The year 2024 at Lahti City Library was a year of turning new pages and changes in many ways. Among other things, the libraries in Lahti received a new library system, a new mobile library, and the national E-library was introduced. Additionally, changes were made as the Lahti library network was reviewed. The decision to close the Laune Library from the beginning of 2026 was made in the fall of 2024. Statistics show that customers consistently accessed library services through various routes, with more visitors to the library and increased participation in virtual events.
Library Services Towards New and Innovative Solutions
In mobile library services, a single vehicle model was adopted at the beginning of 2024 as the old vehicles reached the end of their lifecycle, and services were completely paused from August 20 to November 24. The new electric mobile library was introduced in the fall of 2024. Lahti City Library organized a naming competition for the new mobile library in July-August. Nearly five hundred name suggestions were received, and the new mobile library was named Saaga. Lahti’s new bookmobile Saaga started its routes on November 25.
The national E-library was also introduced in Lahti in April 2024. The national E-library was created through the collaboration of the National Library and public libraries to improve the availability of e-materials for library customers. For Lahti residents, the E-library introduced remote-access magazines as a new type of material.
Lahti’s first neuropsychiatric lending service (nepsy-lainaamo) was opened at the main library on August 28. The service was realized as one of the projects of Lahti City’s participatory budgeting. The nepsy-lainaamo is intended for borrowing and familiarizing with tools that help with neuropsychiatric challenges.
The new library system was implemented in the fall of 2024. The transition to the new system took place from September 16 to September 29, 2024.
The Welfare and Leisure Committee decided on October 9, 2024, to close the Laune Library from January 1, 2026. Regarding the Mukkula Library, the committee decided that the new library would not be located in the upcoming Mukkula multipurpose building, but another location would be sought.
Growth in Library Visits
A total of nearly 952,809 customer visit in Lahti libraries during the year 2024, which was about 2.7 percent more than the previous year.
A total of 1,874,708 loans were made, which was 1.2 percent less than the previous year. This was likely influenced by the service interruption due to the library system change and the discontinuation of the second bookmobile. A total of 81,453 e-loans were made. E-material loans increased by 15.3 percent compared to the previous year.
The library does significant work in promoting reading among children and young people. Last year, children’s and young people’s books accounted for 48% of all book loans. The borrowing of children’s materials has been increasing in recent years, especially in children’s fiction. This growth has been partly influenced by expert material selection work, ensuring a wide and diverse collection of books for children and young people.
The investment in literacy work for children and young people is also reflected in the loan numbers. The library offers material recommendations and various media education packages for each grade level through schools. A library employee, “vinkkari" (a material recommender), can be invited to the school to provide material recommendations and reading suggestions for age-appropriate books, or the class can come to the library to listen to them. A library employee can also be invited to the school to talk about media education. Topics can include safe use of media, age limits, and source criticism. Last year, 3,579 children and young people were reached through book recommendations and media education packages.
Customers found their way back to the Renkomäki Library, as the number of visitors to the Renkomäki Library, opened in 2023 in the multipurpose building Aura, increased by 26 percent compared to the previous year. The number of visitors during self-service hours rose by a whopping 64.9 percent compared to the previous year. Additionally, loans also increased by about 10 percent.
Free Events Organized by Libraries Attracted Customers
The events recorded nearly 8,911 visits. The number of participants in virtual events increased from last year, with 1,182 participants in virtual events in 2024, compared to 730 virtual participants the previous year.
The library offered residents several opportunities to participate in societal discussions in a constructive and encouraging spirit. Dialogue sessions were held in libraries, discussing the library’s collections and engaging with young people. In connection with the review of the library network, resident meetings were held to discuss the importance of the local library to the residents of the area in the spirit of dialogue.
Additional Information:
Salla Palmi-Felin Library Services Director Lahti City Library Phone: +358 50 559 4098 Email: salla.palmi-felin@lahti.fi
Infographic Images: Nora Nordman / Lahti City Library
