Library card

Kyyti libraries have a shared library system that enables customers to use the services of all the libraries in the network with one card. To be granted a library card and a PIN code for it, customers must present a photo ID with a personal identity code, and provide their address in Finland. A PIN code is needed for borrowing materials at self-service points, reserving materials, renewing loans online, and accessing self-service libraries and the library’s online resources.

If the customer does not have a Finnish identity code, the library card will remain valid for one year at a time.

A person under 15 years of age can be granted a library card subject to the written consent of their parent or guardian, or some other responsible per-son who must be at least 18 years of age. Daycare centres, schools and other institutions or communities can get a library card by appointing a contact person who will responsible for the appropriate use of the card.

The customer commits to following these rules of use when he or she signs a library card. The library card is personal and must always be presented when borrowing materials and upon request also when using other library services. The customer is responsible for all materials that have been borrowed using his or her library card, and for renewing and returning his or her loans. If the owner of the library card is under 15 years of age, their guardian or other responsible person will be responsible for any materials borrowed using the library card.

The customer must notify the library of any changes in their name or contact details. The library must also be notified immediately if the library card is lost. The owner of the card or the guardian/responsible person is responsible for any materials borrowed with the card before the library is notified of the loss of the card. The library will block the use of cards that have been reported as being lost.

Borrowing, reserving, and returning materials, and due dates

Depending on the material, the loan time is 28, 14 or 7 days. The loan time ends when the library closes on the due date. At the online library, the loan time ends at 24.00 on the due date. Library materials can be returned to any Kyyti library. Customers can get a receipt of the return if they wish.

If the library has a drop box for returning materials when the library is closed, any materials left in the drop box will be processed and considered as returned only when the library is next open. Any fees charged for late return will continue to accumulate as normal until the material has been registered as returned.

Each customer can have a maximum of 100 loans and 100 reservations at any given time. Material-specific restrictions apply to DVDs and Blu-ray discs (10 loans) and to console games (5 loans). Library-specific restrictions can also be set.

Official age limits apply to audiovisual programmes.

Each loan can be renewed five times unless a reservation is made for the material and provided that the total of unpaid fees does not exceed the maximum sum specified by the library. Loans can be renewed by visiting the library in person, or by phone or online.

Materials not included in the collection of Kyyti libraries can be ordered from other libraries as interlibrary loans.

The library is not responsible for any losses or any other harm that may be caused to the customer by a circumstance directly relating to the materials borrowed or equipment used.

Free library services

Based on legislation, free library services include:

• Using, borrowing, and reserving materials included in the library’s own collection
• Instructing and advising the users of the library (information services)

Fees

The relevant committee or competent official of each municipality will specify the fees charged for library services. Any disputes and payment liabilities arising from or in connection to these rules of use will be resolved at the district court.

A fee is charged for loans that are returned or renewed after the due date. In addition, expenses relating to the sending of return notices and to recovery measures will be charged to the customer. A penalty fee will also be charged for overdue loans if renewing the loans online has failed, or if a due date reminder has not been received due to a service disruption or some other technical problem.

No penalty fees are charged for materials for children or young adults. However, expenses relating to the sending of return notices and to recovery measures will be charged as normal for these materials.

A fee will be charged for any reservations that are not collected, except for materials for children and young adults

Other library fees charged subject to the decision of each municipality include:

• Library card renewal
• Interlibrary loans
• Photocopies and printouts

Some of the assembly and exhibition premises offered by the libraries are subject to a fee. Rents of the premises can be found in the service pricelist of each municipality.

Liabilities of library users

Libraries are public places as referred to in the Public Order Act (612/2003), and so this Act applies to disturbing the operations of or endangering the safety of libraries. Library users must not cause disturbance to other library users or library personnel when visiting the library, and must not lessen the pleasantness or safety of the library, for example by making noise or behaving in a threatening or aggressive way.

Library users must handle library materials and other library property with care. Provisions of the Tort Liability Act (412/1974) will be applied in a situation where the user causes damage to the library personnel or to materials or other property of the library.

Lost or damaged material must be replaced with corresponding material, or by paying the price specified by the library. Due to the item-specific copy-right fee, video recordings, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs cannot be replaced with a corresponding recording. The library will not redeem any materials that have been damaged or lost once the customer has replaced or paid for the materials in question (that is, the customer can keep any such material).

Loss of borrowing rights

Unpaid fees will constitute a debt owed to the library. An outstanding debt of €10 or more will automatically result in the loss of borrowing rights. Borrowing rights will be restored once the fees are paid and any overdue items returned.

Loss of the right to use library services

The municipality can remove the right of a user to use the services of a certain library for a fixed period if the user has repeatedly and significantly disturbed the activities of the library, endangered its safety, or damaged the property of the library. The maximum duration of such a ban is 30 days. Before such a ban can be imposed on a user, the customer must be heard on the matter and an official decision must be made on it so that the customer will have the statutory right to appeal against the decision in accordance with the Local Government Act (410/2015).

Data protection

The library has the right to use the personal identity code of its users in its customer register (Decision of the Finnish Data Protection Board 56/1993). Personal data is used only for the purpose of library services. Under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (2016/679), the customer has the right to inspect his or her personal data that has been saved in the register. The data protection record and an information request form can be viewed on the website of Kyyti libraries and on the library premises.

Miscellaneous

Where required, the person responsible for library services in each municipality will make decisions relating to the application of these rules of use.