In 2019 and 2020 new library systems will be introduced at the National Library of Finland and Helsinki University Library. The change will first take place at the National Library. The National Library will move to Koha, an open and free source code library system, and will also develop it according to the needs of Finnish scientific libraries.

What will change in autumn 2019?

Using the services of the National Library will no longer be possible through other Helka libraries. From Monday, 2 September onwards, all loans, requests, reservations, returns and payments related to the National Library must be completed at the Library or through the National Library Search at kansalliskirjasto.finna.fi. In future, phone numbers, home addresses and other customer details will also be updated separately for the National Library and other Helka libraries.

As a customer of the National Library, you will receive a personal National Library card, available from the Library from 2 September onwards. Helka library cards will continue to be used for Helka library services. At the National Library, Helka cards will only be accepted until 30 November. You should obtain a new National Library card as soon as possible to avoid gaps in renewing loans. Further information on obtaining a library card can be found under How to get a new library card.

What do I have to do about the changes?

You will need a National Library card, available from the Library from 2 September onwards. Old Helka cards and their PIN numbers can be used in the National Library Search until 30 November. Helka library cards will continue to be used for Helka library services. Further information on obtaining a library card can be found under How to get a new library card.

Customer and loan details will be automatically transferred to the new system of the National Library. If you are a customer of both the National Library and Helka libraries, any changes to customer details must in future be made separately for both. From 2 September onwards, National Library loan renewals, requests and reservations are made through the National Library Search at kansalliskirjasto.finna.fi.

How to get a new library card?

A National Library card can be obtained from 2 September onwards by visiting the National Library. Please remember to bring official proof of identity with you.

From Monday, 2 September onwards, all loans, requests, reservations, returns and payments related to the National Library must be completed at the Library or through the National Library Search at kansalliskirjasto.finna.fi. Using the services of the National Library will no longer be possible through other Helka libraries. In future, phone numbers, home addresses and other customer details will also be updated separately for the National Library and other Helka libraries.

Helka library cards will remain valid when using services provided by Helka libraries. At the National Library, Helka cards will only be accepted until 30 November.

Where did my National Library loans disappear to from Helka?

During a break in services beginning on 24 August, all National Library materials and loans will be transferred from Helka to the National Library Search (kansalliskirjasto.finna.fi). In future, loans are renewed and customer details updated through the National Library Search.

Why has the due date of my loans been changed to 16 September?

Loans from the National Library will not expire between 10 August and 15 September. The last normal due date is Friday, 9 August, and the next valid due date is not until 16 September. No late fees will be invoiced for the period in between.

How to identify books from the National Library

If you are unsure which libraries your borrowed books are from, you should check your loans in the library databases at kansalliskirjasto.finna.fi and helka.finna.fi.

What can and cannot be done when lending services are unavailable at the National Library between 24 August and 1 September

What can be done

The Library building and information services are open during the break from Monday, 26 August to Friday, 30 August.
The Library’s open collection and reference library are available on the Library premises.
Requests for the special reading room will be fulfilled as usual.
The Library accepts returns between 26 and 30 August, but no receipts will be given. The next due date is not until 16 September, leaving ample time for returning loans.
The search service will be open during the break, but lending services are not available and materials cannot be comprehensively searched in the service.
The Helka database will work normally and the Helka library collections are also available during the break at the National Library.

What cannot be done

Home loans are not available, requests cannot be made or picked up, nor are storage retrieval requests fulfilled.

In fact, storage retrieval requests should be made well in advance of the break to ensure they can be picked up in the preceding week, as reservations and storage retrieval requests cannot be picked up during the break.

Where are loans returned in future?

Materials borrowed from the National Library are returned to the National Library. Previously, Helsinki University Library also accepted books borrowed from the National Library. The last day that Helsinki University Library will accept books borrowed from the National Library is Friday, 16 August 2019. Books borrowed from Helka libraries are not, nor were they previously, accepted by the National Library.

Kaisa House, the principal location of Helsinki University Library, and the National Library of Finland are both located in Kaisaniemi approximately 100 metres from each other, which makes it relatively easy to return loans separately to both libraries.

How to renew loans

Loans from the National Library are renewed through the National Library Search at kansalliskirjasto.finna.fi. Helka loans are renewed in the Helka database at helka.finna.fi. Old Helka cards and their PIN numbers can be used at the National Library and in the National Library Search for renewing loans until 30 November. Helka library cards will continue to be used for Helka library services.

Do online payments work?

During the changeover, between 24 August and 1 September, National Library fees cannot be paid online. After the interruption, from 2 September onwards, payments can again be made online, that is, through online banking as well as with debit and credit cards.

Helka online payments will function as usual in the Helka database at helka.finna.fi.

Do I need to learn to use new kinds of search systems?

No. The appearance and function of the National Library Search will not change.

However, the findability of material will improve. Once the National Library Search no longer encompasses other libraries, searches will produce more comprehensive results from the complex datasets stored in the National Library. The National Collection (Fennica) will also be made available for requests through the search. In addition, the collections, loan periods and material locations will be categorised and presented in the search in a less complicated manner.

Säilyvätkö suosikkilistani Kansalliskirjaston hakupalvelussa?

Kansalliskirjaston hakupalvelussa suosikkilistat ja muut tallennetut tiedot sekä asetukset säilyvät, mutta suosikkilistojen saatavuustiedot eivät enää toimi.

Kun 2.9. jälkeen Kansalliskirjaston hakupalveluun uudella Kansalliskirjastokortilla, luot samalla hakupalveluun uuden tilin. Uudessa tilissä ei ole vanhan tilin suosikkilistoja eikä tallennettuja tietoja. Voit kuitenkin kirjautua myös vanhalla kirjastokortilla tehdylle tilille ja Vie-toiminnolla saada suosikkilistat siirrettyä tiedostoon. Jos olet käyttänyt Haka-kirjautumista tilin luomiseen, voit vaihtaa Helka-kortin Kansalliskirjastokorttiin Oma tili -> Kirjastokortit -osassa.

How will services improve?

The appearance and function of the National Library Search will not change, but the findability of material will improve. Once the National Library Search no longer encompasses other libraries, searches will produce more comprehensive results from the complex datasets stored in the National Library. For example, the National Collection (Fennica) will also be made available for requests through the search. In addition, the collections, loan periods and material locations will be categorised and presented in the search in a less complicated manner.

A National Library card for Finna.fi?

National Library cards can be used to log in to and use Finna.fi which provides free access to material from Finnish museums, libraries and archives for everyone.

Schedule

16 August is the last day when loans from the National Library can be returned to Helsinki University Library.
24 August–1 September No online lending services for National Library material
26 August–30 August The Library building and information services are open. The Library’s open collection and reference library are available on the Library premises. Home loans are not available, requests cannot be made or picked up, nor are storage retrieval requests fulfilled. Requests for the special reading room will be fulfilled as usual. The Library accepts returns between 26 and 30 August, but no receipts will be given. The next due date is not until 16 September, leaving ample time for returning loans later.
10 August–15 September National Library loan periods do not expire. The last normal due date is Friday, 9 August, and the next valid due date is not until 16 September. No late fees will be invoiced for the period in between.
2 September The National Library Search will open on Monday, 2 September.
2 September National Library cards can be picked up from the Library from Monday, 2 September onwards.
30 November At the National Library, Helka cards will only be accepted until 30 November. Helka library cards will continue to be used for Helka library services.