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Using the library

Library card

You will need your library card whenever you wish to borrow items from the library. The same library card is valid in every Heili library. You can obtain a personal library card and a PIN code at library by presenting a valid photo ID and by complying with the Rules of Use. The first library card is free of charge. Any library cards issued subsequently are subject to a charge.

A person under the age of 15 will need a guardian’s written approval to obtain a library card.

Card holders are responsible for material borrowed on their library card. The guardian is responsible for material borrowed by a person under the age of 15.

If you lose your library card, please notify us immediately.

Keep your contact information up to date

Please let us know right away if your phone number or email address changes, or update your contact details online in your web library Profile (login via My Account).

  • Your new address will not be updated automatically. Instead, you need to fill in an online form which is automatically forwarded to the library staff who will update your contact details.
  • If you wish to change the name on your library card, you will need to visit the library in person and present a valid photo ID.

PIN code

The PIN code is a password containing four numbers and can be obtained at a Heili library by presenting your library card and a valid photo ID. You will need your PIN code in several situations, e.g. when you:

  • log in to the web library
  • check out items with a lending machine
  • log in to computers in the library

If you forget your PIN code you can obtain a new one at the library service desk by presenting your library card and a valid photo ID. Due to security reasons, PIN codes are not granted by e-mail or over the phone.

Using the web library

The web library can be used without logging in. However, many services, such as renewing your loans and administering your profile, require that you log in with your library card number and PIN code. After your first login, an account will be automatically created in the web library. After this you will automatically be able to use the services requiring user login.

Library cards

You can attach several library cards to your user account and administer them all with a single login. In order to make use of this feature you will need, in addition to the numbers of the library cards, the PIN codes for all the cards you wish to attach. You can also give individual names to all attached library cards.

Logging out

When you wish to log out of the web library, first click on your name on the top bar, then click Log out.

Loans and renewals

You can see the due dates of your loans on the loan receipt or online on the Loans tab. Return or renew your loans by the due date. There are overdue charges for items returned or renewed after the due date.

Some libraries have drop boxes for returns. Returning material through a drop box is at your own risk. The material deposited in the drop box is registered as returned on the next opening day of the library.

You can renew your loans via the Loans tab in the web library. Select the items you wish to renew, then press “Renew selected items”. You can renew your loans five times unless there are reservations on them. You can also renew your loans by phoning your library. You will find library contact information in Libraries.

Library notifications help you remember

  • Notifications of due dates are always sent by e-mail. The notification is sent 3 days before the due date.
  • Overdue notifications are sent either by e-mail or by mail. The so-called second notification is always sent by mail.
  • You can see your selected settings in your Profile.
  • If you wish to change your settings, fill in the form "Notification Settings Change Request" in your Profile. The information will be forwarded to the library staff who will make the changes.

How to make a reservation

It is convenient to make reservations and administer them via the web library. The first step is to make a search. You can reserve an item either directly on the search result list or by clicking the title and going to the item page. Press "Make a reservation" and select your pick-up library. It is possible to set a default pick-up library, but you can also ignore this option and select your pick-up library every time you make a reservation.

If you were not logged in, you will get a request to do so at this point.

You can cancel your reservation in the web library if it has not yet been processed and the item is not yet available for collection. No fee is collected for a reservation cancelled in time. If your reservation has already been processed and you wish to cancel it, you can do so by contacting the pick-up library.

Pick-up notice for reserved item

  • You will receive a pick-up notice when an item you have reserved is available for collection at the library.
  • The pick-up notice is sent as an e-mail, as an sms or by mail depending on your account settings. You can see your settings in your Profile.
  • You can change your pick-up notice settings in your Profile by filling in the form "Notification Settings Change Request". The information is forwarded to the library staff that will make the changes in your account.
  • Please note that pick-up notices sent by mail may in some cases arrive very close to the last pick-up date.

If you do not wish to make the reservation by using the web library, you can also phone the library customer service.

Fees

Library fees can also be paid through the online library. Payments cannot be selected individually, all must be paid simultaneously. The minimum amount you can pay online is 0.65 euros. For online payments, the customer's information must include an email address. Fees on overdue loans will not appear in payments until they are returned or renewed.

Popular new items

The Quick Loans collection contains mainly popular new items. The purpose of the Quick Loans is to make sure that new items are available for patrons even without reservation. Materials bearing a Quick Loans label have a shorter loan period (14 days) than other materials. They cannot be renewed or reserved. Quick Loan materials may be available in a library even if there are several reservations on the title in question.

Alert schedule

The web library saves all your searches even if you are not logged in. You can delete this saved information by clearing the cache or closing your browser.

You can also save your searches permanently by making an alert schedule on the “Saved searches” tab: select a search and, from the dropdown menu, set the alert interval at once a day or once a week. The notifications will be sent to the e-mail address you have provided in association with the alert schedule in your Profile.

Favourites

You can create one or several lists of favourites in your account. Items can be added to the list by clicking the pin-shaped button either on a search result list or on an item page. To add a new list, go to Favourites in your account. You can also give your list an individual address that you can share with your friends, e.g. via social media.

Interlibrary Loans

If you require an item not in stock in any of your own libraries, it can be requested from other libraries through interlibrary lending. We will send you a notification when it becomes available.

Interlibrary loan requests can be made at all the libraries.

Please check the cost of interlibrary loans at your own library.

Delivery times may vary
The usual waiting time for an interlibrary loan to arrive is about two weeks, but the delivery time may be longer if, for example, the supplying library has reservations for the same item. When the requested item is available for pick-up, you will be notified by phone, e-mail or post.

Interlibrary loans follow the general terms of use for the supplying libraries' loans and loan times
All materials are not necessarily loaned to other libraries, and sometimes the loans can only be made for reference library use.

Interlibrary loans are returned through the requesting library
The date by which the item must be returned (the due date) is shown on the loan slip accompanying the item. Interlibrary loan renewals are also made through the requesting library.

Acquisition proposal

Before making an acquisition proposal, please check the library catalogue and ensure that the item is not in stock. The reservation is possible only if the material is purchased to the library.

Reserving a computer

You can book a computer with eBooking in the following libraries: Lappeenranta and Imatra. Log in with your library card number and PIN code.

Book a computer (Lappeenranta)
Book a computer (Imatra)

Rules of Use of the libraries

Upon receiving a library card, you agree to comply with the Rules of Use of the Heili libraries.

Letter of authorization

You can handle library matters on behalf of another person with a letter of authorization. When conducting library business on behalf of someone else, you must present the library card of the respective individual along with the letter of authorization. Be prepared to verify your identity as well. The letter of authorization is valid for a single use and should include the date and the specific purpose for which it was created.

If you are collecting reservations on behalf of someone else, instead of using a letter of authorization, you can opt for a forwarded or handed-over pickup notice.

You can download a template for the letter of authorization in PDF format here.

You can also request forms from your library's customer service. The letter of authorization can also be created informally if printing the form is problematic. For more information on using a letter of authorization, please contact your library's customer service.