UNESCO, Public Library Manifesto 1994

Welcome to library! Public libraries are open to everyone and you can use their services free of charge. There is a public library in every Finnish municipality where you can read books and magazines. You can also burrow such library items as books, cd-discs and videos. Libraries have items in both domestic and foreign languages.

Reading is fun!

Library offers information and recreation for adults and children. You can find information about Finnish society as well as about your own country and culture. It is important to maintain your mother tongue and reading helps you to do that. You can find books in your mother tongue from the library. By reading aloud to your children you will help also them to maintain their mother tongue.

Depending on its size and location, libraries' collections include the following materials in domestic and foreign languages: fiction and non-fiction, poetry, picture books, newspapers and periodicals
language courses, recorded music and videos, materials in electronic format, brochures, study manuals, information booklets. Most libraries have computers, which customers can use when searching the Internet, sending e-mail or using different databases.

Citizen's library

Libraries are very popular in Finland. Libraries are owned by the municipalities and are tax-paid. Government supports municipal libraries with annual grants. In addition to public libraries there are also many research libraries in Finland. Research libraries serve first and foremost students and researchers but also other people can use their services.

In Finland library principles support and encourage free and independent thinking, equality and the exposition of different ideas. Therefore library collections include books and other materials on different political views, religions and beliefs.

How to use libraries

Library has a set of library rules, which can be obtained from each library. These rules outline the basic operating principles. Read the rules carefully.

Library has competent staff trained in the field. The staff willingly helps customers in all manner of information retrievals.

Reading in libraries

Library is open for everyone, so anyone can go there to read books or magazines, or to seek answers to their questions. However, remember that there are other people in the library. Please respect their right to read and work in peace.

Borrowing

Most of the books and other materials can be borrowed, but encyclopaedias and magazines are mostly for reference use only.
You need a library to borrow. All those living in Finland can obtain a library card by presenting an official identity card. Children need a written consent from a custodian who will act as a guarantor. Library card must be always presented when borrowing items from the library.

Library card is personal property. No one else is allowed to use it. The card owner is responsible for materials borrowed with the card. Take good care of your card! In case you loose your card, notify the library immediately.

Loan period

You have to present your library card every time you want to borrow. Loan period is usually 4 weeks, but for such items as videos and recorded music it is often less than 4 weeks, e.g. one week. Check the due date from the expiry slip. For overdue materials library charges a fee.

Libraries are common property

Library collections are open to everyone. Handle library materials with care and keep them clean. Next customer would also like to read a clean book! Return borrowed items in time so that others can borrow them. You must pay for any lost or damaged items borrowed with your card.

Special services

Central Multilingual Library Services

Library has books and other materials in domestic and foreign languages. However, materials available in each library's collections vary according to the size and the language situation in a given community. The biggest libraries have the most comprehensive collections.

In case your own library has only a few or no books in your native language, please ask help from the personnel. They will try to obtain requested materials either from bigger libraries or from the Central Multilingual Library Service.

Central Multilingual Library Service is a part of the Helsinki City Library and is financed by the Government. The Multicultural Library acquires books, recorded music and videos, which can be sent to other libraries in order to support their own collections. Items from the Helsinki City Library's own foreign language collection can also be borrowed through other libraries as interlibrary loans.

Helsinki City Library's collection, including the foreign language collection, is included in the Helmet-catalogue, which can be browsed through the Internet. The address is:
http://www.helmet.fi

Multicultural Library (MCL)

Multicultural Library (MCL) is a net-service tailored for foreigners. It provides information, for example, about your own country, daily newspapers in different languages, Finland or libraries. You can browse MCL-pages in libraries which have the Internet access. The Internet address is:
http://www.lib.hel.fi/mcl/