Mariehamn City Library Mariehamns stadsbibliotek

Overview

Mariehamns stadsbibliotek (Mariehamn City Library) is the public library of Mariehamn, the capital of the autonomous Åland Islands, Finland. Known locally as 'det blå huset' (the blue house) for the colour of its distinctive building, it is centrally located near the bus station on Strandgatan with views over Österhamn. The current library building was constructed in 1989.

Role and Collections

The library plays several institutional roles. It serves as the main public library for the city of Mariehamn and as the central library for the Åland Islands, coordinating services for the smaller municipal libraries across the archipelago. It also functions as the university library for the Åland University of Applied Sciences (Högskolan på Åland), housing the university's course materials, databases, and research resources alongside the public library collections. Weekly book transport enables Åland Islands library users to request and receive items from libraries elsewhere in the archipelago.

Collections include books, periodicals, newspapers, and digital resources. The library participates in bibliotek.ax, the union catalogue of the Åland Islands libraries.

Services

The library offers lending services, computer access, wireless internet, study and meeting spaces, and hosts cultural events, exhibitions, and lectures. Self-service access is available from 9:00 Monday to Friday; information desk service begins at 10:00. Weekend hours are also maintained.

Journalism and Media Resources

As the central library for the Åland Islands, Mariehamn City Library maintains newspaper and periodical collections of local and regional significance, contributing to the documentation of Ålandic public life and media history.