Hakunila Library, Vantaa, Finland

Name of the Library: Hakunila Library
Parent Organisation: Vantaa City Library
Street Address: Kimokuja 5
Postal Address:  FI-01200 VANTAA FINLAND
Telephone :358983930805
Web Address: http://www.helmet.fi/hakunilankirjasto
Library Email: hakunila.kirjasto@vantaa.fi

Type of Library :Medium size town library
Population served: ca. 29 000
Project Type: Refurbishment
Size (square metres): ca. 600
Date of Completion: 30.8.2013
Architect: Interior Designer Minna Haapakoski

Description
Hakunila Library was refurbished in 9 months during 2012-2013.

The opening day was Aug. 30th, 2013. Library patrons were included in this project. At first they were given an opportunity to evaluate the library through a customer survey. Based on their answers, we created three workshops to get a better insight into what is important for a modern library patron as regards space and collections. Interior designer Ms. Minna Haapakoski, who is specialized in re-using materials in interior designs, made a plan using the knowledge we gathered from the workshops. Also, the collection was evaluated and re-arranged in theme areas to make it easier for patrons to find what they need.

Most of the old bookshelves were re-used. They were painted, lowered and now there are wheels under them. Now it is also easier to modify the space if needed for performances, etc. The space is now more colorful and open.

The refurbishment was made with help and cooperation with local enterprises. For example, a local paint factory donated us the needed amount of paint for the furniture.

Besides basic library functions, our patrons want us to be a local cultural center. When possible, we organize musical performances and literature events. For example, in spring 2014 there was a library dance event. We pushed shelves aside and people were invited to dance to old Finnish dance music. We have two reading groups, one of them has been active for seven years and the other one, concentrating on thrillers and detective stories, started at the beginning of 2015. People can also watch movies on our premises and there is a space for art exhibitions.

For children we have clubs in cooperation with local organizations and we have volunteers who come twice a week just to keep the children company, when needed.
Awards, case studies, further information
We attended a satellite conference and the IFLA conference in Singapore in 2013 with two presentations.

Click to access 086-ervasti-en.pdf

 

 

Seinäjoki Public Library , Finland

Main entrance. Photo Jukka Kontkanen

Name of the Library: Seinäjoki Public Library – Provincial Library
Parent Organisation: City of Seinäjoki

Street Address: Alvar Aallon katu 14, 60100 Seinäjoki, Finland
Postal Address: P.O.B. 217, 60100 Seinäjoki, Finland
Telephone : +358 6 416 2317
Web Address:
http://www2.seinajoki.fi/english/services/library/ (services of the library)
http://seinajoenkirjasto.blogspot.fi/p/the-new-main-library-apila.html (main library building)
Library Email: kirjasto@seinajoki.fi

Type of Library:  Central/ Main Library , Regional Library
Population served: There are about 60 000 inhabitants in Seinäjoki.
Project Type: Extension,  New Building
Size (square metres): 3 500 square meters
Date of Completion The main library Apila was opened to public on the 20th of August 2012.
Architect JKMM architects, Head designer is architect Mr. Asmo Jaaksi

Reading steps are the heart of the library. Photo Jukka Kontkanen

Description
The main library in Seinäjoki consists of two buildings: Apila, opened in 2012, and the old main library, designed by Alvar Aalto. The Aalto library was built in 1965. It will be repaired and renovated the way Aalto originally designed it. The Aalto library will be opened most likely in the spring of 2015. There will be an underground passageway between the two buildings.

The check-in and check-out are fully automated. There is a check-in unit in the entrance hall and check-out units in every department.  The check-in and check-out are based on RFID-technology (Radio Frequency Identification): All the material in the library has an RFID tag that includes information about the specific item. Also bar code labels are still used.

For reserves there is a self-service pick-up: every reserve has an individual reserve number that helps to identify the reserves. The customers can find their reserved material according to this number. You can’t by accident check-out someone else’s reserve; the check-out unit prevents it.

