The National Library of Finland

16

description

Brochure, published 2016

Transcript of The National Library of Finland

Page 1: The National Library of Finland
Page 2: The National Library of Finland

2 THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF FINLAND

Page 3: The National Library of Finland

3THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF FINLAND

THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF FINLAND is Finland’s largest and oldest research library whose unique collections are available to all. The library has cherished traditions as well as a firm grasp on current and future challenges.

We are responsible for the accumulation, description, preservation, and avail-ability for customer use of the national published heritage. Our collections contain approximately three million books and periodicals as well as an equivalent quan-tity of other resources. Digitisation facilitates the materials’ widespread use online regardless of time or place.

The National Library of Finland functions as the guiding force for the entire library sector and works closely with museums and archives. Besides promoting domestic and international cooperation, we are actively participating in the con-struction of our society’s future service infrastructure.

Internationality is an important part of the National Library’s operations and development of its services, as well as a prerequisite for the attainment of its strategic goals.

Known for its superb architecture, the library’s main building facing the Senate Square is a historically valuable landmark. The most extensive renovation in the library’s history was implemented during the years 2013–2015.

Welcome to the National Library of Finland!

Page 4: The National Library of Finland

4 THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF FINLAND

The National Library of Finlandhas approximately 400 incunables, or works printed before 1501.The collection is highly significant internationally.

The National Library of Finland’s collections contain over three million books and periodicals as well as an equivalent quantity of other resources such as audio recordings, ephemera, maps, sheet music, posters, and manuscripts. Primarily sources for historical, cultural, and social research, our materials are also used for other informational purposes.

Based on legal provisions, the National Collection has grown for over 300 years. The collection includes all publications printed in Finland or foreign writings about Finland beginning from the year 1488.

The manuscript collections’ main ma-terials are medieval parchment fragments, the archives and manuscripts of renowned Finnish scientists, and Finnish composers’ scores.

Our Slavonic Library has the most extensive collection of 1800s Russian publi-cations outside of Russia. The internationally recognised and intensively utilised collection has for the most part been assembled from legal deposit copies of Russian publications obtained when Finland was an Autonomous Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire.

Many of the National Library of Finland’s 30 special collections are a part of Europe’s unique cultural history. Our special collec-tions include, for example, A. E. Nordenskiöld’s cartographic library, the library of the Monrepos country estate, the Reenpää collection, Japonica collection, Hebraica collection, as well as the Brummeri-ana collection focusing on literature for children and young adults.

Finland’s mostextensive collections

The NationalLibrary hasover 100

shelf kilometresof variousresources.

Page 5: The National Library of Finland

5THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF FINLAND

Page 6: The National Library of Finland

6 THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF FINLAND

Page 7: The National Library of Finland

7THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF FINLAND

The culturalheritage onlineThe National Library of Finland digitises its culturally and historically valuable collections to facilitate the materials’ use and protect the original publications. Vintage Finnish newspapers and magazines, ephem-era, audio recordings, as well as books and maps, have been digitised to make them freely available online. Copyright-protected digitised materials can only be accessed through legal deposit terminals located at the National Library and other legal deposit libraries. We also digitise materials based on cooperative or business agreements.

digi.kansalliskirjasto.fi periodicals, newspapers, ephemera

doria.fibooks, maps, images, music, and ephemera

fragmenta.kansalliskirjasto.ficollection of medieval parchment fragments

fennougrica.kansalliskirjasto.fidigital collection of Finno-Ugric publications

verkkoarkisto.kansalliskirjasto.fiSince 2006 the National Library has downloaded a representative and diversified sample of Finnish public websites and electronic publications. For reasons related to the law of copyright, the materials can only be accessed through legal deposit terminals located at the National Library and other legal deposit libraries.

varia.kansalliskirjasto.fiDeposited e-publications such as books, periodicals, sheet music, and music. For reasons related to the law of copyright, the materials can only be accessed through legal deposit terminals located at the National Library and other legal deposit libraries.

