This year marks the 140th anniversary of the first building in the Nordic countries designed specifically as a public library, Rikhardinkatu Library. Helsinki City Library’s oldest unit celebrates its anniversary on Saturday, 3 September 2022 together with city residents.
One of Helsinki’s most beloved libraries is celebrating a major anniversary this autumn. Rikhardinkatu Library was opened in the library building designed by architect Theodor Höijer on Rikhardinkatu on 1 September 1882. The library was opened for public use without major celebrations, with the aim of educating the working population.
The library building has changed several times over the years. A reform in the 1920s resulted in a shift to an open shelf system. This allowed customers to select books directly from the shelves, which was something completely new at the time. The last major renovation of the library was in the 1980s. That is when the book tower received its spiral staircases and current appearance.
“Rikhardinkatu Library, which represents traditional library aesthetics, is beloved by the city residents. In the Helmet library user survey in spring 2022, our library received the best user rating in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. The 140-year-old ‘Riku’ is an active and experiential library, which people from near and far visit to enjoy its architecture and atmosphere,” says Mari Heino, Chief Librarian of Rikhardinkatu Library.
The library’s current attractions include a pleasant summer courtyard, functional working spaces and an interesting selection of events, such as lunch concerts and author visits, which draw more and more new visitors to the library.
Anniversary celebrated on Saturday, 3 September
Rikhardinkatu Library celebrates its anniversary together with city residents on Saturday, 3 September 2022. There is a special birthday party for children in the library’s children’s section from 10:00 to 12:00. The floors of the book tower are filled with music starting at 14:00, when Sonic Emotionspaces, a work composed by Mareike Dobewall and Josué Moreno, invites listeners to visit aural spaces shaped by emotions.
In addition, the 140-year history of Rikhardinkatu Library is brought to life by three guided tours: there is a tour in Finnish at 11:00, a bilingual tour for children in Finnish and Swedish at 12:00 and a tour in Swedish at 13:00. The 140th anniversary exhibition, which spreads throughout the library, leads visitors into the library building’s past through various phenomena, images and memories. All events have free admission.
Full anniversary programme of Rikhardinkatu Library: Rikhardinkatu Library is 140 years old(Link leads to external service)
Photo: Virpi Peltola / City of Helsinki