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Historian Rainer Knapas
In the domain of knowledge – the historical review of the National Library of Finland is now complete
Published just before summer 2012, Tiedon valtakunnassa. Helsingin yliopiston kirjasto – Kansalliskirjasto 1640–2010 (In the domain of knowledge. Helsinki University Library – National Library of Finland 1640–2010) is a comprehensive historical review of the National Library. The book, authored by historian Rainer Knapas, is the first of its kind to cover the entire history of the National Library, from the year of the university's establishment in 1640 (under the name of the Academy of Turku) to the present.
The Helsinki University Library began its operations as the Library of the Academy of Turku. Its collection of 40,000 volumes was almost completely destroyed in the Great Fire of Turku in 1827. Once the university relocated to Helsinki, its library gradually developed during the 19th century into the hub of Finnish scholarly and cultural life, thanks to major donations and legal deposits. Today, it is Finland's only scientific library with a history stretching back to before Finnish independence in 1917. The Helsinki University Library also became Finland's national library at an early stage.
The book explores the origins, development and historical turning points of the National Library's collections, the use, architecture and colourful personal history of the National Library as well as the continuous adjustment of its duties in relation to the academic world and Finnish history. The book also investigates the reasons for changes in recent years, specifically for the period beginning in 2006 when the redesigned library was accorded the status of the National Library to provide services to the Finnish library network.
The book covers both important historical events and everyday activities at the National Library. During the writing process, numerous topics for further study emerged, for which the National Library's collections and archives can offer plenty of material. The National Library of Finland has a distinct historical profile compared to the former royal or academic national libraries of other Nordic countries: it maintained contacts with Russia and Europe throughout the 19th century, serving as a gateway for international scholarly literature to enter Finland. The magnificent architecture of the library building and its location in the heart of the Finnish capital further emphasise its status – self-evident to all Finns – as the country's leading cultural institution.
The book was simultaneously published as a Swedish-language edition, Kunskapens rike. Helsingfors universitetsbibliotek – Nationalbiblioteket 1640–2010, and an abridged English-language version focusing primarily on the history of internationally significant collections, such as the Monrepos Library of Enlightenment era literature, the Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld Map Collection and the Slavonic Library. The publishers of this richly illustrated work are the Finnish Literature Society and the Society of Swedish Literature in Finland.
The National Library carried out its history project between 2008 and 2011 under a steering committee led by Director Kai Ekholm. In addition to funding from the National Library, the project received support from the Research Funds of the University of Helsinki and private foundations.
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