as the customer service on the 3rd floor.
There were slightly more than 1000 visitors on each Sunday. Most popular were the silent reading spaces of which 70% were in use in the afternoons. Most of the lending and returning were done as self-service. According to the staff Sundays were like Saturdays but somewhat quieter in the customer service.
Library users’ feedback was merely positive. The most expressed wish was that in future the Library would be open on Sundays. Sharing the experience in social media was possible with the hashtag #munkirjasto and participants were able to win movie tickets. The Library has contacted the three winners in early May. Thank you all for your feedback!
The trial proved that there is a definite demand to keep the Library open on Sundays. The plan is to extend the opening hours to Sundays at least during the most hectic periods of the terms. This will most likely come true in March-April 2016, but might be realized already during the late autumn period 2015.