Oodi is not very good as a library. I do not understand what are criterias for this choice. There is only one quite small, noisy and restless floor for books. If I should visit in a library, Oodi would be the last option.
Helsinki Central Library chosen as the best new public library
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Re: Helsinki Central Library chosen as the best new public library
#52I'm a Finn but been living in SF for the last few years. Went to Oodi couple of weeks ago was impressed by the facilities and the building. In addition to books, there were workstations, 3D printers, large format printers, sewing machines, video games, board games, kids play area, restaurant, and a cafe. Our startup also worked there for one day. There is free Wifi, a lot of chairs and places to sit and even meeting…
> In addition to books, there were workstations, 3D printers, large format printers, sewing machines, video games, board games, kids play area, restaurant, and a cafe.
...these things are tremendous sunk costs that will need to be constantly paid for if they are to be useful.
You need to train staff how to use, service, and do light maintenance on the 3-D printers. You need to dedicate staff to supervise people using them and answer questions, as well as ensure patrons aren't using them incorrectly or monopolizing them. You need to have service contracts to maintain them periodically, and given constant or standard innovation, you may have to replace them every ten years or less entirely.
If you pick poorly, you may not be able to use them effectively at all.
These things are not sustainable long term. You're going to end up slowly paring all of the fancy tech related stuff as it breaks down and becomes obsolete, because budgets simply can't afford them
Re: Helsinki Central Library chosen as the best new public library
#53There have been some complaints about the building, because there’s not that many books. But the law that governs public libraries actually gives libraries quite wide mission. Quick automatic translation from the finnish version. Not perfect, but you get the point. ”The purpose of this Act is to promote: 1) equal opportunities for education and culture for the population; 2) access to and use of information; 3) readi…
It's kind of funny that the amount of physical media is criticized. It still has 100k books, movies, magazines and other loanable stuff in total. And it's only one of the libraries in Helsinki region, and into which you can order loanable stuff from the other libraries as well.
I personally have found good books and loaned from Oodi. Mostly about music.
Regular libraries with more books in general tend to have a similar "hit rate" for me. If you are in Helsinki and want to visit a nice more classical library, Kallion kirjasto and Töölön kirjasto are easily accessible by tram or electric scooter. Kallio is old and nice and Töölö is by Alvar Aalto.