31–40 of 67 posts
I can't read the article, but this is a nice piece which shows the insides pretty well: https://www.oodihelsinki.fi/en/what-is-oodi/architecture/ It is a really beautiful space, I was there with my child last weekend and shot lots of videos of the various areas. There are trees inside, play-areas for children, and many nooks for reading/resting/chatting. This link (Finnish) has a brief video showing people cleaning t…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Luckily are public libraries not run on gut feelings and personal semantics. The purpose of libraries in Finland is defined by the Library Act, which states that public libraries should provide[0]: 1) equal opportunities for everyone to access education and culture; 2) availability and use of information; 3) reading culture and versatile literacy skills; 4) opportunities for lifelong learning and competence developme…
Since when was studying a 'nostalgic fantasy'? In the UK, libraries are something like social centres: unemployed people go there to read; retired people read the daily papers; people without the internet at home come to use the computers; children come after school until their parents finish work. It's important that there are public spaces like that. It's a lifeline for some people. But most public libraries in the…
Studying is not a nostalgic fantasy. Giving opinions on how public libraries should be run, without any relation to reality is. If you go through the library act I posted you will find that providing silent study places is NOT an object that Finnish public libraries should fulfil. It makes no sense to criticise public libraries for not providing what they shouldn't provide.People that want silent study places can go to academic libraries.
>retired people read the daily papers; people without the internet at home come to use the computers; children come after school until their parents finish work.
All things that would be less of, if the public library room were to be a silent tomb.
>It's important that there are public spaces like that. It's a lifeline for some people.
Exactly. The nostalgic fantasy I'm criticising carlospwk for is that public libraries are "noisy, too relaxed and not geared towards actual studying". Not really a position that fosters the needs of the diverse population of patrons.
I don’t think it’s accurate to call Oodi a library. It’s more of a communal space for citizens and a sort of a playground/hangout for kids. With some books. Maybe I’m a cranky old man but I don’t really enjoy these kind of open spaces. It’s noisy, too relaxed and not geared towards actual studying and working. Libraries in Finland no longer have any expectations for peace and quiet.
I wouldn't really make sweeping generalisations on the state of Finnish libraries based on one modern example intended to be different. Besides, if we're going to have yet another library in the centre of Helsinki, why not make it different?
If you need to study the university library is just around the corner. Or the library of the national archives if you prefer a tomb-like silence. Or the one on Rikhardinkatu for the more classic milieu. Choice is good.
I don’t think it’s accurate to call Oodi a library. It’s more of a communal space for citizens and a sort of a playground/hangout for kids. With some books. Maybe I’m a cranky old man but I don’t really enjoy these kind of open spaces. It’s noisy, too relaxed and not geared towards actual studying and working. Libraries in Finland no longer have any expectations for peace and quiet.
Noisy? Have you been to the place? Yes, there are spaces inside where talking is allowed and encouraged, but there are many separate study halls where it's dead quiet and you can even book your own sound-proofed room if you want total isolation.
Does it have wifi good enough to play PUBG?
--a librarian software engineer
I can't read the article, but this is a nice piece which shows the insides pretty well: https://www.oodihelsinki.fi/en/what-is-oodi/architecture/ It is a really beautiful space, I was there with my child last weekend and shot lots of videos of the various areas. There are trees inside, play-areas for children, and many nooks for reading/resting/chatting. This link (Finnish) has a brief video showing people cleaning t…
It was also featured in the NYT's Art & Design section: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/06/arts/design/helsinki-libr... Quote from Tommi Laitio, an executive director in Helsinki city: “We often think that things like social cohesion or democracy are just words, but in spaces like these they really come to life,” Mr. Laitio said. “You need some social infrastructure for communities to work. You can’t build them on fr…
Another nice quote: 'Oodi “fits very well into the Nordic story of how societies work,” Mr. Laitio said. “There are so few of us here, so we have to make sure everyone can develop to their fullest potential.”' A perspective increasingly lost in Sweden.
Oodi is quite hideous from the outside: I haven't generally felt the appeal to walk towards the area. See for yourself: https://ibb.co/jkJ4h1B But Oodi is also not so much of a library than an indoor public space. That is probably fine and that I think is where libraries are going in general. However, being born decades ago it's libraries I like. I'll much rather find my "books and crannies" to spend some quality tim…