Loans and returns

Service description

Home loans and reading room loans

Taking out loans from the National Library of Finland requires a National Library card. You can check out materials using the self-service book-lending machines located on our library premises. For borrowing materials, you will need a library card and the four-digit PIN code. All books borrowed must be returned within 28 days.

The loan periods of materials available for home loans are available on the National Library Search service. Some of our materials are only available for reading room loans, which means they can only be read on our premises. For reading room loans, the loan periods are 28 days. Reading room loans are kept in the reading room, on shelves reserved for the materials.

If a reservation has been made for the materials you have borrowed, you will be notified of this in the email address you gave in your customer information.

Unpaid fines for overdue books (more than 15 €) will prevent borrowing. Your borrowing privileges will also be suspended if your loans are more than four weeks late. If your account is blocked, you will not be able to borrow, renew or reserve materials from the National Library.

Renewals and returns

Loans are renewed in the National Library search service. To do this, you will need your library card; its number and PIN code.

It is also possible to renew the loans through our customer service either by phone or email.

Loans can not be renewed if your borrowing privileges are suspended, the material has been reserved or the renewal limit has been reached.

A return machine is located at the entrance to the National Library of Finland right of the lobby.

Loans from the National Library of Finland can only be returned at the National Library.

You may also return a book at your own risk by post. The borrower is responsible for the book until it has been received by the library.

Return by post:

When returning by post, use the PO Box number:
The National Library of Finland
Customer service
P.O.Box 15 (Unioninkatu 36)
00014 UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI

Mobile number for Posti: 050 448 7050

When using a courier service, use the visiting address:
The National Library of Finland
Customer service
Unioninkatu 36
00170 HELSINKI

Late fees

Fees will be collected for late material returns and renewals of overdue loans.

We notify our customers of due returns in the email address entered into customer information.

If an overdue book is not returned within four weeks, the cardholder's borrowing privileges will be revoked. Unpaid fees (15 € and over) will also lead to revoking of borrowing privileges. If your account is blocked, you will not be able to borrow, renew or reserve materials.

After the second reminder, the collection of the fee will be transferred to a collection agency.

A separate compensation will be charged for lost or unreturned books.

The borrowing privileges will be returned once you have returned or paid for the overdue materials and paid the late fees.