Nokia. In addition to attracting great bands, this town has a pretty cool central library. I once had a social media series called "Tribute to Libraries". Basically the idea was to visit every single library in the Helmet (Finnish capital region) system, take some pictures and do a post. May resurrect it at some point.

Related to this, visited the Nokia central library. Open since 2020, the building also has spaces for arts exhibitions, plus meeting rooms and work spaces. Being a modern library, it only has 90K books available, with a lot of space dedicated to various services.

Link: https://visitnokia.fi/kohteet/kirjasto-ja-kulttuuritalo-virta/

My previous library journeys: https://jasonrobinson.me/streams/tag/tributetolibraries/

#tributetolibraries #nokia #libraries

Itäkeskus library

Arriving here, I was not surprised to see an ambulance and a police car outside the entrance. Not because of the #library of course. #Itäkeskus just happens to be a rather challenging area with lots of people on low income or unemployment. Many people might only know it because of the rather large shopping center there, which is sadly ironic. Having skipped the unconscious (and likely heavily intoxicated) lady in a wheel chair assisted by the ambulance crew and an aggressively behaving person on possibly more than one intoxicating substance being talked to by the police, I made my way into the Stoa cultural center, where the library is located.

It's a rather large library. First starting operation in 1984, it was expanded in 1998. One of the largest in #Helsinki, having a volume count of 120K, which is larger than the new Oodi library in central Helsinki. Filling two floors, it offers the usual computer and printing services in addition to books, audio and video.

The library also hosts a weekly language cafe, a place where people can practice their Finnish skills, which makes sense giving Itäkeskus has the highest rates of foreigners in the city. It's nice to see local #libraries adapt their services into the needs of the local population.

Something unique in my trip so far, I found the library also has their own blog, which is kind of cool.

Links:

• Itäkeskus library Wikipedia in Finnish
• Homepage
• Strava
• Stoa
• Kirjastoelämää Itäkeskuksen kirjastossa blog

What did I get?

Step Closer (Five Nights at Freddy’s: Fazbear Frights #4)

Another book for my #FNAF fan(atic) daughter.

#TributeToLibraries #cycling

Etelä-Haaga Library

This library was the first new #library to start operation in #Helsinki after the second world war in 1945. Initially operating from a temporary location in a local church, the library got its own building in 1946. From here the library moved several times until getting the building it is located at currently in 1964. It's a brick building located next to the local primary #school.

This is something I want to highlight as very important from personal experience. It makes sense to put #libraries and public school buildings next to each other. Libraries are great sources of #knowledge and can offer not only #information and a place to study for young #students but more importantly a place to spend time at after school. When the library is near the school building, it's more natural for #kids to spend more time there (I know I did!). This is something we've lost imho when many of the new libraries are bundled into for example shopping centers.

The library has two floors and has been recently renovated.

Upstairs next to the kids section there is a story room, which is something common in Finnish libraries. Libraries often organize story reading for small children.

The "art stairs" to the second floor contain changing art installations, currently "Five Elements" by Emmi Aaltonen.

Outside in the yard, there is the summer terrace where people are free to hang out and enjoy books outside in the sunshine. A collection of outside games like Mölkky are also free to use.

According to a Facebook post from the library, you can even borrow a step ladder! I wish I had a library nearby with that possibility.

Links:

• Etelä-Haaga library Wikipedia in Finnish
• Homepage
• Strava

What did I get?

Protesti - Vastarinnan Historiaa (Finnish translated, original name "Protest").

Something to read through while waiting for Extinction Rebellion Finland (#Elokapina) summer rebellion to start - in two days! Check it out should you be located nearby Helsinki.

#TributeToLibraries #cycling

Kallio Library

One of my favourite #libraries for sure, the #library in #Kallio is as cool as Kallio itself. Originally being an area for the working class, it has since evolved into the hip part of town where the coolest bars are, heavily favoured by students and artists.

The majestic library building dates back to 1912, however Kallio library dates back even further to 1889 when it started as a private library with the aim of educating the working class, at the time under the name of Sörnäisten Kansankirjasto. In 1899 the city took the library over and in 1912 it opened in its current building, being the first library building in #Finland to be built from public funds. In 1913 it was finally renamed to Kallio library when the district of Kallio was formed. By volume, it's the fourth busiest of the libraries in Helsinki.

Inside the three floor building shows classical architecture, with approximately 100,000 volumes and a large collection of music, including musical instruments available for loan. The library added a dedicated "rainbow" section to celebrate #LGBT rights in 2015 being the first library in Finland to do so. As a fan of comic books I especially like the dedicated room for #comics.

Links:

• Kallio
• Kallio Library history
• Homepage
• Strava

What did I get?

Ascender, Vol. 3: The Digital Mage.

The Descender series is one of the most captivating #scifi comics I've read in a while and Ascender hasn't disappointed so far. Highly recommend if you're into scifi and comics, but do start with Descender first!

#TributeToLibraries #cycling

Arabianranta Library

This is the first #library in my series which doesn't have it's own dedicated building. It was not always so. The history of the library goes back to 1954 when it was by the name #Toukola library. With the end of the factories in the area, the library was finally decommissioned in 2002.

The #Arabianranta area, which is a part of Toukola, was built between 2000 and 2015. With a final population of 7,500, library services were again needed, and Toukola library was reborn as the Arabianranta library in the iconic Arabia shopping center, which was built in a renovated factory building.

