National Library of Finland

The National Library of Finland (Finnish: Kansalliskirjasto, Swedish: Nationalbiblioteket) is the foremost research library in Finland. Administratively the library is part of the University of Helsinki. From 1919 to 1 August 2006, it was known as the Helsinki University Library (Finnish: Helsingin yliopiston kirjasto).[1]

Not to be confused with the Helsinki University Library established in 2010, which was also the national library's name from 1919 to 2006.
National Library of Finland
Kansalliskirjasto
Nationalbiblioteket
The main building of the National Library of Finland
LocationHelsinki (formerly Turku)
TypeNational library
Established1640
Collection
Size3M items
Legal depositYes
Other information
DirectorKai Ekholm
Employees264 (2014)
Websitewww.nationallibrary.fi/en

The National Library is responsible for storing the Finnish cultural heritage. By Finnish law, the National Library is a legal deposit library and receives copies of all printed matter, as well as audiovisual materials excepting films, produced in Finland or for distribution in Finland. These copies are then distributed by the Library to its own national collection and to reserve collections of five other university libraries.[2] Also, the National Library has the obligation to collect and preserve materials published on the Internet to its web archive Finnish Web Archive.[3] The library also maintains the online public access catalog Finna.[4]

Any person who lives in Finland may register as a user of the National Library and borrow library material. The publications in the national collection, however, are not loaned outside the library. The library also is home to one of the most comprehensive collections of books published in the Russian Empire of any library in the world.

The National Library is located in Helsinki, close to the Senaatintori square. The oldest part of the library complex, designed by Carl Ludvig Engel, dates back to 1844. The newer extension Rotunda, designed by architect Gustaf Nyström, was completed in 1906. The bulk of the collection is, nonetheless, stored in Kirjaluola (Finnish for “book cave”), a 57,600-cubic-metre (2,030,000 cu ft) underground bunker drilled into solid rock, 18 metres (59 ft) below the library.[5][6]

  • C.L. Engel and Gustaf Nyström, University Architects
    C.L. Engel and Gustaf Nyström, University Architects
  • Rotunda by Gustaf Nyström
    Rotunda by Gustaf Nyström
  • Fabiania (View from Fabianinkatu)
    Fabiania (View from Fabianinkatu)
  • Inside view of National Library of Finland 001
    Inside view of National Library of Finland 001

See also

References
  1. "Helsingin yliopiston uuden kirjastokokonaisuuden nimeksi Helsingin yliopiston kirjasto". Kirjastot.fi (in Finnish). Helsinki City Library. 2000s. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. Laki kulttuuriaineistojen tallettamisesta ja säilyttämisestä (1433/2007) Retrieved 2011-09-19
  3. Karkimo, Ari (2 April 2009). "Suomalaisten netti museoidaan". Tivi (in Finnish). Alma Media. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  4. "Finna-verkkokirjasto kattavasti käytössä ammattikorkeakouluissa" (in Finnish). Satakunta University of Applied Sciences. 29 September 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  5. Rakennussuma purkautuu. Yliopistolainen 5/99 Archived 2007-06-22 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2007-10-24. (in Finnish)
  6. Keskustakampuksen kirjastojen kehittämissuunnitelma 1998–2005 Archived 2007-06-09 at the Wayback Machine. University of Helsinki. Retrieved 2007-10-24. (in Finnish)
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