Oodi, Helsinki’s incredible library that mirrors Finland’s democracy, free society

Think about having two clothes to iron and a few household pictures to print. For a lot of, it’s going to appear odd to decide on a public library to do each free of charge. However in Helsinki, Finland’s capital, it’s a actuality.

The Helsinki Central Library Oodi, fondly often called Oodi, is a non-commercial, city public house providing way over simply books and quiet studying areas. Positioned on Töölönlahdenkatu within the coronary heart of the town, Oodi is a hub of numerous actions— each noisy and quiet — with a variety of services and machines obtainable for public use freed from cost.

Its 100-metre-long, bridge-like construction constructed with metal and glass is adorned with a charming picket façade. The picket outlook pays homage to Finland’s huge forests overlaying over 70 per cent of the Nordic nation’s land space. It’s no surprise that Oodi stands as an “alluring calling card for Finnish structure.”

Throughout a days-long tour of Helsinki organised by the Finnish Ministry for Overseas Affairs, I, together with eight journalists from numerous African nations and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), on Tuesday, 21 Could, witnessed numerous actions going down throughout Oodi’s three flooring. It was an exciting time for all of us, from Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, Algeria, and the UAE, in the course of the go to.

A journey by way of Oodi

The journey by way of Oodi begins on its bustling first ground, the place a cinema and multi-purpose corridor buzz with actions. Additionally on this ground, customers return borrowed objects, together with books and balls used on totally different sporting courts on the premises.

The second ground is an area devoted to creativity and expertise studying. Workshop rooms, studios, and sport rooms are open to folks of all ages on this ground, providing entry to an array of instruments and know-how. That is the place you discover a urgent iron on an ironing board, stitching machines, numerous forms of printers (together with 3D, vinyl and UV printers), and different artistic instruments. Most of them had been in use throughout our go to. The machines are on supply freed from cost, however it’s a must to pay for the supplies used. There’s additionally a cover the place we discovered the younger and the previous seated on the bottom whereas utilizing their laptops. Right here, you can even cost your cellphone.

On the third ground, one can find a semblance of the standard library. In addition to the bookshelves, it boasts a youngsters’s part. The ground can also be designed as an area for leisure and unwinding. Beneath its undulating ceiling, guests can get pleasure from a espresso, and admire the view from the Residents’ Balcony.

The fascinating spiral staircase of the library showcases a murals naming a large spectrum of all types of conceivable identities of individuals to whom Oodi is devoted. The identities cowl folks of numerous nationalities, political and financial ideologies, religions, social and financial standing, and numerous classes of human beings you’ll be able to ever think about.

The phrases written in Finnish had been gathered by way of a public marketing campaign.

There one can find phrases like “syyllisille,” which loosely means “to the responsible”; “alisuorittajille”, that means “to the underperformers”; “tuleville” – “to the long run ones”; “ujoille” – “to the shy ones”; “vasemmistolaisille” – “to the leftists”; “autajille” – “to the helpers kuoleille” – “to the useless”; “suomalaisille” – “to the Finns”; “rohkeille” – “to the courageous”; “haihattelijoille” – “to the haters”, and plenty of extra.

The view is a reminder “that the library genuinely belongs to everybody, no matter folks’s origin, age, wealth or some other issue,” the web site devoted to Oodi says. “The library goals for primary human rights, similar to the correct to entry data and freedom of speech, to use equally to everybody,” reads an article on Oodi’s web site.

Hanna-Leena Halsas, our information, emphasised Oodi’s dedication to inclusivity. “It’s a place for everybody,” she mentioned, encouraging guests to embrace the house for his or her numerous endeavours.

A beacon of democracy, freedom and inclusivity

Oodi stands proudly reverse the Finnish Parliament, serving as a logo of democracy and civic engagement. It bears witness to Finland’s lengthy historical past of utilizing political powers to construct a free society, prioritising well-being, equality, and lifelong studying for its 5.6 million folks.

Its location close to the Finnish parliament, Finland’s largest impartial newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, the Helsinki Music Centre, the Finlandia Corridor, Sanoma Home and the Museum of Modern Artwork Kiasma, underscores its significance. From there you’ll be able to see the 1952 Olympics Tower distance away.

Ms Halsas, who described the placement as prestigious, added that it was “a sq. of political energy, freedom of press and speech, artwork, and persevering with studying.”

Managed by the town of Helsinki and funded by taxpayers, Oodi performs a vital function in supporting residents’ democratic rights.

“We all the time speak in regards to the parliamentary system and democracy in Finland. Right here (Oodi), you’ll be able to print your demonstration posters, then you definitely cross to the road, and also you stand on the steps of the parliament together with your demonstration posters,” Ms Halsas mentioned.

This casts a highlight on a rustic like Nigeria the place the police stopped the usage of the Unity Fountain in Abuja, the capital, for protests in the course of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018. The federal government subsequently erected a fence across the space, completely shutting it in opposition to protesters.

It’s no surprise that the Freedom within the World annual report ranked Finland because the freest nation on this planet for a few years in a row. Finland scored the utmost factors in political rights and civil liberties within the 2024 report. Compared, Nigeria is assessed as partly free with considerably decrease scores.

Our information informed us the Residents’ Balcony of Oodi was intentionally set on the identical peak because the parliament constructing, to function a reminder to the political class of their accountability to the folks.

Curiously, the identify Oodi, a Finnish phrase which interprets to ode, a music written to reward an individual, in English, was steered by a Helsinki resident impressed by the inventive and cultural surroundings of its location.

This was the identical approach the library’s design was largely primarily based on the concepts, ideas and desires gathered at city occasions and workshops, and thru web sites and numerous campaigns. All of those had been to make sure the library met the desires and wishes of library customers.

Reward to the folks

Accomplished in 2017, Oodi got here as a present to Helsinki residents to mark 100 years of Finland’s independence gained in 1917.

Though it’s one of many 38 branches of the Helsinki Metropolis Library, Oodi is Finland’s flagship library serving to to implement the nation’s core values – schooling, equality, and social cohesion.

Oodi, like different libraries scattered throughout Finnish communities, is a product of the Public Libraries Act, first enacted in 1928 to guard the continuity and high quality of library providers.

The regulation mandates communities to offer free library providers to everybody. You don’t need to be a citizen to acquire a library card to entry Oodi’s full vary of providers. All you want is an deal with in Finland.

Conveniently situated close to a practice station, Oodi is open to serve the over 670,000 residents from morning to late within the night seven days every week.

Society sure collectively by belief

The belief that permeates your entire Finnish society is palpable in Oodi.

Most of its machines and services are self-operated by the customers with out supervision, besides those that require technical help. Everyone seems to be trusted to make use of all sources judiciously and responsibly.

We stopped by a printer with a USB stick caught to it indicating it nonetheless had over an hour of actions to carry out. The proprietor was nowhere round.

At totally different locations we visited throughout our go to to Helsinki, we requested numerous folks in regards to the constant rating of Finland because the happiest nation on earth.

Though everybody most popular to name it “contentment” as a substitute of “happiness”, all of them attributed the feat to the belief that binds the Finnish society collectively.

“The premise of Finns’ contentment is the belief in one another, in our parliament, in our flesh pressers, in our president, in our police, media, and in our economic system,” our information mentioned, including that Oodi “is an instance of belief”.

And that summarises essentially the most placing classes I took away from Finland as I used to be reflecting on my time there – nationhood is watered by mutual belief. The management should try to earn it from the folks by genuinely serving and defending them, and the folks should reciprocate by trusting themselves and their leaders by dwelling responsibly.