Kotka City Library
The City Library provides library and information services through the main library, two local libraries, a library bus and the Kyyti Library network.
The library maintains a varied and renewed collection and promotes a reading culture. The library is also a common meeting and event place for citizens, offering facilities for learning, leisure and civic activities.
A visit to the library
Teaching library use and information retrieval
Library use and consultation lessons, demonstrations of facilities and activities, and book tours are provided for schools, kindergartens and other groups. Library staff will also be available to explain the library’s services at various events. Guided tours and visits must be arranged separately.
Experience your library! -group visits
The City of Kotka wants to inspire the people of Kotka to be active together. We offer groups the opportunity to visit the library and its services together. Book a guided tour at the library of your choice, see the contact details of the library of your choice.
Library bus “Ilona”
The library bus has been operating in Kotka since 1970. The current library bus Ilona was put into service in 2008. A new vehicle is already being planned and will replace our old library vehicle in the coming years. The library bus runs in two shifts, five days a week. There are 82 stops in total, 17 at nurseries and 12 at schools.
Kyyti Libraries
The Kotka City Library, together with other libraries in Kymenlaakso, forms the Kyyti Library cluster. In addition to Kotka, the Kyyti Libraries include Hamina, Iitti, Kouvola, Miehikkälä, Pyhtää and Virolahti. The Kyyti Libraries share a common library system, so all libraries in the area use the same library card.
Customers have access to a diverse collection of over one million volumes of books, audio books, music, films, e-books and magazines, sports equipment and games. Reservations from other Kyyti Libraries are free of charge. Reservations are transported to the library of the customer’s choice.
Click on Kyyti online or visit the library Kyyti Library
E-books and audiobooks
The library has a wide range of e-books and audiobooks. E-books are easy to carry and you don’t have to worry about late fees as the material is automatically returned at the end of the loan period.
The library’s e-magazine services include a comprehensive selection of the most popular domestic and foreign newspapers and magazines. You can read foreign newspapers on your own device, wherever you are. Some of the domestic newspapers can be read remotely outside the library and the full range on the library’s computers or wireless network.
For music lovers, streaming services offer a high-quality collection of classical, jazz and world music. You can listen to music in your browser or with an app.
All e-resources work on Android and iOS mobile devices, Windows and Mac computers.
Library staff will guide you through the use of the e-resources.
Please note! This page is machine translated. We apologise for any errors, please report any mistakes viestinta@kotka.fi.
Opening hours, location and contact information
Valid until 31.5.2024
On weekdays and public holidays, the first two opening hours are self-service.
Exceptions to opening hours
On Friday 1.9. the Kotka City Library is closed and the Ilona library van is out of service due to a staff training day. Karhula Library is open for self-service from 7 to 21.
Monday: 8-20
Tuesday: 8-20
Wednesday: 8-19
Thursday: 8-19
Friday: 8-19
Saturday: 9-15
Evenings: 8-16
Visiting address
24 Kirkkokatu 24, 48100 Kotka
Postal address
P.O. Box 204, 48101 Kotka
Contact
Customer service
Tel. 040 688 3750
E-mail: library[at]kotka.fi
Book a guided tour
Adult Information Service
kirjasto[at]kotka.fi
Tel. 040 388 3754
Children’s and Youth Department
kirjasto[at]kotka.fi
Tel. 040 688 3752
The Kotka Main Library welcomes groups by appointment on Thursdays from 10.00 to 11.30. The group visit starts with an introduction to library services and continues with a tour of the library.
The total duration of the visit is 90 minutes, followed by coffee at Cafe Sonet. Group size can be from 5 to 15 people.
The main library (Kirkkokatu 24) is on four floors, while the book depository and the local history collection are located in the basement, which is closed to the public. Please let us know when booking if your group has mobility problems.
Accessibility information
- Invalid parking: yes, two spaces
- Automatic doors: yes
- Elevator: yes
- Accessible toilets: yes, on the 1st floor
NOTE: Due to the renovation of the library, the accessible toilet will be out of use until March 2023. The renovation should be completed by 8 March 2023. We are so sorry for any inconvenience caused by the renovation! - Accessible barriers: yes, two door steps at the entrance
- Induction loop: yes, at the customer service desk, on the stage and in the auditorium
- Guide and assistance dogs: allowed
- Braille signage: no
- Wheelchair: A wheelchair is not available
- Rollator: yes, on the 1st floor
- Baby room: available, 1st floor
Valid until 31.5.2024
Exceptions to opening hours
On Friday 1.9. the Kotka City Library is closed and the library bus Ilona is out of service due to a staff training day. Karhula Library is open for self-service from 7 to 21.
Monday: 7-21, staff present 10-19
Tuesday: 7-21, staff available 10-19
Wednesday: 7-21, staff present 10-19
Thursday: 7-21, staff present 10-19
Friday: 7-21, staff present 10-16
Saturday: 7-16
Sunday: 7-16
Bank Holidays: 7-21, staff on site 10-16
Visiting address
Karhulantie 40, 48600 Kotka
Contact
Customer service
Tel. 040 688 3587
E-mail: karhula.kirjasto@kotka.fi
Book a guided tour
karhula.kirjasto[at]kotka.fi
Tel. 040 688 3587
Accessibility information
- Invalid parking: yes, one space
- Automatic doors: yes
- Accessible toilets: yes
- Accessible barriers: yes, two door steps at the entrance
- Induction loop: no
- Guide and assistance dogs: allowed
- Braille signage: no
- Wheelchair: A wheelchair is not available
- Rollator: yes, one in the vestibule
- Nursery: public accessible toilet with wall-mounted childcare table and potty
Karhuvuori Library and Karhuvuori School are located in the same building.
