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. Until 1 August 2006, it was known as the Helsinki University Library.
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.[1] Also, the National Library has the obligation to collect and
preserve materials published on the Internet.
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 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 Bookcave), a 57,600-cubic-metre
(2,030,000 cu ft) underground bunker drilled into solid rock, 18 metres (59 ft) below the library.[2][3]

C.L. Engel and Gustaf Nyström, University Architects

Rotunda by Gustaf Nyström

 

Fabiania (View from Fabianinkatu)

See also[edit]

 University of Helsinki
 Helsinki Central Library

References[edit]

1. ^ Laki kulttuuriaineistojen tallettamisesta ja säilyttämisestä (1433/2007) Retrieved 2011-09-19

2. ^ Rakennussuma purkautuu. Yliopistolainen 5/99 Archived 2007-06-22 at the Wayback Machine.
Retrieved 2007-10-24. (in Finnish)
3. ^ Keskustakampuksen kirjastojen kehittämissuunnitelma 1998–2005 Archived 2007-06-09 at
the Wayback Machine. University of Helsinki. Retrieved 2007-10-24. (in Finnish)

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has

media related to National
Library of Finland.

 Official website