Helsinki City Library’s services for schools

A guided initial visit to a school’s local library for 1st graders. The classes are invited to visit the library during their first school year. In connection with the visit, the pupils will also be given the book gift of the Helmet libraries’ campaign for first graders.

A book tip event, where the library staff will introduce the pupils to a number of interesting titles. The classes will be invited for a library visit at their local library during their third grade.  

Libraries also offer other, guided group visits for school groups as allowed by their resources. The local libraries of schools communicate about their services through the schools’ culture coordinators, as well as directly with the teachers through email. Information about the services can also be found through the Kultus event search at Kultus.fi(Link leads to external service).

Libraries put together book bags on different themes for schools based on their requests. Libraries also offer help in matters such as selecting suitable books for book clubs and practical arrangements of larger book reservations. Book bag order form for schools(Link leads to external service) (in Finnish).

Please note that the book bags for schools and daycare centres cannot be picked up from Oodi. You cannot order book packages for pickup at a mobile library using the order form. Book package orders to be picked up from the mobile library must be made via email: kirjastoautot@hel.fi(Link opens default mail program).

The Helmet Reading Diploma(Link leads to external service) aims to encourage children and teenagers to read and enjoy good books. The book lists for the diploma are updated every year, and different lists are available depending on the reader’s age, skill level and interests.

The Junior Activist Diploma(Link leads to external service) encourages children and young people, families, and school classes to take action for the environment. The diploma offers inspiration for different ways of taking action and making an impact – let’s be brave together!  

The Little Helmet Reading Challenge(Link leads to external service) is a fun way of getting excited about reading and discovering new books. This playful challenge has 25 different assignments that offer participants a comprehensive view of the world of literature. The challenge can be taken together as a class, or it can be offered to individual pupils as encouragement to read more. 

The Celia audiobook service (Link leads to external service)(in Finnish) serves the readers who struggle to read printed books for one reason or another. A Celia account gives the pupils access to a wide selection of audiobooks and e-books(Link leads to external service). The pupils are usually registered as Celia customers through the schools’ special education teachers, but registering as a customer is also possible at almost any Helsinki library. The libraries registering Celia customers can be found on the Helmet web library, under the section Libraries and opening hours(Link leads to external service) (choose ‘Registering as a Celia online customer’ in the ‘Search for a service’ menu).  

Helmet libraries work together with Celia. The book of the campaign for first graders can also be found as a Celia audiobook, and Celia books are also included in the Helmet Reading Diploma.

School groups are very welcome to visit Central Library Oodi. Oodi offers groups both guided sessions and materials to support unguided visits. More information about the services is available on Oodi’s website(Link leads to external service).

During the school year, a mobile library regularly visits the schools that have a long or difficult trip to the nearest library. The schedules are usually drawn up for one year at a time. The contact details for mobile libraries are available at Helmet web library(Link leads to external service).

Library card for a school class: You can get a shared library card for a group. The card can be issued when visiting the library. The ID of the person assigned as the card’s contact person is needed for making the card. The contact person ensures that the library card is used appropriately and that the loans are renewed and returned on time. The card will remain valid for a year. The loans on the group card will not be sent to debt collection, and the contact person is not personally liable for the material checked out with this library card.    

A pupil’s library card during a school visit: A pupil can get a library card during a class visit by presenting a library card application(Link leads to external service) (PDF, non-accessible) filled in by their guardian. When done during a class visit, the pupil does not need to present ID. If you are hoping to have library cards made for several pupils during a class visit, please contact the library in advance. This prevents the library’s customer services from getting too busy and ensures that the process will go smoothly.

A pupil’s library card during their free time: Pupils can also get library cards by visiting the library with their guardian or by bringing in the library card application filled in by their guardian. If the card is given to the pupil outside their school hours, they will need to present a Kela card or another ID. Students between the ages 15 and 17 do not need a form or their guardian’s permission for getting a library card.