Central Library Oodi opened its doors for the first time on December 5, 2018, the eve of Finland’s Independence Day.
THE OODI CENTRAL LIBRARY is considered a gift to independent Finland for its 100th anniversary. The new library reached one million visitors in less than four months and, according to a statement, is expected to reach ten million visitors in early 2024.
Oodi has become not only the most visited library in Helsinki but also the most borrowed. This year, Oodi has borrowed just over 473,000 items, which is almost ten percent of the total number of items borrowed by the Helsinki City Library.
Oodi is a house of literature, which is also reflected in its events: this year Oodi has hosted more than 170 literary events attended by more than 9,000 people.
“Oodi’s mission is to serve as the innovation library of Finnish public libraries. This means that every year is different for Oodi, as we are constantly developing our services. The pilot projects that prove to be the most effective are replicated in other libraries in Helsinki or throughout Finland,” Anna-Maria Soininvaara, the director of Oodi, said in the statement.
The building was designed by ALA Architects.
