Library services
Introduction
Vantaa City Library cooperates with the libraries in its neighboring cities (Espoo, Helsinki and Kauniainen), and together the four make up Helmet Library. You can also borrow items owned by libraries in Espoo, Helsinki and Kauniainen.
The collections of most libraries also include digital material. Libraries' national online services on the Kirjastot.fi website are available to everybody, as is also the National Library's Finna.fi service. Through your own library, you can also access works from the Multilingual Library and Accessibility Library Celia. Furthermore, you can access the online Viittomakielinenkirjasto.fi (sign-language library) from everywhere.
Get a library card
Helmet library card is joint card shared by Espoo, Helsinki, Kauniainen and Vantaa. You can register as a customer online or at your local library.
Self-service libraries
Self-service libraries can also be used when staff is not present. You can access the library with your library card and PIN code.
News
Guidelines for library event organizers
Are you planning an event or occasion to take place in the library?
The library wishes its customers welcome to arrange also their own events at the library, free of charge!
If you are interested in arranging an event of your own at a Vantaa library, do not hesitate to contact us by email! Be sure to email us at least 1 (one) calendar month before your planned event. You will find the libraries’ contact information online at: helmet.finna.fi.
You can also arrange other than literature or multiliteracies-themed events at the library, but the events and occasions have to, however, adhere to the principles below.
What constitutes an event
Events comprise all such meetings where a private person or a community invites people in advance to meet at the library, on the library's open premises, or on premises separately booked.
What kind of an event is suitable for the library
The events arranged at the library must be open to everybody. The events may not be discriminatory and they must have free admission. The event may not disturb the library's everyday activities.
The contents or nature of the event must not conflict with Finnish legislation, good manners, or good taste. The library reserves the right to judge what is in conflict with good manners or good taste.
It is possible to arrange discussion events on one or two political parties’ political or topical themes, but personal advertising is not allowed.
You may not arrange denominational events or occasions on library premises.
Commercial activities and corporate sales in the event must be case-specifically agreed with the library.
Safer space principles
Vantaa City Library’s safer space principles are applied to all events arranged at the library:
- The library belongs to everyone
You are welcome to the library the way you are. You can read, play games, study, work, and hang out at the library. Bullying, racism, and discrimination do not belong to the library - please account for this also in your own acts and speech. - Take others into account
Give also others space and quiet. Respect other people and take care of shared premises. Everybody can make an impact on the library’s coziness and safety. - The employees are here for you
The employees are responsible for safety on the premises and will intervene in case someone breaks the joint rules. If you experience or see harassment, you can tell the library employees about it. You can also always give feedback and ask for help.
Before the event
All events held on both the library’s open premises and on separately booked premises require the library’s permission. The party arranging the event must have a named person in charge that asks the library’s permission in writing.
Contact the library where you wish to arrange your event at least 1 (one) calendar month before the event. The library has—when required and upon consideration—the right to deny permission to arrange the event, to block the person that made the reservation from accessing the premises, or to break off an already begun event.
The organizer of the event shall acquire other permits potentially required for the event, as well as make notifications to authorities, if so required by the nature of the event. The library will not assist in applying for permits or making notifications to authorities.
If arranging the event requires that a security guard be present or that additional surveillance be arranged, the organizer of the event is responsible for the related costs.
All the issues related to the library and event organizer’s mutual cooperation must be agreed with the personnel in writing in advance and as specifically as possible: the event premises, furnishings, technology, bringing in supplies, etc. On the day of the event, the library personnel cannot meet the event organizer’s unexpected requirements.
Inform the library as soon as possible about potential cancelation and changes.
Please note that the library will not provide the event organizer with parking space in addition to the normal public parking arrangements in the area.
Event space to be reserved
You can express your wishes concerning the event premises, but, in the end, the library will decide on the premises where it is best to arrange the event. When choosing the premises, the library will take into account, for example, customer safety.
If you wish to familiarize yourself with the premises in advance, contact the library.
Some of the event premises can be booked directly online at: Vantaan tilavarauspalvelu Timmi (“Vantaa's Timmi reservation service”). Please note that before you reserve premises, you must already have the library’s written permit—for instance, a permit sent by email—to arrange the event. The library will not make reservations concerning multipurpose houses’ premises, reserved through Timmi, because some of the premises are subject to a charge.
You must also reserve the premises for potential preliminary arrangements and cleaning after the event at least 30 minutes before and after the duration of the event. Please note that the event must end at least 30 minutes before the closing of the library. There may be premises-specific rules concerning the terms of use of the premises, which is why we kindly ask you to check the terms of use of the premises you booked on the Timmi system's description of premises.
If the event organizer needs a dressing room or social facilities, the library will answer questions about them.
Marketing of the event
The organizer of the event always bears the main responsibility for marketing the event.
The library informs about the events on its own and the City of Vantaa's channels on a case-specific basis. The ads on show will be selected on the basis of, among other things, the time, subject, and location of the event. Upon consideration, the library may also help customers market their own events. Posters and ads will be made on the library's template.
