The idea of mini libraries that originated in the USA is to create a sense of community. Mirette Piekkari, the founder of Muhos’s little library, wants to bring the neighborhood together around reading.
In Rova, on the side of the village road, a light blue box decorated with a Moomin figure and shells holds twenty books that anyone can visit to borrow. You can also take the book as your own if you bring another one instead.
– This is a shared library of a small neighborhood, the idea of which is to create a sense of community. Here you can meet neighbors and children can get to know each other, says Mirette Piekkari, who set up the mini-library.
According to Piekkar, it is easy to take reading with you from the cute little library, for example during a walk. He hopes that the little library will increase enthusiasm for reading.
That seems to have happened, because there has been a buzz around the mini-library.
– A lot of people come here. The entire book selection has already changed a couple of times.
\”Everything that encourages reading is important\”
– It is worth emphasizing that all community activities that encourage reading or discussing literature are extremely important, Manninen says.
In addition to ordinary citizens, various cabinet or drawer libraries or lending boxes are also maintained by municipal libraries, for example in Turku.
The operation of libraries has changed and diversified wildly in recent decades.
However, the original popular culture and educational mission can be seen in the background, for example, when the library offers people a place to gather and a discussion platform or brings its activities to you in a pop-up style at youth events.
– Of course, libraries also have a recreational function, and small libraries are perfect for that, says Manninen.
The idea came to Michigan
Piekkari brought the idea from the state of Michigan in the United States, where he moved back to his home region after three years in the spring. There are many small libraries there, for example near schools and in residential areas.
The Little Free Library organization maintains a global database and map service about libraries, according to which there are 150,000 mini-libraries in over a hundred countries.
In Finland, the organization’s map service has registered twenty small libraries from Helsinki to the northeast corner of Rovaniemi, as far as Käyrämö.
However, Piekkari’s library cannot be found on the map – at least not yet. The matter is still under consideration.
The field library in Muhos is in use until the fall as long as there is enough weather, and returns to the village road in the spring.
_What thoughts did the story evoke? You can participate in the discussion on Yle Tunnus until Sunday, August 28. until 11 p.m._