Helsinki
- National Library (Unioninkatu 36, Helsinki)
- Finnish Heritage Agency’s Collections and Conservation Centre (Kanervikkotie 4, Vantaa)
Effects of the renovation of Rauhankatu on services
- The reading room services in Helsinki will be completely closed from 28 February to 3 May 2026.
- Reading room services will open in the temporary facilities in May.
- 4 May At the National Library (Unioninkatu 36, Helsinki) and
- 5 May at the Finnish Heritage Agency’s Collections and Conservation Centre (Kanervikkotie 4, Vantaa).
- Temporary facilities are closed
- on public holidays
- 15 May
- The temporary facilities at the National Library are closed on 20 May.
- Vantaa premises are closed in July (the National Library is open).
- Read more on our How to visit temporary facilities page.
Contact details
Contact the National Archives’ shared service number +358 29 533 7490 for matters related to visiting a reading room (Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.). We will offer service in Swedish from Tuesday to Friday from noon to 2 p.m. at +358 29 533 7491.
It is recommended that you order the documents you want in advance on our Astia online service so that they are ready when you arrive in the reading room. The orders are not accepted by phone.
Please also keep in mind that the chat service on our website is open from Monday to Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m. In particular, we answer quick questions related to the online services and digital materials.
- Outer clothes, umbrellas and bags must be left in the cloakroom on the ground floor, free of charge. A laptop can be taken to the library.
- Neither drinks nor other snacks are allowed into the National Library. They must be left at the cloakroom.
- You can get a basket from the cloakroom for carrying your belongings to the library. Baskets are also available at information service points.
- You may not leave your items in the cloakroom overnight.
A national library card and a PIN code are required to use the reading room. When entering the reading room, the national library card is shown to the card reader at the security gate and a four-digit PIN code is entered into the reader. If you do not remember your PIN code, you can renew it in the library database or at Rotunda’s information service point. When you leave the reading room, the official will open the gate.
Any basket, bag, computer case and accompanying books are left in the lockers and basket places in the front room of the Slavonic Library. The attendant may give permission to bring a book necessary for the study to the reading room from elsewhere.
You may bring note taking accessories (pencil only), a computer and other small electronic devices (phone, iPad, camera, etc.) into the reading room. It is forbidden to bring a scanner into the reading room.
The National Archives' attendant receives the National Archives' customers. On arrival, write your name in the guestbook. After that, the attendant will direct the customer to the table according to the booking. The material is ready and waiting on the table, or the attendant brings it to the table when the customer arrives.
The phone must be kept on silent in the special reading room and answering it is not allowed in the special reading room or its vicinity to ensure a quiet working environment.
- Leave your outer clothes in the cloakroom and proceed to Pohjoissali, which is to the right of the main lobby.
- There is no National Archives attendant present, but the visit takes place as a self-service.
The accessible entrance to the National Library is via the inner courtyard-side entrance at Yliopistokatu 1. The inner courtyard also has disabled parking.
From the inner courtyard entrance you will get to the foyer with toilets and storage lockers. The foyer is connected with Rotunda in the first floor of the main building with a lift.
The use of the lift requires that a doorman is present, which means that at the end of the visit you return to the customer service point in Rotunda from which a doorman is summoned to assist in moving back to the exit in Yliopistokatu 1.
Lifts to other floors are located along the sides of Rotunda. Pohjoissali is located on the first floor and is accessed from Rotunda through the Cupola Hall. Pohjoissali has electronic doors that open with a push of a button. Upon request, the doormen will help you with settling by the tables in the reading room by, for example, moving chairs aside.
Read more about accessibility on the National Library's website (in finnish).
- Upon your arrival, the customer service representative will open the front door by the start of your booked time.
- You will have shoe covers to put over your outdoor shoes or you can replace them with your own clean indoor shoes. Leave your outer clothes on the coat rack and place your bags in the lockers.
- Please note that customer service closes at 4 pm. Pack up your belongings in the reading room and move to the lobby by 3.45 pm.
PLEASE NOTE: The centre’s postal address, Kanervikkotie 4, may direct the navigator and Google Maps to the wrong place. Look for ‘Collections and Conservation Centre’ on the navigator and map. Public transport schedules: www.hsl.fi. Set your destination as Kanervikkotie 4, Vantaa.
- The main entrance to the Collections and Conservation Centre is located next to the parking area.
- The property does not have a cafeteria.
- You can bring your own snacks and take them to the break room refrigerator or lobby locker.
- The break room has a microwave for heating food, a water tap and kitchen utensils.
- Food and drink may not be taken to other facilities.