Page 8: The National Library of Finland

8 THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF FINLAND

An influential force and promoterof openness in the library sector The National Library of Finland is the library sector’s guid-ing force. Besides providing expertise, common services, as well as resources for Finnish libraries, archives, and museums, we also work closely with public administra-tion, particularly research and teaching institutes.

Our services enable us to promote the availability of information in society and provide resources in conve-nient formats that facilitate their openness and reuse.

Services from platforms to materials:

• FinELib negotiates and acquires online resources, such as periodicals and databases, for libraries.

• The Finna.fi service provides all Finns with sin-gle-source access to the resources of archives, librar-ies, and museums; it also replaces these organisations’ own online services.

• We help libraries effectively describe their materials at a single location, the National Data Repository (Melinda). High-quality descriptions enable the librar-ies’ customers to easily find various kinds of materials.

• Facilitating the publication and browsing of vocabular-ies and ontologies, the Finto Service provides informa-tion gatherers with enhanced interoperability between metadata from different organisations.

• We provide information systems supporting library services for libraries, archives, museums, and more extensively for public administration.

• We promote open publishing by providing publica-tion archives as well as other platforms for scientific publication.

Page 9: The National Library of Finland

9THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF FINLAND

A partnerfor publishersIn cooperation with the publishing sector, the National Library of Finland deposits and describes domestic pub-lication production according to the Act on the Deposit and Preservation of Cultural Material (1433/2007); its purpose is to preserve cultural materials for future gen-erations and facilitate the information’s accessibility. The deposited materials include printed products, audio re-cordings, as well as digital publications and other online materials. Legal deposit collections also contain materi-als that would otherwise vanish from circulation quickly, or that are not normally stored by other libraries.

Where applicable, the National Library of Finland describes the materials contained in the databases for Finnish publication production: the National Bibliogra-phy and the National Discography. The deposited ma-

terials can be accessed at the National Library and other legal deposit libraries. Other libraries and operators in the book publishing industry also use the databases.

The National Library of Finland maintains interna-tionally accepted identifier systems (such ISBN and ISSN) that support publications’ identification as well as their description and distribution. Finland’s ISBN and ISSN Centres coordinate and develop services conforming to international identifier standards while providing information, advice, and training for the pub-lishing sector.

The National Library of Finland forms partnerships with publishers related to the digitisation and expanded use of resources.

Page 10: The National Library of Finland

10 THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF FINLAND

The National Library of Finland’s main building de-signed by Carl Ludvig Engel was built during the period 1840–1845. The National Library’s main building is one of the best known examples of the early 1800s Empire style in Finland. Besides being considered one of Engel’s most distinguished works, it is also the best example of an Engel-designed building that has survived in its original condition.

Construction of the Rotunda, a library extension designed to store books, was completed in 1906. Steel

framing and reinforced concrete were used to ensure fire safety. Architect Gustaf Nyström skilfully integrated the Rotunda’s exterior with the library’s existing section.

Named for its location on Fabianinkatu, Fabiania was originally built in 1844–1846 to house the University’s chemistry and anatomy departments. The laboratory building was the architect Jean Wiik’s first independent design commission. Fabiania has been in the library’s use since 1998.

A protected landmark

Page 11: The National Library of Finland

11THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF FINLAND

In 1640 the old gymnasium in Turku is converted to the Royal Turku Academy. The gymnasium’s collection of approximately 20 books marks the beginning of the Turku Academy’s library. In 1707 a letter from the Royal Collegium orders Swedish printing presses to furnish a copy of every printed publication to the country’s universities. In 1809 Finland becomes an Autonomous Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire, and between the years 1820–1917, the university receives a copy of all publications printed in Russia.

