# Helsinki City Library

Helsinki City Library (Finnish: Helsingin Kaupunginkirjasto, until 1910 Helsinki People's Library) is the largest public library in Finland. Owned by the City of Helsinki, the library has 37 branches and a collection of about 1.56 million books. The City Library is part of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Libraries network.

## History
### Helsinki People's Library (1860–1876)

On 7 October 1860, the Helsinki People's Library (Finnish: Helsingin kansankirjasto) opened at Hallituskatu 11, the current location of the University of Helsinki's Porthania building. Funding for the library was raised by the Helsinki Women's Association with the goal of educating Helsinki's residents and provide them with constructive leisure activities. The effort was led by teacher Helene Simelius, author Zacharias Topelius, and Bishop Frans Ludvig Schauman.
In its first year of operation, the library held about 400 to 500 books (primarily in Swedish) and circulated about 1,700 loans. Borrowing books was free, which allowed the library to enjoy many patrons, but at the same time it caused financial problems. The library had to move from one rented location to another every couple of years, and the volunteer librarians also changed frequently. Due to its lack of funding, the library began charging patrons in 1867, and in 1871 it began to receive an annual subsidy from the City of Helsinki. Thanks to the city's support, the library's finances stabilized, and it could hire a professional staff.
Five years later, the library's board offered to transfer the library to the city. On 28 March 1876, the City Council of Helsinki formally agreed to take over operation of the library. As the library already operated with city funding, there were no major changes in operations. At the time of the transfer to the city, the People's Library's annual circulation was about 15,000 loans and its collections included more than 2,000 books.

### From People's Library to City Library (1876–1945)

With the city now in control of the library, it began planning for a dedicated building. In 1877, Helsingin Anniskeluyhtiö (Helsinki Liquor Co.), which held a monopoly on alcohol sales in the city on the condition it devoted its profits to benefiting city workers, donated 61,405.29 Finnish markka (€368,659.34 in 2020) for the library to secure its own building. A plot of land was acquired on the corner of Rikhardinkatu and Korkeavuorenkatu in the Kaartinkaupunki district, and architect Theodor Höijer was contracted to design the building. The library moved to its new home in autumn 1882.
With the Rikhardinkatu Library complete, the city began developing branch libraries. In 1898–1899, branch libraries were established in Töölö and Punavuori, and the private Sörnäinen People's Library was taken over by the city. Additional branches opened in Vallila in 1908 and Käpylä in 1926. Most of these branches operated from rented locations, except for the Kallio Library, which received a Karl Hård af Segerstad-building in 1912.
In 1910, the library adopted a new charter as the "Helsinki City Library." As the People's Library, the focus was on the needs of working populace, but the City Library was required to serve all residents regardless of social class.
At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the library's annual circulation volume exceeded 200,000 loans. In 1912, there was a shift to free borrowing and the circulation rate quickly rose to 500,000. In 1930, the library achieved 1 million loans for the first time. To handle the library's growing collection and activity, the Rikhardinkatu Library was expanded in 1922, and through the 1930s the city sought to build a new main library; however, the outbreak of World War II in 1939 mooted those efforts.

### Growing with Helsinki (1945–)

After World War II, the establishment of the Grand Regional Association of Helsinki [fi] brought a great expansion to the City Library. It absorbed the libraries of the former municipalities of Haaga, Huopalahti, Oulunkylä, and Kulosaari, along with libraries in the Helsinki Rural District. In total a dozen additional libraries were added to City Library's five branches and one main location. In 1953, it opened a music library and in 1966 it began operating a bookmobile. In 1986, the library finally completed construction of a new main library in Eastern Pasila. In 2019, the Helsinki City Library registered more than 9 million visitors to its branches.
In 1981, the Helsinki City Library began serving as the national central library for Finnish public libraries, and in 2018 it gained responsibility for overseeing development of libraries nationwide under the 2016 Public Libraries Act.

## About the City Library

As of 2020, the Helsinki Library has 36 branches and one main location. It also operates two bookmobiles and four "patient libraries" (potilaskirjasto) in medical facilities.

### Special collections

The most significant collection in the Helsinki City Library is the Helsinki Collection of material related to the growth of the city. The Kallio Library has a Detective Library donated by the Finnish Whodunnit Society [fi]. The Rikhardinkatu Library has a British Collection of English-language literature and an artist's book collection. Branch libraries also contain material about their local area.

