Channels for information retrieval

Where you should look for information is defined by your information need. The following chart shows different information needs with suitable information-retrieval channels that will often turn up useful information sources.

What you are looking for  => Where to find it
A certain book  => Search for Helsinki University Library collections:

Other libraries: Finna.fi.

A certain article  =>
  • You can find the library’s electronic articles in Helka.
  • Use Google Scholar to find more Open Access articles.
  • If you cannot find the desired article in electronic format, search for the name of the journal in Helka. A printed version of the journal may be available in the library.
E-journals by topic => Search for Helsinki University Library collections:

  • With BrowZine you can browse e-journals by topic. You can keep your journals and articles in one place and access them later.
Specific database => Helsinki University Library collection:

Theses => University of Helsinki theses:

Theses from other universities: Finna.fi.

You need new information about a certain subject quickly, but you do not need to chart everything that has been published about it.  => Helka database or the open web e.g. Google Scholar.
An overall mapping of everything that has been written on the subject  =>
  • Find information in the databases for your own field. Use field-spesific research guides to find the best databases for your subject.
  • Search broadly – e.g. for articles, research reports, scientific books and theses in various databases.