Mariehamns stadsbibliotek - Mariehamn Library - Central
Library for the Åland Islands and Library for the Åland Polytechnic

Background

The Mariehamn Library serves as a link between the municipality and the Åland Polytechnic, helping to remove any barriers between the two worlds.

The library is a creative meeting place for all and a centre of knowledge for researchers, students at all levels as well as citizens in general.

Facts

Number of inhabitants: c. 10. 000
Built: 1989
Architect: Arkitektbyrå Hansson & Stenius
Interior design: Arkitektbyrå Hansson & Stenius
Total area: 3,405 sq m
Group study rooms: 2
Individual study booths: 4
Computers for public use: 10
Stock: c.135 000 volumes
Stock of periodicals: c. 300
Visitors: c. 250 000/year
Loans: 265 000/year
Visitors (website): c. 110 000/year
Staff: c. 18 (public library: 15, university library: 2,5)
Hours of opening: 58 hours a week

Organization

The library is the main library of Mariehamn, a town of 10,000 inhabitants. It has a parallel function as the central library of the whole of the Åland Islands, with their total population of about 27,000 and also as library of the Åland Polytechnic.

The cooperation between the libraries in the Mariehamn Library is governed by contract. Each library organization concentrates mainly on its particular target group and has its own budget. However, the users experience the two as one single library: the book collections are integrated and the staff work together on the different information desks.

Some pictures

The Library Building
Mariehamn Library		Photo: Robert Jansson
Interior		AlfaBeta by Peter Winqvist.