### Locations

| Library branch name | Address | Coordinates | Web link |
| Arabianranta Library | Hämeentie 135 A, 00560 Helsinki | 60°12′32″N 24°58′36″E﻿ / ﻿60.2089°N 24.9767°E﻿ / 60.2089; 24.9767﻿ (Arabianrannan kirjasto, Helsinki) | Arabianrannan kirjasto |
| Etelä-Haaga Library | Isonnevantie 16 B, 00320 Helsinki | 60°12′50″N 24°53′30″E﻿ / ﻿60.21392°N 24.89174°E﻿ / 60.21392; 24.89174﻿ (Etelä-Haagan kirjasto, Helsinki) | Etelä-Haagan kirjasto |
| Helsinki Central Library Oodi | Töölönlahdenkatu 4, 00100 Helsinki | 60°10′25″N 24°56′17″E﻿ / ﻿60.17363°N 24.93808°E﻿ / 60.17363; 24.93808﻿ (kirjasto, Helsinki) | Helsingin keskustakirjasto Oodi |
| Herttoniemi Library | Linnanrakentajantie 2, 00880 Helsinki | 60°11′43″N 25°02′01″E﻿ / ﻿60.19515°N 25.03352°E﻿ / 60.19515; 25.03352﻿ (Herttoniemen kirjasto, Helsinki) | Herttoniemen kirjasto |
| Itäkeskus Library | Turunlinnantie 1, 00900 Helsinki | 60°12′43″N 25°04′48″E﻿ / ﻿60.2120°N 25.0801°E﻿ / 60.2120; 25.0801﻿ (Itäkeskuksen kirjasto, Helsinki) | Itäkeskuksen kirjasto |
| Jakomäki Library | Jakomäenpolku 3, 00770 Helsinki | 60°15′38″N 25°04′35″E﻿ / ﻿60.26051°N 25.07629°E﻿ / 60.26051; 25.07629﻿ (Jakomäen kirjasto, Helsinki) | Jakomäen kirjasto |
| Jätkäsaari Library and Information Center | Tyynenmerenkatu 1, 00220 Helsinki | 60°09′36″N 24°55′15″E﻿ / ﻿60.15993°N 24.92087°E﻿ / 60.15993; 24.92087﻿ (Jätkäsaaren kirjasto, Helsinki) | Jätkäsaaren kirjasto ja infokeskus Archived 1 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine |
| Kallio Library | Viides linja 11, 00530 Helsinki | 60°11′01″N 24°57′13″E﻿ / ﻿60.18361°N 24.95362°E﻿ / 60.18361; 24.95362﻿ (Kallion kirjasto, Helsinki) | Kallion kirjasto |
| Kannelmäki Library | Klaneettitie 5, 00420 Helsinki | 60°14′20″N 24°52′34″E﻿ / ﻿60.23876°N 24.87609°E﻿ / 60.23876; 24.87609﻿ (kirjasto, Helsinki) | Kannelmäen kirjasto |
| Käpylä Library | Väinölänkatu 5, 00610 Helsinki | 60°12′39″N 24°56′50″E﻿ / ﻿60.21083°N 24.94712°E﻿ / 60.21083; 24.94712﻿ (Käpylän kirjasto, Helsinki) | Käpylän kirjasto |
| Kontula Library | Ostostie 4, 00940 Helsinki | 60°14′16″N 25°05′07″E﻿ / ﻿60.23767°N 25.08528°E﻿ / 60.23767; 25.08528﻿ (Kontulan kirjasto, Helsinki) | Kontulan kirjasto |
| Laajasalo Library | Yliskylän puistokatu 4, 00840 Helsinki | 60°10′45″N 25°03′06″E﻿ / ﻿60.17928°N 25.05162°E﻿ / 60.17928; 25.05162﻿ (Laajasalon kirjasto, Helsinki) | Laajasalon kirjasto |
| Lauttasaari Library | Pajalahdentie 10a, 00200 Helsinki | 60°09′31″N 24°53′00″E﻿ / ﻿60.15857°N 24.88337°E﻿ / 60.15857; 24.88337﻿ (Lauttasaaren kirjasto, Helsinki) | Lauttasaaren kirjasto |
| Malmi Library | Ala-Malmin tori 1, 00700 Helsinki | 60°15′01″N 25°00′53″E﻿ / ﻿60.2504°N 25.0148°E﻿ / 60.2504; 25.0148﻿ (Malmin kirjasto, Helsinki) | Malmin kirjasto |
| Malminkartano Library | Puustellintie 6, 00410 Helsinki | 60°14′47″N 24°51′37″E﻿ / ﻿60.24641°N 24.86033°E﻿ / 60.24641; 24.86033﻿ (Malminkartanon kirjasto, Helsinki) | Malminkartanon kirjasto |
| Maunula Library | Metsäpurontie 4, 00630 Helsinki | 60°13′53″N 24°56′00″E﻿ / ﻿60.23129°N 24.93324°E﻿ / 60.23129; 24.93324﻿ (Maunulan kirjasto, Helsinki) | Maunulan kirjasto |
| Munkkiniemi Library | Riihitie 22, 00330 Helsinki | 60°11′49″N 24°52′33″E﻿ / ﻿60.19685°N 24.87577°E﻿ / 60.19685; 24.87577﻿ (Munkkiniemen kirjasto, Helsinki) | Munkkiniemen kirjasto |
| Myllypuro Media Library | Kiviparintie 2, 00920 Helsinki | 60°13′27″N 25°04′24″E﻿ / ﻿60.22414°N 25.07322°E﻿ / 60.22414; 25.07322﻿ (Myllypuron mediakirjasto, Helsinki) | Myllypuron mediakirjasto Archived 8 June 2021 at the Wayback Machine |
