The Lastu library system is made up of the public libraries in the Päijät-Häme region (except for the Iitti Library). These rules and fees apply in the public libraries of Asikkala, Hartola, Heinola, Hollola, Kärkölä, Lahti, Orimattila, Padasjoki and Sysmä. Public library rules in Finland, including the loss of borrowing privileges and a ban from using a library, are based on the Finnish Library Act (1492/2016).
When you get a library card or agree to be a guarantor, you commit to follow these library rules.
- You may use the collections of all Lastu libraries.
- You may reserve material found in any Lastu library and borrow material from all
Lastu libraries, also from libraries situated outside the municipality where you live.
The material will be delivered to the library of your choice.
The Lastu libraries have a joint website at lastu.finna.fi. On the Lastu website you will find a lot of additional information, for example the opening hours. The staff in the Lastu libraries is ready to provide more information about the website and how to use it.
Some of the libraries can be visited outside normal service hours. During those hours there is no staff present to assist and serve you. When you visit these libraries during the self-service hours, you agree to follow their rules. The self-service library rules can be found at the end of this document.
Library services free of charge or with a fee
Books, magazines, music, films, games and other materials can be used, borrowed and
reserved free of charge. Guidance, instruction and other services in the library are also free.
The library charges fees if
- you return material late or damaged
- you do not pick up reserved material on time
- you do not return borrowed material on time
- the material you have borrowed is lost
There is a charge for some library services. More information about these charges can be found on the list of fees at the end of this leaflet.
The Lastu libraries have spaces that can be reserved and rented. In these spaces it is possible to study, work, meet other people or engage in recreational activities. The library spaces may also be used by different groups, societies, clubs and other organizations. The spaces have their rules of use. The rules and information about payments can be found on the library’s website at lastu.finna.fi.
The library card is ”the key” to borrowing material and using library services
If you want to use all library services, you need a library card. You can get a library card at any Lastu library. The library card is personal.
When you need a library card, go to any Lastu library. Take a photo ID with you. You can prove your identity with a passport, driving licence, Finnish Health Insurance Card with a photo or a Finnish Identity Card issued by the police. You also need to have a current address in Finland. If you do not have a Finnish social security number, the library card is valid until your residence permit expires.
Notify the library immediately of any changes in your name or contact information. You may also update your contact information yourself in your library account. You can log in to your account on the Lastu website at lastu.finna.fi.
Library cards for children under 15 and for organizations, the role of guarantors
Library cards are available to children. Children under the age of 15 can get a library card with the consent of a parent or guarantor who must be at least 18 years old. The guarantor’s identity will be checked when applying for the card. To get a card for the child, the guarantor must have a library account. The guarantor is responsible for material borrowed on the child’s card.
A day care centre, school and other institutions or organizations can get a library card with the consent of a guarantor who must be at least 18 years of age. The guarantor’s identity will be checked when applying for the card. The guarantor is responsible for material borrowed on the card of the institution or organization. Changes in the guarantor’s name or contact information must be reported to the library immediately.
The first library card is free of charge. You are responsible for the material borrowed on your card. Report the loss of the card to the library immediately. A card that has been reported lost will be blocked. After that, the card cannot be used to borrow any library material.
PIN code
PIN code
In addition to the library card, you need a PIN code in order to:
- use the self-check-out stations
- renew and reserve material and make online payments on the Lastu website
- book the public computers in some Lastu libraries
- use the self-service libraries
- use the library’s electronic materials
- use other Lastu library services where a login is required
You will get a PIN code with a new library card. If you forget the PIN code, you can ask for a new one at any Lastu library or recover it in the web library. Do not let anyone else know your PIN code.
Borrowing and renewing material
If you want to borrow library material, you need a valid library card.
You are responsible for the material borrowed on your card.
In general, the loan period is 28 days, but it may vary.
- The loan period for magazines, DVDs, board games and sports equipment is 14 days.
- The loan period is 14 days if there is a long queue of reservations.
- The loan period for books in the express collection is 7 days.
- The maximum loan period for eBooks and eAudiobooks is 14 days. EBooks and
eAudiobooks are returned automatically at the end of the loan period.
Children and teenagers borrowing films or games should take into consideration that the library must follow the age categories determined by the National Audiovisual Institute.
