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Loans

Loans

To apply for a library card, visit Customer Services where you will be asked to complete and sign an application form and show proof of identity. You need the library card for loans, renewals and reserving materials as well as for placing Closed Stacks item requests. The Customer Services staff deal with loans and assist with the use of the library, its collections and services.

The loan period is 28 days.

Renewals and reservations

Use the library’s Selma database to renew and reserve books and to check the due dates for your loans. You can renew your loan unless the item has other reservations and is not overdue. Loans can be renewed up to 12 times. The renewal must be made on the due date at the very latest.

You can also reserve books that are out on loan. You need a library card to make reservations. When the item is returned to the library, you will be notified of its availability by mail or e-mail. The notification will provide the date up to which your reservation is held for you.

Closed Stacks items

Closed Stacks items may also be requested through the Selma collection database. You need a library card to place the request. Items can be collected from Closed Stacks during business hours.

Material is retrieved from the Closed Stacks in the morning on weekdays. When you request the material in the afternoon or evening, you can collect and borrow it on the next day after 12 o'clock. The requested material can be collected during the opening hours.   

Requests of larger batches of material must be arranged for separately.

We will keep the requested Closed Stacks items at Customer Services for 11 business days.

​Returns and reminders

Items on loan must be returned or loans renewed no later than the due date. We will send an e-mail reminder a few days before the loan is due. The purpose of this is to give you adequate time to renew the loan if necessary and to make sure you return your materials on time to avoid suspension from borrowing.

We will send a letter or an e-mail reminder on any overdue loans. The first reminder will be sent out one day after the due date, the second after one week and the third reminder two weeks after the due date. If borrowers fail to return materials or compensate for lost materials, they will be suspended from using the Library of Parliament. The minimum compensation for any lost materials is 60 euro. If materials are not returned or compensated for, the matter may be handed over to a collection agency to finalise.

If materials on loan are required for parliamentary work, the library may request you to return the material immediately. The customer has the right to borrow the material again when it is no longer needed for parliamentary work.

Interlibrary services for libraries

The interlibrary services provide interlibrary loans and copies from its collections to other libraries. The interlibrary loans or copies are not sent directly to individual customers.

Most of the library material can be given out freely on loan. However, some of the material may only be used at the premises of the borrowing library. The interlibrary loans from the Library of Parliament are free of charge. Copies are charged according to the defined service charges.

​Interlibrary services for MPs, parliamentary staff and researchers

The interlibrary services are also available for MPs, parliamentary staff, and law and social sciences researchers.

The interlibrary services obtain materials from other libraries on request, if the Library of Parliament does not stock the item. These interlibrary loans are free of charge. For customers outside the Parliament, copies are charged according to the defined service charges.

​Contact information

Customer service

library.service@parliament.fi  or tel. +358 40 184 3423

Interlibrary services for libraries

Interlibrary order form
Email: library.interlibrary@parliament.fi
Phone: +358 9 432 3450
Fax: +358 40 184 3495
Address: Library of Parliament, Interlibrary Loans, FI-00102 PARLIAMENT

Interlibrary services for MPs, parliamentary staff and researchers

Interlibrary service request form
Email: library.interlibrary@parliament.fi
Phone: +358 9 432 3450
Fax: +358 40 184 3495
Contact person: Eija Kajava
Address: Library of Parliament, Interlibrary Loans, FI-00102 PARLIAMENT