| Oulunkylä Library | Kylänvanhimmantie 27, 00640 Helsinki | 60°13′41″N 24°57′46″E﻿ / ﻿60.22807°N 24.96266°E﻿ / 60.22807; 24.96266﻿ (Oulunkylän kirjasto, Helsinki) | Oulunkylän kirjasto |
| Paloheinä Library | Paloheinäntie 22, 00670 Helsinki | 60°14′57″N 24°56′29″E﻿ / ﻿60.24930°N 24.94136°E﻿ / 60.24930; 24.94136﻿ (Paloheinän kirjasto, Helsinki) | Paloheinän kirjasto |
| Pasila Library (main) | Kellosilta 9, 00520 Helsinki | 60°12′03″N 24°56′09″E﻿ / ﻿60.20083°N 24.93580°E﻿ / 60.20083; 24.93580﻿ (Pasilan kirjasto, Helsinki) | Pasilan kirjasto |
| Pikku Huopalahti Children's Library | Tilkankatu 19, 00300 Helsinki | 60°12′07″N 24°53′43″E﻿ / ﻿60.2019°N 24.8952°E﻿ / 60.2019; 24.8952﻿ (Pikku Huopalahden lastenkirjasto, Helsinki) | Pikku Huopalahden lastenkirjasto |
| Pitäjänmäki Library | Jousipolku 1, 00370 Helsinki | 60°13′34″N 24°51′38″E﻿ / ﻿60.22614°N 24.86050°E﻿ / 60.22614; 24.86050﻿ (Pitäjänmäen kirjasto, Helsinki) | Pitäjänmäen kirjasto |
| Pohjois-Haaga Library | Kaupintie 4, 00440 Helsinki | 60°13′57″N 24°53′15″E﻿ / ﻿60.23249°N 24.88739°E﻿ / 60.23249; 24.88739﻿ (Pohjois-Haagan kirjasto, Helsinki) | Pohjois-Haagan kirjasto |
| Puistola Library | Nurkkatie 2, 00760 Helsinki | 60°16′16″N 25°03′32″E﻿ / ﻿60.27121°N 25.05882°E﻿ / 60.27121; 25.05882﻿ (Puistolan kirjasto, Helsinki) | Puistolan kirjasto |
| Pukinmäki Library | Kenttäkuja 12, 00720 Helsinki | 60°15′00″N 24°59′28″E﻿ / ﻿60.2499°N 24.9912°E﻿ / 60.2499; 24.9912﻿ (Pukinmäen kirjasto, Helsinki) | Pukinmäen kirjasto |
| Rikhardinkatu Library | Rikhardinkatu 3, 00130 Helsinki | 60°09′58″N 24°56′47″E﻿ / ﻿60.16623°N 24.94639°E﻿ / 60.16623; 24.94639﻿ (Rikhardinkadun kirjasto, Helsinki) | Rikhardinkadun kirjasto Archived 16 October 2021 at the Wayback Machine |
| Roihuvuori Library | Roihuvuorentie 2, 00820 Helsinki | 60°11′41″N 25°03′10″E﻿ / ﻿60.19460°N 25.05275°E﻿ / 60.19460; 25.05275﻿ (Roihuvuoren kirjasto, Helsinki) | Roihuvuoren kirjasto |
| Sakarinmäki Children's Library | Knutersintie 924, 00890 Helsinki | 60°15′42″N 25°12′41″E﻿ / ﻿60.2618°N 25.2113°E﻿ / 60.2618; 25.2113﻿ (Sakarinmäen lastenkirjasto, Helsinki) | Sakarinmäen lastenkirjasto |
| Skidi and Stoori Bookmobiles | Rautatieläisenkatu 8, 00520 Helsinki | | Helsinki Bookmobile Stoori Skidi and Stoori Timetables |
| Suomenlinna Library | Suomenlinna C 31, 00190 Helsinki | 60°08′48″N 24°59′12″E﻿ / ﻿60.14666°N 24.98673°E﻿ / 60.14666; 24.98673﻿ (Suomenlinnan kirjasto, Helsinki) | Suomenlinnan kirjasto |
| Suutarila Library | Seulastentie 11, 00740 Helsinki | 60°16′32″N 24°59′51″E﻿ / ﻿60.2755°N 24.9975°E﻿ / 60.2755; 24.9975﻿ (Suutarilan kirjasto, Helsinki) | Suutarilan kirjasto |
| Tapanila Library | Hiidenkiventie 21, 00730 Helsinki | 60°15′56″N 25°01′08″E﻿ / ﻿60.26556°N 25.01884°E﻿ / 60.26556; 25.01884﻿ (Tapanilan kirjasto, Helsinki) | Tapanilan kirjasto |
| Tapulikaupunki Library | Ajurinaukio 5, 00750 Helsinki | 60°16′28″N 25°02′02″E﻿ / ﻿60.27437°N 25.03378°E﻿ / 60.27437; 25.03378﻿ (Tapulikaupungin kirjasto, Helsinki) | Tapulikaupungin kirjasto |
| Töölö Library | Topeliuksenkatu 6, 00250 Helsinki | 60°11′00″N 24°55′03″E﻿ / ﻿60.18336°N 24.91747°E﻿ / 60.18336; 24.91747﻿ (Töölön kirjasto, Helsinki) | Töölön kirjasto |
| Vallila Library | Päijänteentie 5, 00550 Helsinki | 60°11′32″N 24°57′45″E﻿ / ﻿60.19218°N 24.96239°E﻿ / 60.19218; 24.96239﻿ (Vallilan kirjasto, Helsinki) | Vallilan kirjasto |
| Viikki Library | Viikinkaari 11 B, 00790 Helsinki | 60°13′40″N 25°00′46″E﻿ / ﻿60.22767°N 25.01272°E﻿ / 60.22767; 25.01272﻿ (Viikin kirjasto, Helsinki) | Viikin kirjasto |
| Vuosaari Library | Mosaiikkitori 2, 00980 Helsinki | 60°12′31″N 25°08′36″E﻿ / ﻿60.20873°N 25.14340°E﻿ / 60.20873; 25.14340﻿ (Vuosaaren kirjasto, Helsinki) | Vuosaaren kirjasto |