You may renew your items 5 consecutive times in any Lastu library or by logging in to your library account on the Lastu website. Books borrowed from the express collection may not be renewed.
You may not renew your items if
- the material has been reserved by another customer
- your borrowing privileges have been suspended
- you have already renewed the item 5 times
You may have on loan up to 100 items at any one time. However, for instance the number of console games on loan may not be more than eight at a time (four children’s and four adults-only games).
Reserving material and picking it up
You can reserve material on the Lastu website or in the libraries.
When you are reserving material, you have to log in to your account. Select the library where you would like to pick up the item. You will be notified when you can collect the item from the library. The notice will be sent by email, text message or letter. You should pick up the material within 7 days after you have been notified.
You can cancel a reserved item on the Lastu website unless the item is already on the pick-up shelf. In that case, contact the library before the last pick-up day in order to cancel the reservation.
There is a charge for a reserved item that has not been collected in 7 days. If you did not receive notification about an item ready to be picked up, and the reason for the notification not reaching you was beyond the library’s control, you still have to pay the fee. Library staff will provide additional information and guidance on how to reserve material.
End of the loan period and returning material
The loan period ends when the library closes on the due date. In the web library the loan period ends at 12 p.m. You may ask for a due date reminder to be sent to your email address. You should remember that this is an additional service, and the library cannot guarantee that you will receive the reminders. To avoid paying overdue fines, return your items on time.
You may return borrowed material to any Lastu library.
Notice that board games, sports equipment and musical instruments must be returned to the library where they were checked out.
You can also return material in the library’s book drop. You are responsible for the material returned in the book drop. The book drop will be emptied on the following opening day. Therefore, items you have returned in the book drop will not be removed from your library account until the following opening day.
Interlibrary loan service
Material that is not owned by any Lastu library can be requested from another library through the interlibrary loan system, either from Finland or other countries.
There is a fee for interlibrary loan items.
Loss of borrowing privileges and how to restore them
Your borrowing privileges will be suspended if
- the amount of unpaid fees on your account is 10 euros or more
Your borrowing privileges will be restored when you have paid the accumulated charges.
Library fees and charges
Overdue fines
If you return or renew an item only after the due date, you will have to pay overdue fines for each calendar day the item is late. The fines will be added to your library account.
You can pay the fees and charges online through the library’s website or at any Lastu library. More information about the fees and charges can be found on the list of fees at the end of this leaflet.
The library charges overdue fines even if you have not been able to renew your items
because of a technical problem on the Lastu website or because of other reasons beyond the library’s control.
There are no overdue fines for children’s and youth material. However, children’s and youth items that have not been returned will be billed in accordance with the library rules. (See the next section: Overdue notices and fees for unreturned material and also see the section: List of fees: Lost or damaged material.)
Institutions and organizations that have a library card do not have to pay overdue fines.
However, material that is not returned will be billed in accordance with the library rules. A billing charge will be added to the invoice.
Overdue notices and fees for unreturned material
If the customer has provided their email address to the library, overdue notices will always be sent via email.
If you do not return borrowed material on time, the library will send you overdue notices. The first overdue notice will be sent when the material is 7 days (1 week) overdue.
When the material is 21 days (3 weeks) overdue, the library will send you another overdue notice.
If you do not return an item in spite of the overdue notices, you will have to compensate it. An invoice will be sent to you and a 10 € billing charge will be added to your library account. This will take place 49 days after the due date. After the invoice has been sent, the material can no longer be returned, and you will not be refunded for the material even if you return it.
Compensating material
You can pay the fees for lost or damaged items at any Lastu library. The compensation fee is the same as the purchase price paid by the library. If you lose something attached to the material you have borrowed, there is a fee for this attached item. The library will not refund the compensation fees you have paid even if you should later return the material.
You may also replace a lost or damaged item by purchasing the same title for the library. However, because of copyright issues, films cannot be replaced in this way, in either DVD or Blu-ray format.
A copyright fee is included in the price of the DVDs and Blu-ray discs purchased by the library. The prices of console games acquired before 1 September 2015 also include a copyright fee. The replacement fee for these materials is 50 % of the purchase price. You cannot replace DVDs or Blu-ray discs containing movies or informational documentary with equivalent items due to the per-copy copyright fee.
If you do not return or replace the material you have borrowed, the matter will be referred to a collection agency. In that case, you will also have to pay collection fees.
