Helsinki closes Viikki Library for sine die due to water damage

The City of Helsinki has closed the Viikki Library in Helsinki until further notice due to water damage, said the City in a press release on Thursday.

Extensive water damage occurred in the library when a joint in a rainwater drain pipe failed during heavy rain on 4 July, causing a large amount of water to enter the building.

The water affected the library floor and some of the walls on the ground floor and in the basement, as well as other elements.

During July and August, books, other items and furniture were removed from the library due to the water damage.

Repair work is about to begin and is expected to continue at least until the end of the year. The exact reopening date of the library is not yet known.

“Luckily, the water damage occurred during the library’s self-service hours and customers who were there at the time called for help. Because of this, the damage was less extensive than it would have been had the accident occurred while the library was closed. The initial drying process could be started during the same weekend,” said Chief Librarian of Viikki Library Mari Heino.

Moisture surveys showed that drying out and partially replacing the structures will take several months.

The entire library hall has been cleared of furniture, books and bookshelves. The full extent of the repair needs will be determined once the floors and walls are opened.

“The bookshelves will need to be repaired, but fortunately all the books and other items available for borrowing, as well as the majority of the furniture, were left undamaged,” said Heino.

During the autumn, the staff of Viikki Library will be working at other libraries in Helsinki.

Services will be provided to first-graders in the Viikki area via the mobile library, and plans are currently being drawn up for serving other schools and daycare centres in the area as well as possible. The library prioritises library services for children.

The City is also looking into potentially providing temporary premises for the library in the Viikki area, so that minimum services, such as picking up reservations and returning loans, can be provided.

The libraries closest to Viikki Library are Oulunkylä and Itäkeskus Library, which can be reached by the light rail line, and Malmi, Arabianranta and Jakomäki Library, which can be reached by bus from Viikki.

People can return and reserve items at any library within the Helmet area in Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa or Kauniainen.

Users of Viikki Library are advised to move their reservation pick-up point to another open library of their choice in the Helmet online library. 

The University of Helsinki’s Viikki Campus Library, which is also located in the same building as Viikki Library, is closed until further notice, and course books have been temporarily moved to the Kaisa House.