Metropolitan area public libraries, that is, Espoo, Helsinki, Kauniainen and Vantaa form HelMet library.
HelMet library is a part of the Finnish library network and serves customers in other parts of Finland and supplies customers with materials that are not available in their local libraries. As a central public library, Helsinki City Library has nationwide obligations and responsibilities such as the Multilingual Library. Espoo library is a regional library and thus has regional responsibilities.
Collection
HelMet library offers the cultural heritage of the Finnish literature and a selection of world literary culture. Music and audiovisual items are offered as comprehensively as possible. The versatility of the collection in terms of time span and the depth is maintained by a carefully selected storage collection.
Library is not an archive, nor is it a bookshop. Selection, inventory, storing and elimination of no longer useful or valid library items guarantee that the collections are up-to-date but also the availability of older materials is thus guaranteed. Library collections also contain materials no longer available on the market. Customers have a chance to experience something they were not looking for.
Library collection is not static but keeps changing since its content, condition and circulation are constantly monitored and assessed. Items are written off from the collection due to their low demand, obsolete content and poor condition. Written off printed items are either sold, donated or recycled.
Printed items of low demand are stored regionally in the Pasila library and the music items in Tikkurila library. These items can be reserved via the online HelMet database to be send to a chosen HelMet library.
In future, more and more of the HelMet library items will be transferred into the net. Online materials and for example different databases of interest to customers will be purchased.
Marketing the collection
Customer oriented services and item exhibitions concerning the content are provided on library premises. HelMet library enhances reading habit and exhibits purchased materials by designing attractive library premises. Reading tips, fairy tale hours and other means of introducing library items are organised for schools and day-care centres. Libraries also organise happenings for the customers in which contents are interactively opened and discussed, for example, reading groups, game nights and workshops.
Availability
Materials of the HelMet library service points are available for all the metropolitan area customers. Library catalogue is available on www.helmet.fi and library items can be reserved and renewed here. Items can be reserved in HelMet library regardless of where the required item is located.
HelMet library purchases new items in sufficient quantities so as to enable customers to get hold of even the most sought after materials within five months of their reservation.
For this reason, some games and movies are left out of the collections so as to assure that the sufficient number of chosen materials can be purchased. Sometimes the availability is limited due to copyright restrictions. For some movies and games library rights cannot be secured.
The most sought after new books are available in bestseller collections. Bestseller items cannot be reserved.
Selection principle
Library makes sure that new ideas and experiences are available to customers. Library’s openness toward different ideas ensures the possibility to acquaint oneself with cultural currents shaping our world as well as with current affairs. Gender equality, the needs of different age and language groups are taken into account when selecting new library materials.
HelMet library is prepared to respond to the increase in the number of different languages spoken in the metropolitan area in future. Diversified collections are purchased in languages that are most commonly spoken and studied. Big libraries and the Multilingual library purchase materials in other languages.
Library also purchases electronic materials and licences for databases and thus customers can also use online licensed materials free of charge. In future, the amount of electronic materials will be increased.
Libraries can specialise according to local needs. Libraries have local area collections. Divers materials concerning the local community affairs are purchased into these collections.
Acquisition
HelMet –library purchases such fiction, non-fiction and children’s literature as well as other suitable library materials such as music, movies, games, language courses, audiobooks and other materials which in terms of content comply with the public library acquisition guidelines. Regarding text books and course books, Helmet –library purchases chiefly much sought after materials that are content wise of general interest.
Materials are mainly purchased for the whole HelMet –library collection.
New materials are offered to the customers soon after their publication. Printed items are thus ordered on the bases of advance information provided by the publishers. Materials are also purchased on the bases of customer requests.
Library accepts such donations that it deems useful and also items lacking from its own collections.