Customer service
The services of the Finnish Heritage Agency Picture Collections, Library and Archive are available to anyone interested in cultural heritage. The three units have a shared customer service space where you can view their materials by request. The library operates as a service library with open collections. You can also reserve service times from library staff if necessary.
The archive customer service desk is open by reservation Thu–Fri 10:00–16:00 and closed on Mon–Wed and throughout July. The self-service library is open Tue–Fri 9:00–16:00 and closed on Mondays and throughout July.
The Finnish Heritage Agency’s picture collections, archaeological collections and archives will move to the Collections and Conservation Centre in Vantaa. The researchers’ hall and offices at the Sturenkatu premises in Helsinki will close on 30 June 2023.
The researcher service for archaeological and picture collections will end on 30 June 2023. Applications for use of materials in the archaeological collections must be submitted by 31 May 2023. The picture collections’ material must be ordered for viewing on 15 June 2023 at the latest by using a material order form.
The original materials in the picture collections and archaeological collections will not be available for loan in 2024 and 2025. Loan requests will be accepted until 30 June 2023.
The information service on the collections will continue to the extent possible during the move.
SAFE SPACES
The Finnish Heritage Agency aims to offer its customers and staff safe premises in both normal and exceptional conditions. The facilities are being cleaned more frequently, and we are paying special attention to the cleanliness of the customer terminals and other contact areas. We offer visitors the opportunity to sanitise their hands at the entrance.
SAFE DISTANCES
We will ensure that visitors are able to keep safe distances from other visitors as well as our staff in the customer service premises. We will keep a distance of 2 metres from all customers. Personal guidance on using the materials will be provided from a safe distance. Please maintain safe distances also when moving about elsewhere in the premises.
HAND AND COUGHING HYGIENE
Our customer service personnel follow the instructions provided about hand hygiene and coughing hygiene. Please do the same!
PLEASE VISIT ONLY WHEN YOU ARE HEALTHY
If you feel ill, please stay home until you have made a full recovery.
Personnel Directory of the Archive and Information Services
To request materials for viewing, you will need to fill out a material order form in advance either online or at the customer service desk. The request fulfilment time is two weeks, meaning that you can reserve a time for viewing the requested materials no earlier than ten business days from submitting the request. You can submit your material request using a single form even if your request includes several different materials, such as pictures and archive materials.
Materials subject to a work permit
A work permit is required for accessing archaeological artefact collections. Permits are granted for scientific research work. Access to picture or archive material and publications whose handling is restricted due to data security reasons or their fragile state is also subject to a permit. You can submit a permit application by filling in the permit form, printing it out, scanning it and sending it as an email attachment. Application form for the use of materials should be submitted to the relevant Customer Service of the material from the collection you wish to have access to.
Wireless network
Visitors can make use of the building’s wireless network. Login details are available from the Control Room at the Sturenkatu 2 entrance.
Information services of the National Museum of Finland
The service related to historical and ethnographic artefact collections of the National Museum of Finland and the Museum of Cultures as well as the Coin Cabinet is located in the National Museum. The collection service of the artefact, picture and archive collections of the Maritime Museum of Finland is located at the Maritime Centre Vellamo in Kotka. Some of the collection information of the National Museum of Finland has been digitised and opened up in Finna. Viewing the original collection indices and other materials must be agreed in advance. Should anyone wish to gain access to the artefacts for research or other justified purposes, an artefact handling permit application must be filled in with the help of the staff responsible for the respective collection.