# Seinäjoki Library

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Library in Finland

Seinäjoki Library Seinäjoen kaupunginkirjasto The new Apila library building, with the original, white Aalto building reflected in the windows 62°47′09″N 22°50′32″E / 62.785893°N 22.842304°E / 62.785893; 22.842304 Location Seinäjoki, Finland Type Public library Established 1865 Branches 6[1] Collection Items collected Books, music, films, etc.[2] Size c. 440,000 (2019)[2] Other information Website kirjasto.seinajoki.fi/english/

**Seinäjoki Library** ([Finnish](/source/Finnish_language): *Seinäjoen kaupunginkirjasto*) is the municipal public library of the city of [Seinäjoki](/source/Sein%C3%A4joki), in [Finland](/source/Finland).[1]

## Overview

Library provision in Seinäjoki first began in 1865,[3] initially as an adjunct to the local church.[3] By the start of the 20th century it had been taken over by the municipality, and was being run as part of the local school.[4] The first dedicated [librarian](/source/Librarian) wasn't appointed until 1960, when Seinäjoki was granted its city status.[4]

From 1968 until 2017 the library also served as the [South Ostrobothnia](/source/South_Ostrobothnia) [regional](/source/Regions_of_Finland) library,[4] until the regional library network was replaced by a new regional development library (*Alueellista kehittämistehtävää hoitavat kirjasto*) structure.[5]

In addition to the central library, the operation comprises six smaller units in the vicinity, in previously separate towns and villages such as [Nurmo](/source/Nurmo) and [Ylistaro](/source/Ylistaro) which have since been merged with Seinäjoki. It also operates two [mobile libraries](/source/Bookmobile).[1]

The total collection size is over 440,000, of which c. 370,000 are books.[2]

## Architecture

### *Aalto* building

Original *Aalto* building, opened in 1965

The original central library building, *Aalto*, is notable for having been designed by the renowned Finnish [architect](/source/Architect) [Alvar Aalto](/source/Alvar_Aalto). It was completed in 1965 for the 100th anniversary of the city's library operations.[6][7] The building's overall design is fan-shaped, which is a common feature in many of Aalto's later works.[8]

Along with other prominent Aalto-designed buildings such as the [City Hall](/source/Sein%C3%A4joki_City_Hall) and [City Theatre](/source/Sein%C3%A4joki_City_Theatre), the *Aalto* library forms part of the city's [Aalto Centre](/source/Aalto_Centre%2C_Sein%C3%A4joki) ([Finnish](/source/Finnish_language): *Aalto-keskus*),[6] which has been recognised by the [Finnish Heritage Agency](/source/Finnish_Heritage_Agency) as a nationally important built cultural environment (*Valtakunnallisesti merkittävä rakennettu kulttuuriympäristö*).[7]

### *Apila* building

Interior of the new *Apila* building, opened in 2012

Designed by [JKMM Architects](/source/JKMM_Architects) and opened in 2012, the new central library building *Apila* (['Clover'](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/apila#Finnish)) expanded the library's limited capacity and facilities considerably.[1][8][9]

Intended to complement, not imitate, the *Aalto* building, the *Apila* has a number of design features referencing the older building, including the use of white surfaces and wooden (pine) structures in the interior, as well as the copper-tiled exterior (the *Aalto* has a copper-clad roof).[10]

The two buildings are connected by an underground passage.[8][11]

*Apila* was chosen as the 2012 'Concrete Building of the Year' in Finland.[12]

## See also

- [Aalto Centre, Seinäjoki](/source/Aalto_Centre%2C_Sein%C3%A4joki)

- [List of libraries in Finland](/source/List_of_libraries_in_Finland)