Documents required for event notifications:
- Subject of the event, as well as a short description of the event (what will happen, who arranges the event, who is the event suitable for).
- One portrait and one landscape picture.
- No text in the pictures
- Picture size 1200x800 pixels, aspect ratio 3:2
- You must deliver all material at least one month before the event.
If the event requires advance enrollment, you must clearly inform about the fact. The event organizer is responsible for arranging the advance enrollment.
On the day of the event
Arrive on the spot well in advance, so that you can prepare. In addition, inform the library of potential cancelations and changes well in advance.
Taking photos and shooting videos of the events is allowed in accordance with rules and regulations set for public premises. Make sure that the customers potentially seen in the photos have given their photo permits according to the library’s practice.
You must have appropriate permits for the video and audio material presented during the event. Moreover, take age-limit restrictions set for public premises into account.
The event organizer must supervise that—during the event—the booked premises are used for the purpose announced in advance.
The event organizer is obliged to inform the library personnel about disturbing behavior or vandalism on the event premises.
The event organizer is responsible for the cleanness of the premises, as well as for putting the furnishings into their original order after termination of the event.
The person that booked the premises is liable to compensate for damage caused by users to the real property or movables. Any damage must be immediately reported to the library personnel.
Loanable items
In addition to books, magazines, music and movies, you can also borrow board games, console games and other items from the library.
Did you know that you can also borrow items such as a bat detector, ukulele, blood pressure monitor or touring skates from our libraries? Ask our employees for more information about borrowing items.
Not everything needs to be owned
The library’s entire operating principle—that is, borrowing—supports the smart use of resources and saves natural resources.
The Library Act, which came into force at the start of 2017, defines the task of a library as the promotion of culture, hobby activities, wellbeing, media literacy and self-development, among others.
Cost of materials as justification for procurement of items: Many customers try items out, get inspired and perhaps even purchase their own. Others borrow items over and over again, as they cannot afford to buy their own.
Principles and practices of borrowing items
You can also borrow items and devices that you do not need every day from the library. You can borrow drills, tennis rackets, ice skates, textile cleaners, headphones or instruments, for example.
A person living in an urban environment needs to use an estimated 20,000–30,000 items in their lifetime. Avoid a flood of unnecessary items and borrow as many everyday tools and items from the library as possible. The Helmet library offers a broad selection of items for borrowing. You can find each item in the Helmet online library. The selection varies from one library to another.
The items must be returned to the same library from which they were borrowed and to whose collection they belong. Items cannot be reserved.
Libraries' reservable premises and devices
Vantaa City Library offers premises for various work needs and activities. The premises can be reserved online in the Timmi 360 service. Work and conference facilities are available, equipped to enable smooth remote work, studying, meetings, video conferencing, graphic design work, event organization, before- and after-school activities, guidance sessions, creative activities, spontaneous encounters, and much more!
In addition, Mosaiikki library’s workshop Värkkäämö and Lumo library’s workshop Paja offer their customers the opportunity to try out different devices with which they can bring their own creations to life.
You can use the premises and devices of Vantaa City Library for free, but you do need a valid library card. You can search for the libraries’ reservable premises and devices in the Timmi 360 service using the name of the library or premises. The library’s customer service will help you make a reservation, when required.
The age limits and usage times of the reservable premises and devices vary. Further details about the premises and their terms of use are provided in the library-specific information below. Please also read the City Library’s general rules for using the premises before making a reservation.
General rules for the use of library premises and devices
- Premises can be reserved online in the Timmi 360 service, by calling the library or through the library’s customer service.
- The customer reserves the premises for their own use, and will be responsible for the space during the reservation. The person that booked the premises is liable to compensate for damage caused by users to the real property or movables. Any damages must be immediately reported to the library personnel.
- If a customer does not show up within 15 minutes of the beginning of the reservation, or if the reservation was made against the library’s rules, the premises can be reserved by other customers.
- If the person who made the reservation does not need the premises, the reservation must be canceled through the Timmi booking service or by calling the library for which the reservation was made.
- You must leave the premises by the end of the reserved time. Any preparations and final cleaning should be included in the reserved time. The space must be left in the same condition as it was at the start of the reservation.
- The use of the premises is free of charge, excluding activities in the basic charge category, which are commercial and business activities, private celebrations and religious activities (committee decision, Leisure Committee, August 17, 2021, § 15). Further information about premises fees is available from the price list menu at the end of the page.
- Events organized in reservable premises must not disturb the library’s other activities, customers or users.
- The contents or nature of events organized in reservable premises must not conflict with Finnish legislation or good manners.
- We apply safer space principles to library premises: treat others with respect and be kind.
- If necessary and at its own discretion, the library has the right to revoke a customer’s access to reservable premises or to suspend an event organized in reservable premises if it becomes apparent that the above-mentioned rules are being or have been broken.
