Library policies

The National Library of Finland collection is a unique research infrastructure, the foundation of which is the archive collection of Finnish publications. The international collections of the National Library of Finland link Finnish science and culture to its European and international collections.

Index

Library’s collection policy

The collection of the National Library of Finland forms a research infrastructure focusing on cultural and social studies.  The National Library of Finland offers materials both for the scientific community as well as other parties with information needs. The National Collection is accrued and preserved in accordance with the principles listed in the Act on Collecting and Preserving Cultural Materials (Laki kulttuuriaineistojen tallettamisesta ja säilyttämisestä1433/2007). Other collections of the library will be accrued, evaluated and preserved based on research needs.

The National Library of Finland’s collection accrues through deposit copies, acquisitions, publication exchange, submissions and donations.

National Library of Finland Collections Policy (Doria.fi)

Acquisitions Programme 2021-2024 (Doria.fi)

Collection plan for online materials 2021–2024 (Doria.fi)

Further information:

Library´s customer service
+358 (0)2941 23196
National Library of Finland

More information on customer service

    Preserving the materials

    The statutory duty of the National Library of Finland is to preserve priceless national, published cultural heritage materials permanently. We preserve and offer materials for research use as authentic sources of information. The essential goals of our preservation operations are to prevent damage and to recognise and manage risks.

    We store the materials in the appropriate environment to ensure their preservation. We instruct customers on the correct handling of the materials and release materials for customer use in a controlled manner so as not to endanger their preservation. We also provide replacement copies.

    Preservation Policy Of The National Library Of Finland 2009 (Doria.fi)

    National Library of Finland, Mikkeli Unit
    National Library
    Saimaankatu 6
    50100 Mikkeli

    Digitisation, conservation, microfilming.

    Detailed information on services

    Digitisation of the materials

    Through long-term digitising operations, we create critical mass for research and public use. We promote digitising and, through it, the visibility, equal availability and usability of our unique collections.­

    High-quality metadata ensures the reuse and long-term preservation of digital materials. We produce descriptive metadata for analogous materials in accordance with international standards.  In addition to the technical quality of scanning, in digitising we ensure the existence of extensive technical and administrative metadata.

    We make our digital collections as widely accessible as possible through viewing and search systems. Digital collections promote, in particular, new kind of research, teaching, public use of materials and creative operations. We make digitised, copyrighted materials available for use through various agreements.

    The digitisation policy of the National Library of Finland 2010 (Doria.fi)

    National Library of Finland, Mikkeli Unit
    National Library
    Saimaankatu 6
    50100 Mikkeli

    Digitisation, conservation, microfilming.

    Detailed information on services

    Cataloguing policy

    The National Library of Finland Cataloguing policy 2021–2030 focuses on supporting interoperability amidst international structural changes in data cataloguing. The policy outlines the goals of the National Library’s strategic plan and metadata vision (in Finnish) in concrete terms. In addition, the policy guides the development of data cataloguing through network-like collaboration with libraries and the wider cultural heritage sector.

    Cataloguing policy vision:

    •    The National Library develops metadata in line with international interoperability.
    •    Increased metadata collaboration and smart tools improve the effective use of data.

    The policy goals are divided into four themes:

    •    Theme 1: Goals for metadata development
    •    Theme 2: Goals for metadata collaboration development
    •    Theme 3: Goals for metadata production development
    •    Theme 4: Goals for the development of metadata practices and communications

    Description policy of the National Library of Finland 2021–2030 (in Finnish) (doria.fi)

    Digital humanities policy

    Vision

    The National Library plays an active and high-profile role in the field of digital humanities. It offers versatile datasets, makes them available for research and is an expert research partner. It develops tools together with researchers participating in digital humanities projects and establishes collaboration with international contributors to the field of digital humanities.


    Mission

    1.    The National Library develops the conditions of research in the digital humanities.
    2.    The National Library offers digitised and born-digital datasets in widely usable formats for research use.
    3.    The National Library curates its data and services for digital humanities scholars.
    4.    The National Library contributes to the development of research tools and methods.
    5.    The National Library collaborates with Finnish and international research infrastructures.
    6.    The National Library’s own development work focuses on data modelling, metadata, and data management and mining for practical applications.
    7.    When planning and funding research collaboration projects, services are developed for project needs, and the maintenance required after each project is taken into account.
    8.    The National Library plays an active and high-profile role in the field of digital humanities.

    Digital humanities policy of the National Library of Finland (in Finnish) (Doria.fi)

    Open National Library

    The National Library of Finland is an open organisation that plans its operations together with its key stakeholders. Openness builds trust.

    The openness of resources and services means that customers have better access to them and they have a greater social impact.

    1. The National Library promotes open science and open access to the cultural heritage.
    2. The National Library develops open services.
    3. The National Library plans and develops services together with customers and partners.
    4. The National Library integrates its open services into national and international infrastructures and services.
    5. The National Library prepares its strategy and key operational policies together with its key stakeholders.
    6. The National Library promotes knowledge sharing, shares its knowledge and learns from others.
    7. The National Library influences the development of legislation by extensively supporting open access to resources and services.
    8. The National Library aims to ensure maximum access to resources in its agreements.