Impact of Libraries on the Society - The Finnish Experience

Impact of Libraries on the SocietyThe Finnish Experience

Rauha MaarnoExecutive director, Finnish Library AssociationSeminar: The Role of ICT and Libraries for the Nations Development, Mtwara Regional Library, Tanzania 20th Oct. 2016

Kuva: ABC Open Riverland, Flickr

Values• Free for everyone• Freedom of expression• Instrument of democracy• Supporting communities

Photo: New Central Library in Helsinki, will be opened 2018

This is how all libraries should be…

Library network in Finland

Finland – land of libraries

•Population 5,5 million•One library per 5414 inhabitants•765 public libraries and 142 mobile libraries

Public library statistics 2015

•49 million visits•89 million loans•One of the most used public service

Legal framework

•The Library Act •Libraries are free of charge for users•By law, every municipality has to have a library with collections and trained staff•Library is a basic service comparable to schools and health care

Funding

•Public libraries are funded by• Municipalities 75 % • State 25 %

Main tasks

•Collections: books, magazines etc.•Space: studying, meetings, workshops, events•Service: information seeking, improving ICT skills and other skills

The new Library Act (Jan 2017)

Tasks of the public library• access to collections, information and culture• advance reading and literature• provide information service and support in

information seeking• space for learning, working and hobbies• advance dialogue and connections in the society

Partners for libraries

•Schools and day care & other municipal services •Non-profit organizations•Other libraries•Coming up: volunteers and sponsorship

Impacts on the society

Literacy and ICT skills

Kuva: Espoon kaupunginkirjasto

Advancing literacy and skills

•Early literacy: libraries, day care and schools work together•Reading for fun is the key to success in studies•Library advances ICT skills•23 % of public library users took part in educational activities at the library

Library is not just for books

Photo: Tampere City Library

From collections to connections

•According to studies from nordic countries (Denmark, Norway) 55–60 % of library users are not lending books •Using libraries for meetings, reading magazines, participating educational and cultural activities etc.•Library as a place for people

Support for employment

Kuva: Turun kaupunginkirjasto, Arto Takala

Public access computers in libraries helped (2013):

•0.4 million people to improve their education•0.2 million people to improve their employment or business prospects•0.1 million people to improve their access to resources necessary to find work

Success of libraries is based on…

• Law and public funding• Needs of users are used in planning• Educated staff, thinking out of the box• The Finns just love their libraries!

Please contact:rauha.maarno@fla.fiTwitter: @RauhaMaarno

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