The Helsinki University Library serves on four campuses and online:
- University of Helsinki Main Library in the Kaisa House
- Kumpula Campus Library
- Meilahti Campus Library
- Viikki Campus Library
In addition to visiting in person, you can contact the library via e-mail, using the feedback form or, during customer service hours, by phone and the chat available on the library’s website.
Watch a video of the Helsinki University Library facilities and services. Duration of video 1 min 19 sec.
Explore the library’s services by playing a virtual escape game where you complete library-related tasks using a Microsoft Forms form. The game is running in the academic year 2024–2025. Instructions for the escape game can be found on Courses at the Library page (Studies Service).
Use the collections
All the books and other publications in the campus libraries can be found in the Helka database. You can start reading e-books as soon as your university user account is activated. The Helka card is a library card of the University of Helsinki, which you need to loan printed material from the library offices of the Helsinki University Library.
Some libraries outside Helsinki University Library can also be searched through Helka database. These include for example the Finnish Heritage Agency Library and the library of the Finnish Literature Society. The National Library of Finland is also a part of the University of Helsinki. The National Library of Finland has its own search service.
Working in the library
The library has work areas dedicated for different needs. The colour codes for the areas indicate whether the space is intended to be completely quiet or dedicated for working or socialising.
Students of the University of Helsinki can:
- Book group work spaces with their university user account in the Outlook calendar of each space.
- Store books and study equipment in a mobile storage unit available for loan, which you can move to the spot you are working in on the library premises.
- Log in to their own desktop with the University username using the library’s terminals.
The premises and events of Helsinki University Library comply with the library’s principles for a safer space. The principles remind us to work together to make the library a safe environment where everyone can feel welcome and appreciated.
Printing in the library
The Helsinki University Library has multi-function printers for printing, copying and scanning for customers. Instructions for using the multi-function printers can be found on the Helsinki University Library website.
Information Seeking Courses and Guidance
The Helsinki University Library offers courses and workshops where you can practice academic information seeking skills, such as using databases. Training is available both online and on campuses.
For example, the library’s Moodle online course on information seeking allows you to study information seeking independently anywhere and any time. The library also organises Guidance on Information Seeking and events for students both remotely and at the library premises.
Accessible services and individual learners
Do you need help in using the library’s premises and collections due to a disability or a learning difficulty? Contact the library’s customer service and agree on individual arrangements.
You can get, for example:
- help from the staff in registering as a customer of Celia, a national library for accessible literature and publishing in Finland
- a longer loan period for course books
- help from the staff in picking up books from the shelf
- a group workspace for your own use (max 2 hours per person per day)
- personal information seeking guidance for the Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis.
Information on the agreed individual arrangements is recorded in the library user’s customer data in the Helka database. The entry is visible only to the library’s customer service staff.
Read more about the library’s facilities and services:
–Helsinki University Library services (Studies Service)
–Timetables of information retrieval courses and instructions for enrolling (Studies Service)
–The libraries’ locations and opening hours (Helsinki University Library website)
–The purpose and rules of the premises (Helsinki University Library website)
–Safer space in the library (library website)
–Equipment and booking instructions for group study facilities (Helsinki University Library website)
–Instructions for printing, scanning, copying (Helsinki University Library website)
– Instructions for borrowing mobile storage units (Helsinki University library website)
– Accessible services (library website)
– Individual arrangements at the library (library website)
– Celia’s customer relationship for higher education students with reading disabilities (Celia’s website)