The new library located so near the famous Aalto centre has affected the designing. The architecture of the library had to differ from Alvar Aalto designs but there are also references to Aalto in the Apila library. The shape of the building has been influenced by Japanese origami; there are a lot of sharp edges and triangular forms, another example are the pleats in the book hall ceiling.
There is a lot of concrete visible and as a contrast to it there are e.g. white wooden gratings covering the walls in the ground floor, white desks and colourful furniture. There are a lot of Finnish and international design classics among the furniture. The interior design is by interior decorator Päivi Meuronen. Her touch can be seen everywhere in the library, she has designed the fittings and chosen the furniture. Many items are designed specific for this library.

Children’s Department. Photo Hanna Kotila

In the children’s department the scale is fitted for children. The ceiling is lower and the furniture is smaller. There is even a small toilet for children. There is a lovely story time room with magical atmosphere. Book houses are a good place to read with parents or do homework.

The youth and music department is located in the basement and is inspired by the book Hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy by Douglas Adams. Atmosphere there is futuristic and the main color is white. The reading nooks in the wall bring color to the space.

Space to spend time:
In the Apila library there are lot of space just to spend time. Customers have really taken the library as their living room.
– news area with café and tables and computers for reading newspapers and magazines
– colorful reading nooks in the youth and music department
– book houses in the children’s department
– quiet reading room for studying
– lots of tables, rocking chairs and armchairs for reading, meeting people etc.
– reading steps (a venue for events and a place for reading)
– Jaaksi hall (a conference room)
Events
There are lots of different kinds of events in the library: concerts, author’s visits, meetings, dancing, storytimes, singing, book talks, exhibitions, lessons on using the internet and databases, lectures, movie nights etc. Part of the events are arranged with partners in cooperation.

Awards, case studies, further information
Seinäjoki City Library is among Top 10 of Finnish architecture biennal review 2014
The European Copper in Architecture Awards gave Special commendations to the Seinäjoki city library.
Seinäjoki city library is Concrete building of the year 2012 in Finland
Commendation in European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award 2013

 

Tapiola Library, Espoo, Finland

Learning to Code at Tapiola Library

Name of the Library Tapiola Library
Parent Organisation: Espoo City Library

Street Address:Kaupinkalliontie 10
Postal Address: Tapiola Library, P.O. Box 3615, 02070 City of Espoo, Finland
Telephone : +35850 4289392
(incl Country code)
Web Address http://www.helmet.fi/tapiolalibrary
Library Email kirjasto.tapiola@espoo.fi

Type of Library : District Library
Population served: 40 000
Project Type: Conversion
Size (square metres):2000
Date of Completion: 1989
Architect: Arto Sipinen

High School students interview Minister of Transport and Local Government at Tapiola Library

Description
 1. We set out to change our library culture to a more lively ‘makers’-library with a hacker mentality. We are involved in promoting sustainable development by inspiring people to do things yourself, recycle and to learn new things. This is achieved by deconstructing the traditional library space into a ‘creative disorder’-space for customers and employees. We are in the process of releasing the library space for the use of the community. The library staff holds their meetings in customer premises. Some of the staff and the director of the library work without a service desk. This way we are more easily encountered by customers. By reducing our traditional collection we free up space for customers to act and be. Cultural events are being held for both adults and children (literature, politics, movies, singing performances, ballet, bobbing lace.) Customers are served porridge on Thursday mornings.

2. The lending of music records has been declining for several years. We moved the music related material to the middle of the library thus freeing up roughly 300 square meters of space for our 3D-printers, electronic drums, embroidery, vinyl-cutter, shirt press, book repair station, AV-digitalization equipment, a music workshop, a drone camera copter etc. In this makerspace customers manufacture, learn and work. Anyone who enters the space is welcome to join in any aforementioned activity. A staff member is always present to assist and uphold a pleasant atmosphere. The library offers a continuous stream of programming courses for all ages and workshops for shirt-making, crocheting and music.

