Frequently asked questions
E-Aineistot
You need a Helle library card and a PIN code so that you can borrow them.
Log in to the service with your own codes.
You can read e-books and listen to audiobooks via a web browser or with an application designed for them. You can also read e-books with a reading program.
To access e-books and audiobooks via a web browser you need to have a device with an internet connection. Ellibs and Biblio applications can be loaded on smart phones and tablets.
On applications it is possible to read books with a continuous internet connection or they can be downloaded to your device, allowing you to use them even without an internet connection.
You can use a reading program with all devices.
The reading programs differ depending on your own device.
On a computer you need a free Adobe Digital Editions program. In order to use the program, you must also make an Adobe ID account on Adobe’s website. The reading program is available for Windows and Mac OS systems.
On a smart phone and a tablet (for example iOS and Android) you can use Ellibs and Biblio’s own applications, which you can download from an application store (App Store, Google Play). Ellibs e-books can be also read on Adobe Digital Editions application. In this case you also need an Adobe ID account.
You can transfer e-books on a reading device by plugging it to a computer with an USB cable. On the computer the book is in Adobe Digital Editions program where you can copy it onto your device. You can't unfortunately read library material on Amazon Kindle devices. You can check if your device is compatible with Adobe Digital Editions on Adobe's website.
E- and audiobooks are always returned automatically, there will be no fines.
Only some books are available on library e-book and audiobook services. Unfortunately, especially books from major publishers are often unavailable because the publishers do not sell them to libraries.
The ePress service can only be used on-site at the library, on computers meant for library customers. You can log on to the library computer using your own library card and PIN code. Also check that your library is using the ePress service.
You can read PressReader newspapers and magazines via website www.pressreader.com or you can use the PressReader application on a smart phone or a tablet.
On a web browser: Go to the website and choose Sign In and then Library & Group. Write in the Select Library search bar Helle, and choose Helle Libraries from the list. Log in with your library card number and PIN code.
On an application: Download PressReader application from the application store (App store, Google play). Choose Sign In and then Libraries & Groups. Write ‘Helle’ in the Select Library search bar, and choose Helle Libraries from the list. Log in with your library card number and PIN code.
PressReader asks for a payment when you aren’t logged in.
However, if PressReader shows that you are logged in, try logging out first. Log in after that again via Sign In and then Libraries & Groups.
This is due to the library’s budget, and because the books are always available without queues. The library pays to publishers and authors for every loan. That is why we unfortunately have to limit the amount of loans, so that as many as possible has the possibility to loan the books.
Biblio is a service originated from Sweden, which is why there are more books in Swedish. Ellibs offers more books in Finnish.
E-books and audiobooks remain in your loans for the entire loan period until they are returned automatically.
Problems
First, check that you are logged in with your own codes.
On a smart phone and a tablet: If you haven’t updated the Ellibs application for a long time, go to the application store on your device and update the application. If you still can’t log in uninstall the whole application and download it again.
On a computer: Check that you are in Helle-Ellibs, i.e. that you see the text Helle and the colour of the top menu, which is pink.
If these instructions are of no help, contact your nearest library.
Your library card may have expired in our system and needs to be reactivated. Please visit your library to check that your contact details are up to date. After that your card will work again for the next 10 years.
Check that you have entered the code under the barcode on your library card completely and correctly. Check also that you have written the PIN code correctly.
You can try to log in to the Helle online library 5 times before the card locks. After the lock, the online library gives you an error message:
By changing your PIN code you can log in again. You can change your PIN in any Helle library.
PressReader must be used at least once every 30 days so that it does not log the user out. However, if you are logged in, try logging out first. Log in after that again via Sign In and then Libraries & Groups.
The Finnish nationwide e-library
The Finnish nationwide e-library is a shared online library for all public libraries in Finland, which is meant to open for public in 2024. The e-library will initially offer e-books and audiobooks, as well as newspapers and magazines for remote reading, with plans to add other resources in the future.
The idea behind the public libraries' shared e-library is that everyone in Finland has equal access to the same collection. This means that people living in small municipalities will have the same amount of e-resources at their disposal as those living in large municipalities.
You can read more on the Finnish nationwide e-library from here:
https://www.libraries.fi/elibraryproject
Online library
Placing a hold is free of charge. You can place a hold on a material that you can find on Helle online library. All material on Helle online library is available to all Helle customers regardless of the municipality.
Material that is not available on Helle online library and that you cannot place a hold by yourself can be requested as interlibrary loan. Interlibrary loans are subject to a fee and are ordered from other parts of Finland or from abroad.
On the online library you can see the book’s status. A red cross indicates that the book is currently checked out by someone, or that it can’t be loaned for another reason. A green dot means that the book is on the shelf and currently available.
Open the details on the book by clicking its title. After the general information about the book you can see more precisely where the book is available: the green dot indicates that the book is on the shelf. The red cross means that the book is currently checked out by someone. Other information in red indicates other states, the book may be e.g. ordered or lost.
By opening the arrows next to the libraries you get more information about the books.
Multiple locations generally indicates that there are several copies of the book and that they are in different places. For example, the book can be found in both the children's and youngsters’ section, or one copy is in the library's open collection while another is in stock.
You should open the book's details in full by clicking on the title of the book. This will give you more precise information about the location of the book.
