Borrow, Return, Request
The collections of the library are available for everyone. For lending, you need a Helka library card. You can get the card at our customer service. By renewing your loans, you will avoid any possible fees.
The SKS Library is one of the Helka libraries with a common lending system. The Helka library card can be used in all Helka libraries.
Helka libraries are
- Helsinki University Library
- Library of Finnish Literature Society
- Library of the Institute for the Languages of Finland
- Finnish Heritage Agency Library
- Tuglas-seuran Baltia-kirjasto
- Library of the Labour Movement.
For information retrieval as well as for checking the availability of our materials, you can use
- Helka database or
- SKS Finna, our own search service.
Quick links to the content of this page
Library Card
You need a Helka card to borrow printed materials. You can obtain a card if you are over 15 years old, and you have a valid street address in Finland.
You can get the library card (free of charge) from customer service at any Helka library.
The Helka card is valid only for the person to whom it is issued. As a card holder, you are responsible for all the material borrowed. You also agree to comply with the rules for the use of the Helka libraries. In addition, you are responsible for keeping your contact details up to date in the Helka customer register.
Once you obtain the Helka library card, you will receive emails concerning due dates, reservation notifications and overdue notices. These notifications come from the Helka customer register.
Self-service functions in Helka
Once you have a library card, you can start using the self-service functions by logging in to your Helka account.
After logging in, you can
- check the due dates of your loans
- renew your loans
- make reservations and order material from the closed stacks
- pay overdue fines
- set or change your PIN code, which you will need when you use the self-service lending machines, and
- update your contact details (other than the students and the staff of the Helsinki University).
How do I log in to Helka?
You can find the Login link in the upper right corner of the Helka database.
- Choose “University of Helsinki login”.
- In your customer information you will find your loans, reservations and payments.
- On the My Account tab, you can set or change your PIN. You need a PIN code when using a self-serving lending machine.
- Do not update your contact information in Helka, as it will be updated there automatically from the University of Helsinki’s background systems. It is enough to report to the university systems.
You can find the Login link in the upper right corner of the Helka database.
- Choose “Email login (other customers)”.
- Helka will send you a link to the email you provided to your customer information, by clicking on which you will be able to log in to Helka. The link is valid for a limited time.
- In your customer information you will find your loans, reservations and payments.
- On the My Account tab, you can set or change your PIN. You need a PIN code when using a self-serving lending machine.
- On the My Account tab, you can also update your contact information.
Some of our materials are part of our closed stacks. Make a reservation in Helka beforehand.
Loans
You can borrow most of our printed materials to take home. Please check the details in Helka or SKS Finna to see if the item can only be used as a reading room loan.
For SKS library loans, the lending period is 28 days.
You can borrow material
- by using the self-service lending machines or
- at the service desk on the entrance floor.
To use the self-service lending machines, you need your Helka card and a PIN code, which you will receive when you get the Helka card.
Reservations and storage retrieval requests
If the item you need is reserved for another customer or it is located in the closed stacks, you can make a reservation.
Please note that you cannot make a reservation for materials that are available in the open stacks.
To make a reservation, please
- log in to Helka database or
- contact the customer service of the SKS library.
You will be notified via email when you can pick up the requested material. You can collect the material from the pickup shelf on the entrance floor. The materials are arranged on the shelf according to the request IDs.
We keep the material reserved for you for a week.
If you do not need the requested items, please cancel your reservation via Helka. Reserving items is free of charge, but we charge a fine of 3 euros for reservations that are not picked up.
Renewing Loans
You can check the due date of your loans by logging in to Helka. In addition to the due date, you can see the maximum allowed renewal period, that is, the day until which the loan can be renewed if there are no reservations.
You can renew your loans
- by logging in to Helka
- by contacting the customer service of the SKS Library.
Please note that the renewing is not possible if
- another customer has made a request for the item
- you are blocked from borrowing or
- the maximum allowed renewal period has passed.
We charge overdue fines for loans that are returned late or renewed after the due date.
Returning Loans
You can return your loans
- via the self-service lending and returning machine,
- at the customer service on the visiting floor or
- to the book drop box located on the Mariankatu side of the SKS building.
We will check in the material in the Helka database on the next business day.
It is not possible to return material borrowed from other libraries to the SKS Library. Please return the material borrowed from the SKS Library back to the SKS library. There are no book transports between the Helka libraries.
Overdue fines and unreturned material
We charge overdue fines for loans that are returned late or renewed after the due date. For further details, see our Price list for Library services.
You can pay your overdue fines
- online when you log in to Helka or
- at the customer service (MobilePay, cash).
We will send three overdue notices for overdue loans. The first two of the letters are sent via email and the third one is sent by post. If you do not return your loans despite the overdue notices, we will send you an invoice for the unreturned material. We transfer the unpaid invoices to a collection agency, which will also charge you collecting costs.
If you have lost the item you borrowed, please contact the customer service of our library.
Suspension of borrowing rights
Your borrowing rights will be suspended if you do not return your loans within 14 days after the due date or if you have unpaid overdue fines or service fees that amount to more than 15 euros.
The suspension applies to all Helka libraries. It prevents you from borrowing new items, renewing your loans and making reservations.
The suspension will be removed when you pay the fines and return your loans.
Interlibrary Loans
Do you want to borrow our materials outside of Helsinki?
Contact Us
Photos: Emma Suominen, Gary Wornell.