Learning by doing at Tapiola Library

3. The children’s section is being transformed into one of a more open and secure nature. All children’s non-fiction literature has been merged with adult literature of the same type. Space is being freed to accommodate more active ways of interaction. READs (Reading education assistance dogs) are available for reservation once a week per customer. Short films are made and tabletop/internet games played.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lielahti District Library, Finland

The gaming room in Lielahti library is great fun for children and adults alike. Photographer Susanna Lyly

Name of the Library: Lielahti District Library
Parent Organisation:Tampere City Library

Street Address: Teivaankatu 1
Postal Address:  33400 TAMPERE, FINLAND
Telephone :+358408007842
Web Address:
http://kirjasto.tampere.fi/kirjastot-ja-aukiolot/lielahden-kirjasto
Library Email:kirjasto.lielahti@tampere.fi

Type of Library:  (mark applicable)
District Library
Population served: 11000 people in the immediate surrounding area, though the library serves people even in the neighbouring municipalities.
Project Type: New Building
Size (square metres): 1033m2
Date of Completion
19.5.2014
Architect:
Main designer: Arkkitehdit A3 Oy
Interior designer: Marjo Kreku

Description
Lielahti district library is a new vibrant and airy library, the first one in Tampere to be situated in a shopping center. In addition to shopping opportunities, other public services, such as a health-care center and a service center for the elderly, are situated in the same building. As such, the library is ideally situated in the center of people’s daily activities.

Special services in the library include a gaming room in which console and board games can be played, urban offices for working space, and a music room with surround sound capabilities for listening to music or playing the piano.

The children’s department looks fun and whimsical with its bright colors and furry furniture

The library also includes a Tietotori, a computing area in which the library’s media secretaries hold computer courses and help customer’s in coping with the necessities of the information society, all free of charge. The library also cooperates with the local adult education centre in order to offer an even wider range of courses.

In general, Lielahti library collaborates widely, particularly with the other public services in the building. Ownership of some of the rooms is shared, and various events are already being collaborated on. Dancing, gaming and reading events for the elderly, health advice in conjunction with the health-care center and children’s events for the whole shopping center are only some of the possible opportunities.

 

Sello Library, Finland

 

Event in Sello library, view to the main entrance
Photo by Gunilla Heiman

Name of the Library: Sello Library
Parent Organisation: Espoo City Library

Street Address: Leppävaarankatu 9
Postal Address: PL 3611
Telephone : +358 46 877 2096
Web Address: http://www.helmet.fi/fi-FI/Kirjastot_ja_palvelut/Sellon_kirjasto
Library Email: oili.sivula@espoo.fi

Type of Library: District Library
Population served: 70 000
Project Type:Refurbishment
Size (square metres): 5800 (two floors)
Date of Completion 1.9.2003
Architect Architects Helin & Co

Description

Sello Library is located in a shopping mall. Library staff is identified visibly of vests. Work garment is used to emphasize the free usage of space. Space for working, reading, socializing, art exhibitions of our customers, being with children and young people and making music is in particular demand at the moment.

Sello Library opened a Makerspace with 3D printers, lamination machine and sewing machines in April 2014.

Lava is our Event Stage and our goal is to get the customers involved in organizing most of the events:

– Interviews, music, dance, drama, movies, Literature Evenings
– Yamaha N 1 avantgrand hybrid piano is available all the time on site
– Events for immigrants, events organized by immigrants
– Guidance in using HelMet Web Library, internet, iPad and mobile phones
– Can be reserved for any purpose our customers can think of.
All the events and seminars are free of charge. Drop by and listen to them for a couple of minutes or the entire show.
Pointti for Youth – here and now!
Do you want to dance? Yes, there was a street dance evening and a competition last month at our library.

