What is the oldest library in Finland?
Finland’s oldest library is the library of the Turku Academy, which was founded in 1640. This library is a significant part of Finland’s cultural history and has played a central role in the development of the country’s culture and science. In the following article, we will look at the history of the Turku Academy library, its importance and current state.
Establishment of the Turku Academy Library
The library of the Turku Academy was founded simultaneously with the Turku Academy, i.e. the current University of Turku, in 1640. The establishment of the library was part of the efforts of Queen Kristiina of Sweden and Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna to promote education and scientific research in Finland, which at that time was part of the Kingdom of Sweden.
The meaning of the library
The Turku Academy library was the first public library in Finland and for a long time it functioned as the country’s only scientific library. The library’s collections grew rapidly, and it received donations from both individuals and institutions. From the beginning, the library’s collections included works from many different disciplines, which made it an important resource for both students and researchers.
The fire in Turku and the rebuilding of the library
In 1827, the city of Turku faced a devastating fire, known as the Turku Fire. The fire destroyed a large part of the city, including the Turku Academy library. A large part of the library’s collections was lost, but luckily some of the valuable works were saved. After the fire, the library was moved to Helsinki, where it initially operated in temporary premises.
Current status
Today, the legacy of the Turku Academy library is continued by the University of Helsinki library, which is the largest and oldest scientific library in Finland. The library’s collections have expanded considerably over the years, and today it offers a wide selection of printed and digital materials from various disciplines. The library serves students, researchers and the general public as well.
Conclusions
Turu Academy’s library has been a central part of Finland’s scientific and cultural development for over 380 years. Its establishment marked the beginning of the development of public libraries and scientific research in Finland. Although the library has experienced great changes and challenges, its legacy lives on in the form of the University of Helsinki library.
You can read more about the Turku Academy library and its history from the following sources:
