Libraries through the lens


Rickhardinkatu, Helsinki THOMAS Guignard’s latest photo for Libraries through the lens takes us to the Finnish capital of Helsinki, and a public library with a notable history.


As Thomas explains: “The library build- ing on Rickhard street (Rickhardinkatu) in Helsinki is said to be the first in the Nordic countries to have been purpose- fully built as a public library. Designed by the prominent Helsinki architect Carl


July-August 2023


Theodor Höijer, the library was financed by private fundraising by the Helsinki Ladies’ Association.” The image shows the “main feature of the lovely Neo-Renaissance building… the quiet atrium with its imposing spiral staircase.” Thomas adds that the library sits with more modern interpretations of libraries in Helsinki, reflecting change. He says: “Rickhardinkatu served as Helsinki’s main public library until the Pasila


library opened in 1986, itself replaced by the new flagship of the city library network Oodi in 2018 (see the April-May 2019 issue of Information Professional). However rather than demolishing its main libraries when building a larger one, the people of Helsinki have opted to keep the older ones around. And so today all three generations are still standing and thriving, to the delight of patrons and library architecture enthusiasts alike!”


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