Meet our teenage customers and feel young again. Youth have found Pointti. That is the territory of the young. This is their kind of library section with welcoming feeling, non-discrimination and staff who are there just for teens and interested in their culture and their day and doings. Here the kids can relax, play all kind of games, find interesting books, create events together with the library or just hang around. There is no need to borrow a book!
– A place to meet people and talk with friends
– Young people’s information service
– Familiar staff around
– There can be even 70 teens during one evening
– All fantasy books are here
Librarians work together with Youth Services from 1.8.2013 on and this unique collaboration has been a success! The common aim is to support the growth of youth and create preconditions for civic activity.

Event for promoting reading in Sello library
Photo by Gunilla Heiman

Music
Sello Music Library activates your senses. You can borrow, listen, train, record and perform. Experience music totally, act as a subject at the extreme.
– CDs, Music DVDs, Music magazines, sheet music and music books
– Listen to music (vinyls as well!), play and record your own music in the Studio.
– Three impressive Yamahas: a grand piano, an acoustic piano and a digital piano
– Midi-based recording Studio (equipped by Apple iMac, Native instrument’s Komplete Sound library, Focusrite Pro40 soundcard, Arturia analog synthesizer, etc.)

Library for Russian speakers (funded by state) serves the metropolitan wide area and via self service package automats sends materials to every town in Finland by order. Collection holds 20 000 items and web service is opening in Cyrillic 18.11.2014.

Entresse Library, Finland

Name of the Library: Entresse Library
Parent Organisation: Espoo City Library

Street Address: Siltakatu 11
Postal Address: PL 3605
Telephone : +358 46 877 2740
Web Address
http://www.helmet.fi/fi-FI/Kirjastot_ja_palvelut/Entressen_kirjasto
Library Email: anni.kaariainen@espoo.fi

Type of Library: District Library
Population served: 50 000
Project Type: Refurbishment
Size (square metres): 3000
Date of Completion 1.4.2009
Architect Architects Jukka Ollikainen / HKP Oy, Interior Architects / Monni & Koskivaara

Description
Entresse Library is a living, multicultural library full of sounds and colors. Our personnel is identified visibly by staff vests. More than a quarter of our staff has an immigrant background and about one fifth of our collections are in foreign languages.

Entresse Library is wheelchair-accessible throughout and we also welcome families with small children. We provide areas for working, reading and socializing. Our customers can arrange their own art exhibitions. The playing area for children and the various facilities for young people and making music are in particular demand at the moment.

Entresse Library has also special equipment such as a lamination machine, a sewing machine and equipment for transferring content from vinyl records, cassettes or video tape to digital format. Jukeboksi – separate premises with a music studio and small stage for music and dancing events and a kitchen for cooking clubs was opened in April 2013.
Estradi is our Events Stage and our goal is to get the customers involved in organizing most of the events:
– Interviews, music, dance, drama, movies
– digital piano is available all the time on site
– Events for immigrants, events organized by immigrants
– Guidance in using HelMet Web Library, internet, iPad and mobile phones
– Estradi can be reserved for almost any purpose our customers can think of
All the events and seminars are free of charge. Drop by and listen to them for a couple of minutes or the entire show.
Kibe for Youth – here and now!
Meet our teenage customers and feel young again. Kibe is the territory for the young, and teenagers have taken it as their own. This is their kind of library section with welcoming feeling, non-discrimination and staff who are there just for teens and interested in their culture and their activities. Here the kids can relax, play all kind of games in a separate game room, find interesting books, create events together with the library or just hang around. There is no need to borrow a book!
– A place to meet people and talk with friends
– Young people’s information service
– Familiar staff
– There can be close to 70 teens during one evening
– Most of the fantasy books are here
Once a week librarians work together with a youth leader from Youth Service department of Espoo. The sessions started in 1.1.2014 and this unique collaboration has been a success!
Music department and Jukeboksi
Entresse Music Library activates your senses. You can borrow, listen, train, record and perform. Experience music totally, act as a subject to the extreme.
– CDs, Music DVDs, Music magazines, sheet music and music books
– Listen to music, play music
– Music events stage (in Jukeboksi)
– A digital piano, which includes headphone output
– Record your own music in the studio (in Jukeboksi)