Student library | Student's digital skills

The Helsinki University Library serves on four campuses and online:

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 2023–2024. 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.

Colour-coded signs for the recreation area, group study room, silent reading area and reading area.

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.

Printing in the library

The Helsinki University Library has multi-function printers for printing, copying and scanning for customers. University staff and students can use the multi-function printers with their personal ID cards and other customers can use the Print in City service.

How does student printing work?

When printing or copying with the multi-function printer for the first time, you will need to register an ID card using your University username and password.
The ID card can be, for example, an HSL travel card or a smartcard that you can buy from the library’s customer service.
Printing requires pre-paid printing balance, which can be downloaded from Unigrafia’s balance store.

Instructions for using the multi-function printers can be found on the Helsinki University Library website.

Watch the video instructions on printing at the University of Helsinki. Duration 3 min 15 sec.

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 diverse 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:

a longer loan period for course books
library staff to help pick up books from the shelf
personal information seeking guidance for the Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis.

If you have a reading disability, you can start using Celia’s audiobook service.

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.