Opening hours
Valid until further notice
Exceptions to opening hours
On Friday 1.9. the Kotka City Library is closed and the library bus Ilona is out of service due to a staff training day. Karhula Library is open for self-service from 7 – 21.
Monday: 13-19
Tuesday: 10-16
Wednesday: 13-19
Thursday: 10-16
Friday: 10-16
Saturday: closed
Sunday: Closed
Visiting address
Tarinatie 1, 48350 Kotka
Contact
Customer service
Tel. 040 158 7338
E-mail: karhuvuori.kirjasto@kotka.fi
Book a guided tour
karhuvuori.kirjasto[at]kotka.fi
Tel. 040 158 7338
Accessibility
- Invalid parking: no
- Automatic doors: yes
- Accessible toilets: no
- Barriers: no
- Induction loop: no
- Guide and assistance dogs: allowed
- Braille signage: no
- Wheelchair: A wheelchair is not available
- Rollator: A rollator is not available
- Baby room: no
Book a meeting room, workspace or exhibition space
Kotka Main Library
Living room-like meeting space
30 persons
TV
Available: during library opening hours
Main library, 3rd floor (map)
Booking calendar (browse only)
Kotka Main Library
Multifunctional space for events
40 persons
Computer, presentation equipment, DVD/Blu-ray player, flipchart
Available: during library opening hours, except not on Tuesdays
Main library, 3rd floor (map)
Booking calendar (browse only)
Kotka Main Library
Meeting room
12 persons
Presentation equipment, flipchart
Available: during library opening hours
Main library, 1rd floor (map)
Booking calendar (browse only)
Kotka Main Library
Performance platform
90 persons
Presentation equipment, piano
Available: during library opening hours
Main library, 2rd floor (map)
Booking calendar (browse only)
Kotka Main Library
Three small group work spaces
4 persons
Available: during library opening hours. You can reserve a space for up to a week at a time. If you do not pick up the key to the group workroom within one hour of the start of the reservation, the room may be given to another customer.
Main library, 3rd floor (map)
1. group workspace, booking calendar (browse only)
2. group workspace, booking calendar (browse only)
3. group workspace, booking calendar(browse only)
Kotka Main Library
Small workspace for one
1 person
Cabinet, network connection
Available: during library opening hours. You can reserve a space for up to three months at a time.
Main library, 3rd floor (map)
Booking calendar (browse only)
Kotka Main Library
The library has two exhibition spaces: in the lobby and on the 2nd floor. Open: during library opening hours
The exhibition space in the lower lobby is reserved for the amanuensis of the Kymenlaakso Museum.
Mirkka Kallio, tel. 040 530 7858.
The 2nd floor exhibition room can be booked at the library’s information service,
Tel. 040 688 3754.
Kotka Main Library
Studio monitors, USB sound card, microphones, electric piano, MIDI controller
Available: during library opening hours, 4 tuntia kerrallaan.
Main library, 3rd floor (map)
Booking calendar (browse only)
In the studio, you can play, record and practice your own instrument, use the library’s instruments or record a podcast. The studio is free of charge and can be used by anyone over 15 years old. A valid library card is required to reserve a space. You don’t have to be a music professional or a top performer to use the studio. A studio instructor will be present at the start of your booking to help you if needed.
Hardware and software list Avautuu uuteen ikkunaan
Karhula Library
Meeting room
12 person
Presentation equipment, flipchart
Available: during library opening hours
Karhula Library
Booking calendar (browse only)
Karhula Library
You can book a showroom in Karhula either by phone 040 559 6827 or by email anne.vilska@kotka.fi.
E-books and audiobooks
The library’s e-book collection contains a wide range of e-books and e-audiobooks. To borrow, you need your library card number and ID number.
Ellibs e-Library user manual Avautuu uuteen ikkunaan
Ellibs e-Library Avautuu uuteen ikkunaan
The links will open in a new window.
The Library Cinema movie streaming service lets you watch as many films as you want for free. The selection of films is constantly being updated. The service is in Finnish, but films are available in several languages.
To log in, you need your library card number and ID.
Library cinema video service Avautuu uuteen ikkunaan
The link will open in a new window.
Visual versions of more than 30 domestic magazines from the last year.
Some of them can be read remotely outside the library. The entire selection is available on the library’s computers or on the library’s wireless network.
For remote access, you will need a library card number and an ID number.
eMagz magazine service Avautuu uuteen ikkunaan
The link will open in a new window.
7 000 newspapers and magazines from 120 countries in 60 languages. You can read them on your own device, wherever you are.
Pressreader magazine service user manual Avautuu uuteen ikkunaan
Pressreader magazine service for home use Avautuu uuteen ikkunaan
Pressreader on library machines Avautuu uuteen ikkunaan
The links will open in a new window.
Classical, jazz and world music. To listen, you need your library card number.
How to use Naxos music services Avautuu uuteen ikkunaan
Naxos (classical) Avautuu uuteen ikkunaan
Naxos Jazz Avautuu uuteen ikkunaan
Naxos World Avautuu uuteen ikkunaan
The links will open in a new window.
You can borrow Celia audiobooks if you find it difficult to read a normal book because of a reading disability, illness, disability or similar reason.
You can sign up for Celia at the library.