A Deeply Rooted Tradition – Ensuring Access to Knowledge and Culture in Finnish Libraries
A Deeply Rooted Tradition – Ensuring Access to Knowledge and Culture in Finnish Libraries

Summary/Abstract: In Finland, part of Sweden for more than 600 years and at that time Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire, ideas of popular education emerged with the national awakening in the mid nineteenth century. Elementary education for all and the Anglo-American concept of "public libraries free of charge" began to gain ground in social thinking. The founders of the first elementary schools and the first parish libraries were students, teachers, clergymen and philanthropic persons of standing, wanting to bridge the educational and cultural divide of their time.

• Details
• Contents