Kategoria: In English

Service Outage in Helle-Finna on 4 November

Due to maintenance work, Helle-Finna will be out of service on Wednesday 4 November from 9.00 am to 12.00 pm. During the outage, it will not be possible to use Helle-Finna’s online services. PressReader and Medici.tv Edu are also out of service during the outage. The work is expected to be completed by 12.00.

We apologise for any inconvenience this outage may cause and thank you for your patience and understanding.

What’s new? New Version of the Helle-Finna Online Library

New content has been added to the new version of the Helle-Finna online library.

  1. The PLC classification system (the Public Libraries Classification System used for subject cataloguing) has been added to the online library as a browsable list.
    Through the links in the list, you can explore the contents of different classes. The links open search results for materials available in Helle Libraries.
  2. A search terms list has been added to the online library. It contains the subjects and genres used by Helle Libraries, which you can use when searching for materials.
    Please note that the lists include subject headings in Finnish, Swedish, and English. The Genre tab is arranged by content, from the largest number of results to the smallest.
  3. On the Literature for Adults page, you can find new arrivals and most reserved titles in both fiction and non-fiction, as well as selections from the library’s collections.
    Printed magazines are also highlighted, as they can be reserved through the online library.
  4. The Literature for Children and Youth page features staff recommendations, new arrivals, and selections from the library’s collections.
  5. Multilingual Content is a new content page that brings together information about library services for immigrants in their native languages, as well as information about the Multilingual Library and its services.
    The page also includes multilingual new arrivals and information about language learning materials and Easy Readers available from the library.
  6. On the Music and Films page, you can browse new arrivals and staff recommendations.
    A list of loanable musical instruments has also been added, allowing you to see which Helle Library offers each instrument for borrowing.
    The page also introduces Medici.tv Edu, a streaming service specializing in classical music, ballet, and opera, as well as Cineast, the new film streaming service available through Helle Libraries.
  7. On the Games and Sports Equipment page, you can explore new games, browse both console and board game collections, and learn about game education and media literacy. Dedicated links have also been created for console games by platform.
    Information about loanable sports equipment can be found at the bottom of the page.

E-library: You can now listen to audiobooks via the web interface

You can now also listen to audiobooks in Swedish and Finnish via the E-library’s web interface. In future, you will also be able to read and listen to e-books and audiobooks in foreign languages via the web interface.

The web interface can be used on either a computer or a mobile device.

A continuous internet connection is required to read e-books and magazines and listen to audiobooks in your web browser.

You can download e-books and audiobooks onto your computer using the free Thorium Reader programme: https://www.kansalliskirjasto.fi/fi/e-kirjasto/e-kirjasto-sovelluksen-kayttoohje#912 (instructions in Finnish).

Helle Finna getting a makeover

The Helle Finna online library will be renewed on Tuesday, 29 September 2026. The changes will affect both the appearance and the content.

The texts in the search bar are more accessible, and the colours and font are clearer. The headings have been reorganised. The content pages present the materials in a more versatile way than before.

Koha-Suomi reports on denial-of-service attack

The Helle Libraries’ library system was targeted by a denial-of-service attack last week. The library system provider Koha-Suomi states the following about the attack:

Starting at 2:20 p.m. on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, our systems were subjected to a large-scale denial-of-service attack. The attack originated from several different countries and began as a UDP flood attack, which later evolved into a UDP reflection attack. The reflection attack was directed at a specific country. We were therefore not the ultimate target of the attack, but rather a party used as an intermediary.

Based on the current situational assessment, and taking into account the scale and target of the attack, we believe that a state actor may be behind it. A more detailed investigation into the incident is still ongoing.

At this stage, the follow-up measures related to the attack do not require any action from libraries or customers.

How to freeze your holds

If the material that you have placed a hold on hasn’t arrived yet or isn’t in transit, you can freeze it. This can be helpful if you are going on a holiday or are otherwise out of town.

You can choose a day until the hold is frozen, or you can freeze the hold and then later release it, so that the hold is active again. Remember that you cannot freeze a hold if you have already received a pick-up notification of it.

You can freeze your holds on Holds and Recalls page under Your Account.