Helsinki University Library

Helsinki University Library operates in all four campuses: 

• City Centre: Main Library at Kaisa House , Fabianinkatu 30
• Kumpula: Kumpula Campus Library, Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2 
• Meilahti: Meilahti Campus Library Terkko Health Hub, Haartmaninkatu 4 
• Viikki: Viikki Campus Library, Viikinkaari 11 a 

In addition, the City Centre Campus has two learning centres:

• Learning Centre Aleksandria, Fabianinkatu 28 
• Learning Centre Minerva, Siltavuorenpenger 5A 

Check the locations of the libraries and learning centres on the map.  

The libraries and learning centres are mostly accessible.

Check the library’s opening hours from the University of Helsinki web site. 

You can borrow books with a Helka library card at the Helsinki University Library’s service points. 

1. In order to get the card, activate your customer information in Helka database by signing in with your Helsinki University user credentials.
2. Your Helka library card will be ready for pick-up after activation. You can pick up your card from any Helsinki University Library location during customer service hours. Please remember to bring an official ID card with you. 

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. 

The Helka library card also works in special Helka libraries, external to the university. To borrow from the collections of the National Library of Finland you need a National Library card.

You can locate both printed and electronic textbooks using Helka’s search. From Helka you will see the book’s availability and location.

Library codes to locate a book.  
(Hc=Kaisa-talo, Hb= Viikki, Hl=Meilahti, Hs=Kumpula) 

The loan periods vary according to library sites and book titles: 14 or 28 days, short-term loans 2 days.

There is an overdue fine according to the current price list for loans returned late.

The Helsinki University Library has acquired rights to a wide collection of electronic books, journals and databases. More detailed instructions on the use of eBooks can be found in the eBooks Guide. Electronic journals and books are available for use in the University of Helsinki’s online network. The students of the University of Helsinki also have an option to use the electronic materials with remote access. To use remote access you need a permit to use the University of Helsinki network.

Detailed instructions for remote access through Helka (in Finnish).

You can get started on information retrieval with the help of Helka database. 

• Searching the library collections allows you to search electronic and printed books, journals and databases acquired for the Helka libraries.
• In addition, using the article search you can find international articles. 

Not all the material that the University library has acquired for students shows in the Helka database. You can search for your own discipline’s central databases from ResearchGuides search engine that collects library’s information sources and services from the viewpoint of each research field. 

You can revise the basics of  information seeking from the Student’s Digital Skills web materials. 

Do you need sources for your thesis?

You can extend your knowledge with the library’s online course for information seeking and management.

You can also learn information retrieval at on-campus courses organized by the library. Training is offered for increasing the efficiency of information retrieval for your thesis, as well as supporting the use of reference management programs.

You may browse the courses on studies.helsinki.fi by searching with “LIB-”. You may also search for a specific course with the course code (for example LIB-500). 

See the list of course codes. 

Guidance on information seeking

The library offers also guidance on information seeking. You will get more out of the guidance if you have familiarised yourself with information seeking in advance by taking the Library’s online course and contact teaching on the topic.

Guidance Corner organises regular guidance sessions on information retrieval for theses and the use of electronic publications.

The Helsinki University Library sites have various different working spaces: group facilities, computer rooms, and reading areas for independent working in silence.   

All the campus libraries have group facilities. Group facilities can be reserved with the university user account in the Outlook calendar for every specific space.  

Most of the computers can be found in Learning Centre Aleksandria, where it is possible to study late in the evening when the libraries are closed.  

You can print and copy in every library site. The multifunction printers work with a personal ID card and they can be used for copying, printing, and scanning.  You can download balance for the ID card from the Unigrafia online printing shop. 
 
Please be considerate towards other customers and follow the library rules. 

Mobile storage units for storing material for thesis work

Students of the University of Helsinki can borrow a mobile storage unit for storing material needed in their research or thesis work. The storage trolleys make it easy to store and move working materials around the library facilities. The storage units can be found in all library locations as well as in Learning Centre Aleksandria and Learning Centre Minerva. Read more about the mobile storage units on the library's website.

The customer service staff at every Helsinki University Library site are happy to help with any arising questions concerning the use of the library.  

The service phone numbers work in all the library sites during the customer service opening hours.  

If you have any questions or you would like to give feedback on the library services you can also contact us with the chat window found on the web site or with a feedback form.

Follow the library on Facebook, Twitter @hulib and Instagram @helunilib.