Storage retrieval request or reservation?
A storage retrieval request is filed when the materials are not loaned by another customer. Please see the material delivery times. The reservation is made, if the materials are loaned by someone else, in which case the library sends a return request for the materials.
You can start looking for the materials through the Finna search service. It should be kept in mind that the National Library of Finland has plenty of materials that have not been catalogued into the databases. Rarer materials, in particular, such as the uncatalogued part of the National Collection or the materials of the Manuscript Collection, should therefore also be inquired from the library's information services.
If a replacement copy, such as a microfilms or a digital copy, has been made of the material, then only that will be used. In order to preserve the original material from the wear of use, we do not grant the original materials for reading room use, either.
Material request and reservation for the materials
The material requests of the materials are primarily made directly in the search service. The reservations are made by logging into the service with the information in your Helka library card.
A large share of materials are available for home loan. If this is not the case, it will be mentioned in the material's reference information and in the email notification sent to you, when the materials are available. We have reserved storage space for the reading room loans of our customers.
If you are reserving materials that are unspecified serial publications, series or some other publication that has not been specified into the database, you should enter a specification into the notification field (printing year, part number of the series or other information specifying the order).
With regard to the materials in the Manuscript Collection, you will need the catalogues in our Special Reading Room for placing a request, as the information in Helka is only at the collection level, and you will need more detailed information.
The options for material requests and reservations are an email order or order by phone from our customer service.
To the Search Service (kansalliskirjasto.finna.fi)
Storage retrieval request from the National Collection (Fennica)
The National Collection (Fennica) is an archive collection and materials from it are loaned for reading rooms. These materials are not available in other libraries or in the other collections of our library. The most recommended and fastest way to get materials from the National Collection is:
- to search the materials from the Fennica database or kansalliskirjasto.finna.fi and,
- after that, order them with the e-form.
Alternative ordering methods are filling in a reading room loan receipt, when visiting the National Library of Finland, an email order or phone service through our customer service.
To the kansalliskirjasto.finna.fi
To the Fennica database (fennica.linneanet.fi)
Order form for the National Collection (e-form)