How does Helsinki University Library support teachers

The Library has many electronic course resources to which you can link students in the learning environment or learning material.

Use the permanent link in Helka which allows students to access the material remotely with their University credentials. This way the link will function even if the URL or availability information changes.

If you use a direct link to a publisher’s service, ensure you enable remote use of the material by attaching the following the following proxy link to the start of the URL. This allows remote use of the material: http://login.libproxy.helsinki.fi/login?url=.

VPN users can access Library material selecting the uh-vpn-allroute option in OpenVPN. The option uh-vpn-helsinkifi-only denies access to Library resources even if you are logged in in Helka.

Remember to adhere to copyright and the terms and conditions of use of the resources!

View an instructional video (in Finnish only): Kirjaston aineistojen etäkäyttö Helkan kautta ja VPN:n avulla (‘Using resources remotely via Helka and VPN’).

If, during an online examination, students are to use electronic resources with the Safe Exam Browser, make sure well in advance (approximately one month before the examination) that the Library’s e-book version works in the Safe Exam Browser. Not all e-books work in the Safe Exam Browser. If an e-book does not open, please contact the Library: kirjasto@helsinki.fi.

E-book access during an SEB examination requires that the e-book address is allowed on the browser. Use the permanent link in Helka or a proxy link.

NB! Not all e-books provided by the Library work on the Safe Exam Browser. This may be due to the e-book’s user interface reader programme.

Additional information about the use of electronic resources at the Library is available on the Library’s guide for teachers.

The Library uses funding to acquire course literature based on curricula. Check from your faculty who is responsible for notifying course literature in the curriculum to the Library. [Practices vary by faculty.

It is the course coordinator’s responsibility to notify the library of changes to course literature in the curriculum during the term preceding the start of the course. The Library requires information, for example, about changes to the edition used, new books or supplementary material for courses if it has not been previously mentioned in the curriculum.

Notify the Library of changes to course literature:

• At the latest by 31 May to ensure that course literature is available at the start of the autumn term
• At the latest by 30 November to ensure that course literature is available at the start of the spring term

The Library requires information on changes to literature well in advance so that it can check e-book availability and order course literature from publishers before courses begin.

You can contact the service address with any questions related to course material: hulib-textbooks@helsinki.fi.

Open learning resources are open to everyone for use and editing. You can utilise open access learning material in your own teaching. Open learning material promotes continuous learning by providing learners equal access to learning resources. Openness is also more learner-oriented if you use a license enabling editing. This allows students to participate in the further processing of learning resources if they so wish.

More information on open learning resource services on the Library website: open learning resources and open learning material.

Are you teaching a course on academic writing or a thesis seminar? You should recommend the Library’s information retrieval courses to your students.

Students can hone their information retrieval skills on courses, webinars and remote guidance organised by the Library:

1. As online studies: right at the beginning of their studies: Student’s Digital Skills and, as they advance, Information seeking and management for thesis writers
2. After this, they will have the opportunity to deepen their skills in webinars and contact teaching: Courses and workshops
3. And, if needed, under personal guidance online (in Finnish), which requires an appointment. Personal guidance in contact meetings is available if necessary in addition to online guidance. Where can you find the teaching programme of the Library? A term-specific course selection of information seeking and reference management is presented in the Studies service.

University staff are also welcomed to participate on courses organised by the Library. Educational videos on information retrieval are available on the Helsinki University Library’s YouTube channel (mostly in Finnish).

Questions about information seeking courses or workshops? Please contact the Library’s information seeking instructors via the online form.

Have you already used the Basic Guide to Data Management to assist your students with their thesis? Data management is both a research practice and a skill in working life. The basic data management guide provides instructions on how to process and store research material collected or used for the thesis. 

In the data management guide, you will find the student’s data management plan template (Word). The thesis supervisor should go through the plan together with the student and ensure that the material is handled safely and carefully. 

The personal data test helps to determine whether personal data subject to the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is being processed in the project. 

You can contact Data Support if you need help with data management issues: datasupport@helsinki.fi 

Participants in your teaching may ponder where they could attend lectures or engage in group work. The Library provides students with comfortable, ergonomic and multifunctional spaces enabling both individual work and group learning.  

If they so wish students can participate attend online teaching in Library facilities using their personal headphones. Library facilities are colour-coded into zones based whether they are for silent, work or social use. 

Library facilities are open to all and also serve continuous learning. Working in shared facilities requires commitment to shared rules on their use. More information on these rules is available on the Library website.

Information on Library locations and more detailed information about the facilities is available on the Library website.  

More information about diverse learning facilities at the University is available in the Studies service.

Video (in Finnish only) Kumpulassa on tilaa oppia ja ajatella (‘Kumpula Campus provides room to learn and think’).

1. Can I upload a PDF article in Moodle?  

Teachers have the right to share a limited number of copies with Kopiosto’s copying licence to students as handouts or digitally in a closed learning environment. Copies may be available to participants on the course platform for the duration of the course or equivalent study module.  

More detailed information about copying licence terms and copy numbers is available on the Kopiosto website. 

If you are unsure of whether you can upload a particular article, please contact the Library by email: kirjasto[at]helsinki.fi. 

2. Can students use Library resources from home?  

Yes. Instructions for remote use are available on the Library website.  

3. How much of a printed/digital publication may be photocopied/scanned/copied?  

It is recommended that teachers remember the 20–20 guideline: It is allowed to copy up to either 20% or 20 pages of a publication, whichever occurs first. More detailed information about copying licence terms and copy numbers is available on the Kopiosto website. 

4. How much of a printed/digital journal may be photocopied/scanned/copied?  

With the Kopiosto copying licence, an entire article may be copied regardless of the number of pages. No more than 20 articles may be copied from the same journal. The source may be an online journal behind a paywall if the University or the teacher in question has usage rights to it based on a subscription or agreement. More detailed information about copying licence terms and copy numbers is available on the Kopiosto website.  

5. What is a CC licence  

A Creative Commons licence is a licence that allows additional utilisation of the material. In principle, a CC licence can be used for all kinds of material, but originally it was intended for use with digital resources.  

More information on CC licences is available in the Library’s guide for open access publishing.