Ban from the library
Customers may be banned from the library if they
- disturb other customers or the staff in spite of warnings
- endanger their own safety or the safety of others
- damage library property
The staff may order a customer causing disturbance to leave the library. Customers may be banned from a Lastu library for a maximum of 30 days.
Damages and the library’s liability for damages
If you damage or lose library property, you will have to pay for the damage or for the lost item.
The library is not liable for any damage to your equipment that may have been caused by a borrowed recording.
The library is not responsible for any clothes or other belongings left on library premises.
Data protection and checking data in the library records
According to the Personal Data Act (523/1999, 13), libraries have the right to record a customer’s social security number. Customer information is used for monitoring loans, booking library computers and logging into them, as well as for monitoring access to the self-service libraries.
Personal data is confidential and will not be given to outsiders. The privacy statement of the customer record is available on the library’s website at lastu.finna.fi. When dealing with personal data, we follow the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation.
Self-Service Library Rules
What is a self-service library?
A self-service library is a library which premises you can access even when the staff is not there.
In the self-service library, you can borrow and return materials and use equipment and facilities. You also have access to the library's wireless network.
You will gain access to the self-service libraries of Lastu libraries when you acquire a Lastu library card. The exception is Hollola's main library, Orimattila and Sysmä, where a separate agreement is made for the use of self-service libraries. In addition, those under the age of fifteen need the consent of their guardian or other legal representative to use the self-service library. The exceptions are Hartola, Kalliola and Padasjoki, where access to the self-service libraries is given to all customers. You agree to follow the rules of the self-service library when you receive the library card or make a separate agreement for its use.
The start of self-service hours will be announced in the library either by announcements or by the staff. You will then need to log in to the self-service library at the checkout machine or the main entrance. You can log in with your library card and the associated PIN code; logging out is not required.
Responsibilities and obligations
According to the Public Libraries Act (1492/2016), library users must behave appropriately in the library and handle the library's material and other property carefully. The library is a public place where the Act on Public Order (612/2003) is observed. Under this Act, the following is prohibited in the library, among other things:
• use of intoxicants
• disruption of order, e.g. by making noise
• threatening behaviour towards others, either physically or verbally
You are obliged to compensate for any damages you may cause, such as the costs resulting of messes or vandalism. The rules of Lastu libraries, the Public Libraries Act (1492/2016) and the Tort Liability Act (412/1974) are applied in compensation of damages.
You are responsible for the material registered to your library card. If there are problems with the loan or return, you are obliged to clarify them with the staff without undue delay.
You are responsible for ensuring that doors close and lock both when entering and leaving the premises. A door left open and leaving the premises through the emergency exit unnecessarily will trigger an alarm to the security service. You are obligated to compensate for any false alarms you cause.
You must leave the library premises immediately at the end of the self-service hours as the library closes. Remaining in the premises will trigger an alarm, for which you will be responsible.
Access granted to use the self-service library is personal. Every customer using the self-service library must log in with their own library card (with the exception of households and group guidance situations).
The library has recording surveillance cameras and any potential abuses will be dealt with.
Access to the self-service library can be revoked in cases of misuse.
Customers Under 15 Years Old
- Customers under 15 can also obtain access to the self-service library. Consent from a guardian or other legal representative registered in the library system is required for granting access, except for the libraries in Hartola, Kalliola, and Padasjoki, where access does not require separate consent from the guardian.
- Separate consent is recorded in the library system at the presence of the guardian or other legal representative, whose identity will be verified.
- The guardian or other legal representative is responsible for any self-service library use by a child under 15 years of age with their library card, as well as for any possible abuses that occur during self-service hours in all Lastu libraries.
Events in self-service time
Private individuals, associations and other third-sector entities can gather or organize events and exhibitions in libraries also during self-service hours. In general, each participant must log in with their own library card. However, the login procedures can be deviated from in advance and with an agreement for events organized during self-service hours. The event organizer is responsible for the arrangements and safety of the event in all cases.
The content or nature of the event organized in the self-service library must not be in conflict with the Finnish law or contrary to good manners. The library space may not be used for racist or discriminatory activities against any groups or people. If necessary, the library has the right to deny the user access to the space or interrupt an event organized in the space, if it appears that the above-mentioned rules are being violated or have been violated.
Fees in the Lahti City Library (opens in a new tab)
