Library Info Links Help Publisher Info Feedback . Many people have difficulty getting to a library. This is what the library's home service does. A good 300 of Helsinki's half million residents currently receive home service. This is somewhat short of IFLA's target of one person per thousand population, but the need is growing.
Home service is available to anyone, of any age, who is housebound for any reason.
It takes only a phone call to join the service, and no proof of need is required. The aim is to spend about 20 minutes with each customer once every five weeks. Computer-based records enable staff to build a profile of each customer's preferences, and thus to ensure that the books offered are those most likely to be acceptable. Customers can, of course, request specific titles or types of material and can make use, in writing, of the library's information service. Several factors combine to swell the need for this service.