- If you repeatedly neglect the rules, you may be banned from reservable library premises for one (1) month.
Hakunila
Lumo
Länsimäki
Mosaiikki
Point
Tikkurila
Price list
Services for daycare centers
Vantaa City Library’s services for daycare centers
We want to enrich children’s imagination and support their linguistic development.
We welcome your wishes regarding cooperation between libraries and early childhood education. Contacts: special librarian Marjut Lahtela, email: marjut.lahtela@vantaa.fi.
Fairytale sessions for 3-5-year-olds
The fairytale sessions are activity-based and attended by only you and your group. We arrange fairytale sessions on the spot in the library, as well as by remote access.
Subject packages
Heroes, bugs, space, emotional skills and friendship, or something completely different? We will put together subject packages focused on the themes of your wishes. It will take from a few days to a couple of weeks to put the package together, so please place your order well in advance.
Emotional and buddy skills box
You can borrow the emotional and buddy skills box to organize fairytale sessions. The box consists of ten (10) books suitable for the theme in question, as well as a folder of instructions. In the instructions, you will find a model template for each of the books included in the box, as well as plenty of tips on and ideas for tasks that are useful when handling the books with the children.
You can order the box for your group on the Aineistopaketit-lomake (“Material packages form”).
Fairytale diploma
The Satudiplomi (“Fairytale diploma”) is targeted at under-school-age children, early childhood education employees, and families. Completing the diploma entails fun and doing things together where children learn, and reading is included as part of everyday life. You can also use the lists of books as reading tips when you are looking for something to read in the daycare center. The works are targeted at children aged 0 - 6, and they have been arranged on the basis of subject matter.
You can enter the books read on the Lukulokki (“Reading Seagull”) template. When you have finished Lukulokki together, the library will give the children a group diploma, as well as a crown for Lukulokki.
Library card
You can acquire a library card for your daycare center group. The card can be made when you visit the library. Remember to take your identity card with you.
A library employee's visit to the daycare center
We are happy to tell the employees of your daycare center about library services, as well as generate ideas together with you. The visit may also include booktalk, that is, tips on good material to read. We recommend that you send the visit request by email, for example, to your local library.
Services for schools
Vantaa City Library’s services for schools
The purpose of visits to the library is to familiarize students with the library, to encourage them to read, and to develop their multiliteracies. During basic education, the students are offered a possibility of a guided library visit in the third and the seventh grade. In addition, first-graders are invited to a library visit where they are given the book of the current first-grader’s campaign, as well as a form for applying for a library card. Come and dive into the world of stories!
We welcome your wishes regarding cooperation between libraries and schools. Contacts: special librarian Pauliina Eriksson, email: pauliina.eriksson@vantaa.fi.
First-grader's campaign and library visit for first-graders
Every year, Helmet libraries donate one easy-to-read children’s book to all one-graders in the metropolitan area who begin their school attendance. Vantaa’s libraries invite all first grades to pay a visit to a library. During the library visit for first-graders, the students will familiarize themselves with the library—primarily under their teacher’s supervision—and they will each get the first-grader’s campaign book as well as a library-card form. The students can come and pick up their own library card with their guardian after the library visit. When fetching the library card, remember to bring with you a filled-out library-card form and the child’s KELA card. Welcome to visit the library!
Tips on material for 3rd- and 7th-graders
Booktalking means encouraging people to read, as well as and telling stories, instructed by a booktalker. Booktalking supports students’ reading hobby, offers choices of different kinds of material and types of literature. In addition, it increases understanding of the importance of reading skills and reading. At the end of the hour, the students can borrow and reserve books of their choice. Booktalking may be connected with performing the reading diploma, in which case, the students familiarize themselves with the material included in the reading diploma. Local libraries will contact the schools to make booktalking appointments.
Subject packages
You can use the subject-package form to reserve, for instance, desk books, reading-circle books, or books selected by the library staff that are suitable for the grade in question, taken, for example, from the Helmet reading diploma. It will take from a few days to a couple of weeks for us to prepare the package for you. We will inform you by email when the package is ready and can be fetched from the library.
Celia registrations
A student may be registered as a customer of Celia, a national library for accessible literature and publishing in Finland. The registration can be made at our library by the guardian, or, it can also be made at school.
Read more: www.celia.fi
Helmet reading diploma
The reading diploma motivates students to read on a regular basis. Moreover, it acts as a handy tip bank for teachers when they are choosing books suitable for each grade. Familiarize yourself with the reading diploma: www.lukudiplomi.fi
Independent library visits for classes
Classes are always welcome to come and independently utilize the library. Nevertheless, if you want to make sure that the material you require is available during your visit, please contact your local library in good time before your visit.
Library card
We recommend that you acquire your library card, at the latest, at the beginning of the first grade. We hope that students come and pick up their library card together with their guardians, but if you want to take care of the matter in connection with your library visit, please contact your local library well in advance. A class may also be given a joint library card with which borrowing, for example, desk books, will be handy.