In 1828 the university is moved to Helsinki where it be-gins its activities as the “Imperial Alexander University”. In 1832 the university building designed by the archi-tect Carl Ludvig Engel is completed. In 1845 the new li-brary building on the university building’s northern side is taken into use. During the years 1879–1881 a library renovation is overseen by the architect Frans Sjöström. In 1893 the installation of electric lighting extends the library’s opening hours. The large reading room with its reference library is opened.

In 1906 the library’s facilities expand significantly when the Rotunda extension designed by Gustaf Nyström is completed. By the time Finland achieves indepen-dence in 1917 the library’s collections have grown to include no less than 300,000 volumes. During the 1950s the library’s facilities have become inadequate. Underground storage caves extending to the Porthania building are hollowed out of the bedrock according to

the designs of architect Aarne Ervi. During the 1970s the library’s cataloguing and loans begin to be com-puterised in Finland. Between the years 1977–1985 the library building is renovated by the architect Olof Hansson. Since 1982 the library has also received legal deposit copies of recordings. The growing collection of musical manuscripts is augmented with printed mate-rials

During the mid-1990s, the library obtains the use of the entire “Zebra” Block when the Faculty of Pharmacy moves to Viikki, renovation by the architects LPR Oy, library block taken into use in 1995. In 1995 the Ameri-ca Center Library becomes part of the National Library of Finland as agreed with the Embassy of the United States. Between 1998–2000 the Rotunda is renovated with LPR Oy as the architects.

In 2000, the “Cave”, a new underground collection stack designed by the architects Jukka Turtiainen Oy and Laiho-Pulkkinen-Raunio is taken into use. In 2005 the ownership of the library building is transferred from the state to the University of Helsinki’s funds. In 2006 an amendment to the Universities Act changes the name of the library to the National Library of Finland. During the period 2011–2012 the Rotunda’s facades are renovated with LPR Oy as the architects. Between 2013 and 2015 the architects LPR Oy oversee the most extensive renovation in the library building’s history.

A protected landmark Stages of the NationalLibrary’s history

Page 12: The National Library of Finland

12 THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF FINLAND

Exhibitions and eventsThe National Library of Finland offers its visitors thematic exhibitions that present the library’s unique collections. In connection with the exhibitions we organise various kinds of lectures and concerts in the acoustically superb Cupola Hall.

Travelling exhibitions can also be loaned from the National Library.

Browse a more detailed listing of our cultural events at the address nationallibrary.fi.

You can helppreserve thecultural heritage

The National Library of Finland’s basic task is to preserve Finland’s published heritage for future generations. The task is challenging; materials become worn with use, while paper and other materials self-destruct. In partic-ular, industrially manufactured acidic papers become brittle with age. The materials’ rescue operations include conservation, digitising, and microfilming, but the work is extremely demanding and slow owing to the large quantity of materials.

The cultural heritage is our common property; its preservation is everyone’s responsibility. Besides public funding, the National Library of Finland needs private funding and partners to safeguard its collections.

The Cultural Heritage Fund of the National Library of Finland was established to promote the preservation, availability, and awareness of the cultural heritage. Dona-tions made to the fund are used directly for the donation targets.

Page 13: The National Library of Finland

13THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF FINLAND

Page 14: The National Library of Finland

14 THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF FINLAND

Page 15: The National Library of Finland

15THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF FINLAND

Visiting address: Unioninkatu 36Postal address: PL 15, 00014 HELSINGIN YLIOPISTO

Customer service: [email protected], Tel. 02941 23196nationallibrary.fi

BROWSE THE COLLECTIONS AND THEIR CONTENTS

finna.fikansalliskirjasto.finna.fidigi.kansalliskirjasto.fi

doria.fiverkkoarkisto.kansalliskirjasto.fi

THE CULTURAL HERITAGE FUND OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF FINLAND

rahasto.kansalliskirjasto.fi/ [email protected]

Welcome to theNational Library of Finland

facebook.com/Kansalliskirjasto

@NatLibFi

@natlibfi

flickr.com/natlibfi

Page 16: The National Library of Finland

The National Library of Finland,national treasures for all.