Category Archives: General

New Library Act and New Strategy for Finnish Public Libraries

License to cure – the new Finnish Library Act gives a mandate for better citizenship

Library services are the most used cultural services in Finland, 50 % of all citizens use the library at least once a month and 20 % use it weekly. A national user inquiry from 2013 showed that experiences of the users according the benefits of the library are remarkable. Nine out of ten respondents told that libraries have made their life better. Finnish people are also heavy library users, last year my library, Tampere City Library, had 22.5 lends/inhabitant. Lending is not decreasing, for example children´s loans went up 6 % last year!

Finland is one of the few countries in the world that has own Library Act, the law that defines tasks and official guidelines to public library`s work. The first Finnish Library Act was published 1928 and it has been renewed several times during decades. The Act must live and develop with the society and it has to reflect surrounding environment and changes in the society. Digitization, economic crises and the changes in the municipalities requires authorities to update the Library Act in Finland.

I had an opportunity to be in the group which prepared the proposal for the new Library Act. The group consisted of the specialists of different institutions like Ministry of Culture and Education, library sectors, library associations and universities. We started our job in Spring 2015 and the work was finished in May 2016. The proposal had been admitted to the Ministry of Culture and Education and will be decided in the Finnish Parliament next autumn. Before that it has a wide statement round in Finnish authorities, libraries etc.

Equality and democracy – basis for the act

The new act enhances in the new way libraries’ tasks in the society. The act´ s goal is to promote among other things citizen´s equal possibilities to civilization and culture, possibilities to lifelong learning, active citizenship and democracy. To implement these goals the baselines are commonality, diversity and multiculturalism.

The former Library Act defined very strictly qualifications for library staff, in the new one we don´t have such exact requirements anymore, just the mention that the person who is in charge of library services in the city or municipality must have higher academic degree and a good experience and knowledge in the library field. There is also mentioning that in the library must have enough staff to take care of the library.

Library services are free of charge in Finland and that matter is crucial and has a long tradition. Libraries and their services must be open and free to everyone despite of destitution or poverty. This paragraph is also in the new law and not just for free lending – also reserving material must be free of charge.

The Library Act is very important to libraries and librarians in Finland, because it gives public libraries rights and at the same time possibilities to act and do their important work in the society and for the society. Of course it is also important for guarantee funding to public libraries. With the act we have a license to make better citizens.

Finnish Public Library Strategy 2016-2020

Another remarkable document for Finnish public libraries was published this year: Library for Citizens – The Way Forward for Public Libraries 2016–2020. There are many similar basic elements in this paper as in the new Library Act, only this is more like a tool for every librarian to cope in everyday work.

METLIB 2016 – Pearls in the desert: unleashing potential (French Version)

Du 23 au 28 avril 2016, se déroulait à Doha au Qatar, la rencontre annuelle de la section des bibliothèques métropolitaines de l’IFLA. Les participants provenant de nombreux pays ont été chaleureusement accueillis par Dr Claudia Lux et l’équipe de la Bibliothèque nationale du Qatar.

Dix-sept communications liées aux sous-thèmes suivants nous ont été adressées :

Innovation in Library Services;
Community Learning;
Developing the Future through Children and Teen Services;
Partnerships;
Staff Development.

Vous avez accès à l’ensemble des présentations à :

Suivant la tradition, le comité organisateur avait également préparé un programme culturel de grande qualité. Les participants furent unanimes à dire que l’organisation de ce METLIB 2016 dépassait toutes les attentes. Un photographe a eu le mandat de saisir les meilleurs moments, ceux-ci étant maintenant disponibles sur Flickr.

Il faut maintenant mettre à votre agenda le METLIB 2017 qui se déroulera à Montréal, du 30 avril au 5 mai.

METLIB 2016 – Pearls in the desert: unleashing potential

The annual meeting of the Metropolitan Libraries of IFLA took place from April 23^rd to 28^th 2016 in Doha, Qatar. The participants from many different countries were warmly welcomed by Dr. Claudia Lux and the Qatar National Library team.

Seventeen talks on the following subthemes were presented:

Innovation in Library Services;
Community Learning;
Developing the Future through Children and Teen Services;
Partnerships;
Staff Development.

All the presentations can be viewed here

As customary, the organizing committee had also prepared a cultural program of great quality. Participants unanimously declared that the organization of this METLIB 2016 surpassed all expectations. A photographer was hired to snap the best moments, which can now be viewed on Flickr:

Circle April 30^th to May 5^th 2017 on your calendar for METLIB 2017 which will take place in Montreal.

Libraries Supporting Family Learning

The Urban Libraries Council (ULC) has released a new Leadership Brief, Libraries Supporting Family Learning which builds on the partnership between ULC and the National Center for Families Learning (NCFL) to increase awareness of the role that libraries play in creating opportunities for families to learn together.

Libraries stand out as the leading community entity providing diverse opportunities for mothers and children and the whole family unit, in all of its iterations, to learn and thrive together. Libraries Supporting Family Learning demonstrates how public libraries are trusted community hubs with unique education assets that contribute to families that are stronger educationally and economically.

Included in the Brief are examples from leading libraries. These examples show only a few ways that libraries are playing a central role as education leaders and partners by engaging children and parents in learning together.

Two Weeks to Go!

There are just two weeks left to apply for the EIFL Public Library Innovation Award for Public libraries improving lives.
• The deadline is May 15th 2016
• The prize is US$1,500 and wide publicity through EIFL’s international networks
• Applications are accepted in English, Russian, French and Spanish – and
• The call is broad, ranging across many important development issues included in the U N2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

Libraries Deliver: Ambition for Public Libraries in England 2016-2021

CILIP has reported that after considerable preliminary cross-sector consultation, the Libraries Taskforce has published an open consultation draft document Libraries Deliver: Ambition for Public Libraries in England 2016-2021. The Ambition document sets out a vision of the value and impact of public libraries. Once finalised, Ambition will directly feed into the creation of an action plan showing how local and national government and the library profession will work together with local communities and other partners to make this shared ambition a reality.

Some very strong infographics highlight the ways in which public libraries support user needs.

In their vision for the 21st century, the report sees the purpose of the public library network as contributing to the delivery of 7 areas:
•reading and literacy
•digital literacy
•health and wellbeing
•economic growth
•culture and creativity
•communities
•learning

Feedback on the document is welcomed.

Library as the 3rd Place

After home and work what do you consider the 3rd place?

On April 23rd, World Book, Radio-Canada, will present a documentary done by Martine Forand about Public Library. The title is Le troisieme lieu, la Bibliothèque publique : Public Library, the third place.

This documentary presents the role of public libraries, as an inclusive place helping new comers, students, families etc. Images include many libraries across Canada and Finland.

It will view on ici radio-Canada at 22 p.m.
Good viewing!

IFLA Public Libraries Section Blog

An interactive international forum for the development and promotion of public libraries