Helmet libraries
iPhone / Références
Search the entire Helsinki Metropolitan Area Libraries catalog, see real-time availability, and manage your library account — all in one clean, fast app.
SEARCH & DISCOVER
• Search across all Helmet libraries — books, music, movies, games, journals, sheet music, and more
• Browse the Library of Things — musical instruments, exercise gear, power drills, season tickets, board games, sensory cards, kitchen equipment, electronics, and more
• Pre-select content type (books, music, movies, …) with always-visible filter chips, or toggle filters on the fly
• Narrow further with a dedicated Filters sheet: Format (Blu-ray, DVD, CD, LP, audiobook, eBook, board / video game), Language, and Publication year — with counts across the full result set, not just the page on screen
• See cover images, authors, publishers, and detailed metadata
• Live results as you type
REAL-TIME AVAILABILITY
• See which libraries have the item you're looking for
• Check per-copy status: available on shelf, checked out, in transit
• View due dates for checked-out copies and number of requests
• Shelf numbers included so you can find the item quickly
YOUR LIBRARY ACCOUNT
• View your current loans with due dates and renewal status
• Browse your holds and track queue position
• Check and manage your fines
• Place new holds and choose your pickup library
• Renew loans directly from the app
• Edit or cancel existing holds
• Display your library card barcode for easy checkout
• Set your home library (preferred pickup location), see today's opening hours and contact details at a glance, and tap the address to open it in your Maps app
STAY ON TOP
• Get notified before your loans are due — 3 days before and on the due date
• See at a glance if any holds are ready for pickup
• Overdue and due-soon loans are highlighted
DESIGNED FOR YOU
• Beautiful liquid glass interface following the latest iOS design
• Available in English, Finnish, and Swedish
• Works offline with cached account data
• Your data stays on your device — no accounts, no tracking, no ads
This app is an independent project and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to the Helmet library consortium or any of its member libraries (Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniainen). It uses the public Finna and Kirkanta APIs provided by the Finnish library system.
A Helsinki Metropolitan Area library card is required to access account features (loans, holds, fines). Catalog search is available to everyone without login.
Quoi de neuf dans la dernière version ?
Discover the Library of Things:
• A new top-level Library of Things destination shows what you can borrow beyond books — musical instruments, exercise gear, power drills, season tickets, board games, sensory cards, kitchen equipment, electronics, and more. Each category gets its own colorful card; tap one to browse, or use the search field inside to find a specific thing.
• The app's bottom bar now has three modes — Account · Things · Search — for quick switching between your loans and holds, browsing, and looking up specific items. The app opens directly to your account dashboard so today's loans and reminders are front and center.
• Library-of-Things items get a dedicated "Things" filter chip in search, separate from "Other" (digital / archive material).
In other news:
• Improved the log-in experience to decrease the number of pesky situations when things don't go as they should.
• Plus quieter behavior when your connection drops — clearer messages instead of stuck spinners, and the app picks up where it left off when you reconnect.