### Closed branches

| Library name | Year closed | Address | Coordinates |
| Library 10 | 2018 | Elielinaukio 2G, 00100 Helsinki | 60°10′18″N 24°56′17″E﻿ / ﻿60.17166°N 24.93815°E﻿ / 60.17166; 24.93815﻿ (Kirjasto 10, Helsinki) |
| Kirjakaapeli | 2005 | Lasipalatsi, Mannerheimintie 22–24, 00100 Helsinki | 60°10′13″N 24°56′13″E﻿ / ﻿60.17035°N 24.93699°E﻿ / 60.17035; 24.93699﻿ (Kirjakaapeli, Helsinki) |
| Kulosaari Library | 2009 | Kyösti Kallion tie 1, 00570 Helsinki | 60°11′08″N 25°00′33″E﻿ / ﻿60.18569°N 25.00913°E﻿ / 60.18569; 25.00913﻿ (Kulosaaren kirjasto, Helsinki) |
| Punavuori Library | 2004 | Bulevardi 42, 00120 Helsinki | 60°09′44″N 24°55′55″E﻿ / ﻿60.16236°N 24.93195°E﻿ / 60.16236; 24.93195﻿ (Punavuoren kirjasto, Helsinki) |
| Ruoholahti Children's Library | 2015 | Santakatu 6, 00180 Helsinki | 60°09′45″N 24°55′10″E﻿ / ﻿60.16259°N 24.91934°E﻿ / 60.16259; 24.91934﻿ (Ruoholahden lastenkirjasto, Helsinki) |