It's great that a new area gets its own library and this makes me wonder why #Kalasatama, with an estimated 30,000 people living here once it's complete, doesn't have plans to have a local library. This is a huge mistake in my opinion. #Libraries offer information, digital services and a place to spend time at for free for anyone, irregardless of wealth or status. And having these services locally is extremely important, just like having local grocery shops is important.

Links: Arabianranta, Homepage, Strava

What did I get?

Camilla Mickwitz - Mimosan Syntymäyö. A great classic storybook of a little witch called Mimosa and her birthday party. Also made as a TV animation.

#TributeToLibraries #cycling

Käpylä Library

One of the more charming areas of #Helsinki. Lots of parks, and a mixture of wooden and simplistic but stylish stone buildings. It's also the location of the "Olympic Village", housing built entirely for the foreign athletes and their guests that were to compete in the 1940 Helsinki Olympics. As the #Olympics got canceled by the second world war, the village was later used as regular housing. There is also the picturesque Wood Käpylä, built in the 1920's and since declared protected as historically valuable.

The Käpylä library homepage boldly claims "Käpylä is simply the best", which may or may not mean the library itself. The original Käpylä library is one of the oldest in Helsinki, starting operation in 1926. In 1939 the library moved into its current building which was fully modernised in 2011.

During the 1950's Käpylä library became the home of the first music library in #Finland. Additionally it was home to things like the Urania philosophical club at those times. My previous visit to the library was some years ago with the kids when they were holding a robotics event. Times change, the library stays.

Links: Käpylä, Homepage, Strava

What did I get?

Terry Pratchett - Guards! Guards!. For my older daughter (again!). Though I have read this book already, it's probably one of my favourite #Discworld #books so far. We've actually got a competition with my older daughter on who will read through the whole official Discworld collection of books first. She was leading for a while but now I've taken the lead with 8 books down to her seven 💪

#TributeToLibraries #cycling

Jakomäki Library

After taken out by bronchitis for 1,5 weeks my plan to visit each of the #libraries in #Helsinki by bike is back in motion. Today, #Jakomäki. This somewhat infamous little suburb at the northernmost border of Helsinki is both the highest point of settlement in Helsinki and also has the highest unemployment rate in the whole city. Coincidence?

Thankfully they have a small but charming library across the street from the local mall. It's a rather inconspicuous building, I first drove past and wondered if I'm in the right place, before spotting a small building with the library sign hidden behind by the spring bloom. The library was built in 1981 and renovated in 2014, and has a very modern and comfy feeling to it. Unfortunately due to covid, all the libraries in Helsinki are currently restricted to quick pickups only, so I didn't take any photos inside. There are some in another blog who I can thank for the building year information.

Links: Jakomäki wikipedia (no page for the library), homepage

What did I get?

Five Nights at Freddy's - Fazbear Frights #6 - Blackbird. My oldest daughter is the biggest #FNAF fan there is and I'm her books dealer.

Strava link

#TributeToLibraries #cycling

Helsinki Central Library Oodi

Oodi, literally "Ode", was inaugurated on 5th December 2018, an "Ode" to #Finland being over 100 years independent as a country. Despite it's name, the library is not the main library of Helsinki. Oodi is a modern kind of library, focusing more on being an open meeting space and offering services than just books. Still, it has a collection of 100 thousand books and a very impressive collection of board games to borrow.

Visually it's a striking beautiful building, both from the outside and inside. People don't just go there for books and services, but also just to spend time and take photos.

The above photo was from today, the following photo from 2019, as currently most of the building is closed due to corona.

Links: WIkipedia, Homepage

What did I get?

The Complete Witchblade, vol 1. Lucky for me the Helsinki library system has a great selection of English language #comics.

This post is a part of my "Tribute to Libraries" series, where I visit all the libraries in Helsinki by bike.

#TributeToLibraries #Helsinki #cycling

#Libraries have always been a very important part of my life. As a kid I spent a lot of time in the local libraries, sucking in #comics and #books. Often in the back room waiting for my mother, who was a librarian, to finish work. Later as an adult I've spent a lot of time in libraries reading newspapers and technology/science/history magazines. These days I don't spend so much time in libraries, but I reserve and pick up things, to read at home.

In #Finland all this is free, provided by #society with tax money. This is extremely important, since it promotes #equality in society and allows #information and #culture to be accessible for those without money to spend. Newly released books especially are expensive. And libraries are not just about books these days, in Finland at least. They provide free or very low cost services for everyone, be it printing services, sewing machines, computer time or 3D printing facilities. This is again extremely important for everyone in society to have access to resources like this, without needing costly equipment.

Even in the corona restrictions, the libraries have stayed open for important services like printing and computer time. For many in society, libraries are the only way to get on the internet, for example. Libraries create a more fair and balanced society, and I think that is super important to remember. I would encourage everyone who thinks libraries are important to keep this in mind in the coming elections and choose a party from the left that wants to keep our excellent library system in place.

As a kind of tribute, and to create myself some #cycling routes for the summer, I'm going to visit all the libraries in at least #Helsinki during the summer. Possibly extending to some in Espoo and Vantaa, should I get that far. For each library, I'll post some details of the library and what I got from there. The order will not unfortunately be alphabetical, due to some of the books I've reserved being more popular than others. And due to corona restrictions, one cannot just go in and browse around.

The first library is one I visit most often, the central library #Oodi. Follows in the next post. Hashtag #TributeToLibraries should you want to follow the posts - or participate yourself in your own location! :)