Meetingpoint@lasipalatsi at your service

A versatile meeting point

A versatile meetingpoint is a public service point that provides you with guidance and advice regarding computer problems, electronic services and job hunting.

The Meetingpoint also hosts an open, well-equipped Urban Office where you can sit down and work when you are in temporary need of working facilities.

All services are free-of-charge. The Meetingpoint is administered by Helsinki City Library and the activities are funded by the Helsinki Innovation Fund.

Meetingpoint@lasipalatsi does not offer regular library services, like lending and returning items, and it isn’t possible to pay library fees there. The closest libraries offering these services are Rikhardinkatu Library and Library 10

Solutions for all kinds of IT-problems

Fix your laptop with the help of an expert.

For example, our laptop mechanic can help you with any software or hardware problems your laptop may suffer from. The Guidance service is personal. Call us, book an appointment and bring your laptop with you.

Join the Laptop Club

The purpose of the Laptop Club is to help you to take the most out of your computer – just bring your own portable computer with you to the club. The club meets on Thursdays and 15 clubbers are welcome at on go. There is a new interesting theme ever week.

Start-up hour gets you in terms with the computer

If you are looking for personal help for using computer, Start-up hour is exactly what you need. Start-up hour is a one-time guidance service where computer instructions are tailored to need your personal needs.

Borrow a video camera or reserve a time to Media-assistant

Want to learn video and digital photo processing, storage, and distribution?
Meeting Point has a new service, where customers can book a personal time for media assistant.

Easy to use VHS-DVD-devices

Digitize your old VHS-cassettes easily to DVD-format.

Enter association provides peer support for seniors

Tutors from the Enter association, an ICT association for seniors, provide you with personal guidance on using the computer as well as on the basic use of the Internet and e-mail.

Urban Office – Working facilities in Helsinki City centre

You can find modern working facilities from the Urban Office located in the Meetingpoint lobby. Simply select the facilities you want and work without distractions – you can even participate in video conferences from the office. You can also make phone calls in private without disturbing others.

www.urbanoffice.fi

Help with job hunting – a counsellor at your service

The Lasipalatsi Job Search Centre allows you to use computers and print documents. An on-call job counsellor is also available. Services include recruitment and information events.

www.mol.fi/toimistot/helsinki/kamppi/

Helsinki Recruitment also organises information sessions and recruitment events.

www.helsinkirekry.fi

Book media workstations and other equipment online

You can book media workstations equipped with image editing and desktop publishing software or a special workstation for video editing. Using a VHS-to-DVD device, you can transform old VHS cassette content to DVD format. There are three easy-to-use devices available, along with any guidance you may need.

You can book the required equipment conveniently online from the Asta reservations system https://varaus.lib.hel.fi/

Entrepreneur Services

Business and communities can utilise the Meetingpoint for presenting and testing their services and products on different customer groups. This is a great chance to get direct feedback for real service users. Get in touch!

In cooperation with EnterpriseHelsinki, the Meetingpoint organises various sessions for entrepreneurs, including theme lectures for the creative domains and information sessions for setting up a business.

And next – Labrary

The Labrary service in a nut shell:

• A company, innovator or inventor (later as innovator) contacts the Labrary project with a request to be a part of the project.
• The library branch involved selects which services/inventions to display in their space.
• The innovator supplies the Labrary project with everything needed for the customers of the library to familiarize with their service/invention free of charge. The innovator takes full responsibility for their service/invention and any material displayed in the Labrary-space.
• Patrons can try out these services/inventions in the library space, but also have the possibility to give constructive feedback of the service/invention in question. This feedback is gathered in a way intuitive to the customer and is delivered straight to the innovator. This way the patrons of the library can affect the development of new services/inventions directly and the innovators gain valuable feedback which helps them develop their business towards a more equitable market.

The criteria for a service/invention to be eligible for the Labrary project are as follows:

• It must be important to society.
• It helps the daily lives of its users by making society more effective.
• It saves environment and increases the quality of life.

The Labrary pilot started in the fall of 2011 focusing on assessing the need for this kind of activity and finding out how well the service fits into the library services –palette. Right away we began to expand the pilot by seeking funding for a state-wide project, because the initial results of the pilot were very successful. We involved three companies with innovations that fit very well with our criteria, but hadn’t had much success in the market. During the pilot we held events where we invited our patrons to come and familiarize themselves with the services/inventions of the companies involved. Our feedback system was unrefined and simple, but provided us with many lessons on how this project can go forward.

In 2012 we hope to gain funding for the Labrary project and together with outside service designer help create a fascinating and engaging service that gives the patrons the possibility to directly influence future services and products to better suit their needs. We hope the Labrary project will also have a direct positive impact to the economy of the region.