Using the collections

The provisions for using the library’s collections are set out in the library’s regulations.

The library has open access collections and collections held in closed stacks. The open access collections of Finnish literature and literary research are located in the library’s General Department on the first floor of the Society’s building at Hallituskatu 1. The open access cultural research collections are located on the fourth floor of the same building.

The copying of material published before 1900 or material that is otherwise fragile is restricted.

Archive requests

Material that is held in the closed stacks must be ordered in advance. Requests can be made in the library or by telephone (the number for the lending office is +358 201 131 272). Material is retrieved from the closed stacks twice a day so that requests made before 13.00 can be picked up on the same day after 15.00, and material requested after 13.00 the following morning. Requested material is held in the lending office for seven days. Some of the material held in closed stacks is available for loan, but some of it can only be used in the library’s reading room.

Material that must be examined in the reading room includes:

• literature published before 1900
• other literature considered to be particularly valuable or fragile
• the latest issues of all journals
• some of the journals
• material on microfilm
• reference books, bibliographies, handbooks
• maps

collections