Libraries in Finland
Finland is known for its comprehensive library network, high user and lending rates and effective use of technology and information networks in libraries.
Municipal libraries, research libraries, specialist libraries and libraries at educational institutions form part of the national and international information service network. Both municipal and research libraries are open to all. Students use public and research libraries side by side.
In Finland the guiding principle in public libraries is to offer free access to cultural and information sources for everyone irrespective of their place of residence and financial standing. No fee is charged for either borrowing or the use of library collections at the library.
About 80% of Finns are regular library users. Finns visit a library 11 times a year on average. Each year a Finn takes out 19 books, discs or magazines on average. The library net sites register over 46 million visits a year.
Library ICT networking
The Finnish library system is an organised, interactive network based on extensive use of information and communications technologies (ICT) and information networks. Library services in Finland are effective, efficient, accessible and cost-effective, and the rates of lending and library use are high.
Library matters in the Ministry of Education and Culture
At the Ministry, the Division for Cultural Policy of the Department for Cultural, Sport and
Youth Policy administers matters relating to public libraries, Celia-Library for the Visually
Impaired. The Department for Education and Science Policy handles matters relating to university
libraries, the National Library, polytechnic libraries and the Repository Library. The Ministry has
a Library Administration Group to coordinate library measures.
More about the work of the Division for Cultural and Division for Higher Education and
Science in the Ministry section.
