Vanamo libraries membership

The Vanamo libraries include Hattula municipal library, Hämeenlinna city library, and Janakkala municipal library. All collections, services, and facilities may be used by anyone who adheres to the user regulations. Everyone is responsible for the appropriate use of the library’s collections, equipment, and facilities.

You are committed to following these user regulations and any changes made to them upon receiving a library card or agreeing to be a contact person for a card.

Library card and PIN code

A personal library card, borrowing rights, and a PIN code can be obtained from any Vanamo library or mobile library. The first library card is free of charge. The card is obtained by presenting a valid identification document accepted by the library, which includes a photo and personal identification number. If you do not have a Finnish personal identification number, the library card is valid for one year at a time.

A person under 15 years old may get a library card with the consent of a guardian. In the case of a person under 15 years old, the guardian is liable for the materials borrowed with the library card and for the use of other library services, equipment, and facilities.

The owner of the library card or the guardian is responsible for the materials borrowed with the library card. Personal responsibility also applies to the library’s self-service usage. You are responsible for the materials borrowed with your library card. Borrowing at self-checkout machines is protected by the PIN code.

Changes in name and contact information must be reported immediately to the library. The information does not update automatically from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency to the library system.

A PIN code is linked to the library card. The PIN is required for using self-checkout machines, online services, and self-service libraries, for example.

The customer must immediately report the loss of their library card to the library. The customer is not responsible for materials borrowed with the lost card after the loss has been reported.

Borrowing, returning, and renewals

A library card must always be presented when borrowing materials. Without a library card, materials can only be borrowed from customer service by presenting a photo ID. Materials can only be borrowed from self-checkout machines with a library card.

The library has the right to limit the number of loans.
Movies or games will not be lent to customers who do not meet the age limits set by the National Audiovisual Institute’s (KAVI) media education and audiovisual unit (MEKU).

The loan period for materials can be 1-28 days. Due dates are indicated on the loan receipt that the customer receives at the time of borrowing. It is possible to receive a due date reminder by email before the due date.

Materials must be returned or renewed no later than on the due date. A loan can be renewed six times if there are no reservations or if you have not lost your borrowing rights. There may be restrictions on renewing materials.

Some libraries have a book drop box. The customer is responsible for returning loans through the drop box. Materials returned through the drop box will be registered as returned on the next library service day.

Reservations and interlibrary loans

Materials can be reserved by visiting the library’s customer service or through the online library. You will receive a notification by email, text message, or letter when the reserved item is ready for pickup. There may be restrictions on reserving materials. Reserving is free of charge. Reservations must be collected within 7 days of the notification being sent. A fee will be charged for unpicked adult material reservations.

The library may limit the number of reservations.

If the desired material is not available in your library, it can be borrowed from elsewhere in Finland or abroad. This service is subject to a fee.

Fees

Library use is generally free of charge. A late fee accrues for each calendar day after the due date up to a maximum amount. For children’s and youth section materials, we only charge reminder and collection costs. A late fee will also be charged if the renewal of loans has failed due to a communication disruption or another technical issue.

A first reminder for overdue materials will be sent 14 days after the due date and a second reminder 28 days after the due date. A first reminder for reserved materials will be sent earlier. The first reminder can be received by email. The due date reminder is an additional service that does not exempt from late fees, even if the customer did not receive a notification.

A late fee and a compensation request fee will be charged for overdue loans. Failure to return loans despite reminders will result in loss of borrowing rights, and collection will be transferred to a collection agency.

A fee will be charged for unpicked adult section material reservations delivered to the reservation shelf. A fee will also be charged if the reservation notification has not arrived due to a distribution disruption, communication issues, or another reason.

In some municipalities, libraries may also have other services for which fees are charged, such as copying and printing. More detailed fees can be found on the libraries’ own websites and the Vanamo online library.

Customers must compensate for damaged or lost materials with equivalent materials or by paying the price determined by the library. Due to copyright fees per item, some materials such as DVDs cannot be replaced with equivalent materials. (Library Act 12 §, Act on the Enforcement of Taxes and Charges 706/2007)

Payments can be made at all Vanamo libraries with a cash register. Paid fees are not refunded to the customer.

Loan ban

You will lose your borrowing rights if

• your loans have been sent to collection or invoiced
• your debt balance exceeds €20

You will regain your borrowing rights when

• you return the overdue materials
• you pay the accrued fees

A customer who is under a loan ban may still visit the library and use the library’s premises, collections, e-materials, and equipment.

Self-service library

Self-service libraries are libraries that customers can use outside of regular service hours during self-service times. There is no staff in the library during self-service hours. Access to the library during self-service hours is granted with your own Vanamo library card and its PIN code. A signed agreement from a guardian is required for those under 15. Access with community cards is allowed with a separate agreement.

During self-service hours, only the cardholder can enter with the card and PIN code. Those under 15 may visit the self-service library only with a guardian. It is the cardholder’s responsibility to ensure that everyone leaves at the same time.

The safety of the self-service library is monitored through access control and recorded video surveillance. Both access control and the surveillance system form their own customer registers. The purpose of the monitoring systems is to ensure the legal protection and safety of customers, protect the property of the site, and prevent and investigate crimes.

Staff may restrict access to the self-service library when necessary.

More detailed information about different self-service libraries can be found on the libraries’ own websites.

Library usage ban

According to the Public Order Act, a public library is a public place. The Public Order Act applies to disrupting library operations and endangering safety. If a library user repeatedly and significantly disrupts library operations, behaves disturbingly or threateningly, endangers safety, or damages library property, they may be banned from the library for up to 30 days. Before imposing a ban, the municipality must hear the person concerned.

A decision on the usage ban will be made, which the person banned can contest according to the Local Government Act. The authority responsible for the imposition of the usage ban in each Vanamo library will decide on the library usage ban. A customer under a usage ban cannot visit the library to which they have been banned.

User privacy

The Vanamo libraries share a common library system. According to the Personal Data Act, the library has the right to record the personal identity code of the customer, their guardian, and the responsible person of the community in its register. Personal data is used only for library service purposes.

Customers have the right to check the information stored in the library’s register and to request corrections to incorrect information. The rights of registrants and related instructions can be found on the libraries’ websites.

Personal data may only be disclosed to the parties mentioned in the privacy statement. The privacy statement for the register is available in libraries and on the Vanamo online library.

The usage rules of the Vanamo libraries are based on the Public Libraries Act (1492/2016) and comply with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679.

Application and validity of user regulations

The user regulations are in effect in the Vanamo libraries. In addition to the Vanamo user regulations, libraries may have their own specific library rules and guidelines.

These user regulations apply to mobile libraries and home library services as applicable. These user regulations revoke the user regulations and fees approved by Hattula municipal library on 01.01.2013, Hämeenlinna city library on 14.02.2024 and 17.02.2024, and Janakkala municipal library on 01.10.2022. These user regulations will come into effect on 21.11.2024 and will remain in force indefinitely. The notice period is six months.