- [Finland portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Finland)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-kir_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-kir_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-kir_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-kir_1-3) ["Tietoa meistä"](https://kirjasto.seinajoki.fi/tietoa/). *Seinajoki.fi* (in Finnish). City of Seinäjoki. Retrieved 1 November 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-plf_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-plf_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-plf_2-2) ["Seinäjoki"](https://tilastot.kirjastot.fi/?orgs=323&years=2019&stats=1%2C33%2C100%2C101%2C104%2C107%2C108%2C109%2C110%2C111%2C112%2C115%2C183#results). *Kirjastot.fi* (in Finnish). Public Libraries in Finland. Retrieved 1 November 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-yle1_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-yle1_3-1) ["150-vuotias Seinäjoen kirjasto on yhä kansan kirjasto"](https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-7787253) (in Finnish). Yle. 6 February 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-hist_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-hist_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-hist_4-2) Elonheimo, Rispa. ["Seinäjoen kirjaston vaiheita 1865-1995"](https://kirjasto.seinajoki.fi/tietoa/julkaisut/historiikki/). *Seinajoki.fi* (in Finnish). City of Seinäjoki. Retrieved 1 November 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Seinäjoen kirjaston vaiheita 2000-luvulla"](https://kirjasto.seinajoki.fi/tietoa/julkaisut/historiikki2000/). *Seinajoki.fi* (in Finnish). City of Seinäjoki. Retrieved 1 November 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-aa_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-aa_6-1) ["The Administrative and Cultural Centre in Seinäjoki"](https://visit.alvaraalto.fi/en/destinations/alvar-aalto-in-seinajoki/). *AlvarAalto.fi*. Alvar Aalto Foundation. Retrieved 1 November 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-rky_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-rky_7-1) ["Seinäjoen Aalto-keskus"](http://www.rky.fi/read/asp/r_kohde_det.aspx?KOHDE_ID=1667). *RKY.fi* (in Finnish). Finnish Heritage Agency. Retrieved 1 November 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-yle2_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-yle2_8-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-yle2_8-2) ["Aallon mustikkalamput olivat kellarissa 30 vuotta – entisöinti pelasti"](https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-8023601) (in Finnish). Yle. 4 June 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Mara, Felix. ["Concrete kaleidoscope: New Seinäjoki City Library by JKMM"](https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/buildings/concrete-kaleidoscope-new-seinajoki-city-library-by-jkmm). Architects' Journal. Retrieved 1 November 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-rak_10-0)** ["Kirjastorakennukset"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190806111122/https://kirjasto.seinajoki.fi/tietoa/kirjastorakennukset/) [Library buildings]. *Seinajoki.fi* (in Finnish). City of Seinäjoki. Archived from [the original](https://kirjasto.seinajoki.fi/tietoa/kirjastorakennukset/) on 6 August 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Subterranean tunnel links Seinäjoki library by JKMM Architects with Aalto's 1965 building"](https://www.dezeen.com/2014/11/12/seinajoki-city-library-jkmm-architects-alvar-aalto-finland/). *Dezeen*. Retrieved 1 November 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["2012"](https://betoni.com/tapahtumat-ja-koulutukset/vuoden-betonirakenne/vuosi-2012/). *Betoni.com* (in Finnish). Retrieved 1 November 2020.

## External links

- [Official website](http://kirjasto.seinajoki.fi/english/)

- [Seinäjoki Library (Apila)](https://jkmm.fi/work/seinajoki-library/) on JKMM Architects website

v t e Seinäjoki Cityscape Parks and recreation Hirvijärvi Reservoir Kalajärvi Reservoir Mannerheim Park Culture Aalto Centre Ilkka Provinssirock Seinäjoki City Theatre Seinäjoki Civil Guard House Seinäjoki Library Tangomarkkinat Churches and landmarks Lakeuden Risti Church Seinäjoki City Hall Torikeskus Education Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences Sports Venues OmaSP Stadion Seinäjoen keskuskenttä Seinäjoki Pesäpallo Stadium Teams and clubs Nurmon Jymy Peräseinäjoen Toive Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho Seinäjoen JymyJussit Seinäjoen Maila-Jussit Seinäjoki Crocodiles Sepsi-78 SJK Akatemia Transport Seinäjoki Airport Seinäjoki railway station Ylistaro railway station

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Seinäjoki Library](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sein%C3%A4joki_Library) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sein%C3%A4joki_Library?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.