Public Libraries and the Internet in Finland

[Matti Sarmela]

A summary of a national survey of the Finnish public libraries 
(every second Finn was a registered library user in 1994, but it is estimated
that 60-80% of the Finnish people use public libraries in one way or 
another) and the Internet can be found at:

http://www.kaapeli.fi/tiedontalo/english/survey96.html

According to the survey  about  50% of  public libraries will provide  public
 access to the Internet by 1996 with free of charge and full Internet 
services. By the year 1998, over 70% of public libraries will be 
connected to the Internet. In 1997 public libraries will offer free 
email  accounts for the patrons,  a help-desk  system for all library  
services (The Virtual Library Assistant) and a common subject directory.  
A gateway  to the library services (The Finnish Public Libraries 
Enterpage) is at:

http://www.lib.hel.fi/syke/
 
The survey is prepared by the project coordinators of The House of 
Knowledge Project which is a national project financed by the Finnish
Ministry of Education and administered by the Finnish Library
Association. The broad aim of this 3-year-project - now in its second
year - is to promote and enhance  public library Internet activity in
Finland.

Matti Sarmela
Virtual librarian,
project coordinator 
The House of Knowledge Project
http://www.kaapeli.fi/tiedontalo/english/