Literature

Finns are the most active EU citizens when it comes to using libraries. The state provides approximately 55 euros per resident in support for municipal libraries, totalling around 300 million euros annually.

In addition, the Ministry of Education and Culture allocates just under a million euros a year to libraries for the purchase of around 45,000 books. These books are selected from a list of quality literature of small distribution that is compiled each year by the National Council for Literature and the Committee for Public Information.

The market for Finnish-language literature is small. For this reason, the creative work of writers and translators is supported by means of grants and subsidies, as well as by separate artist grants. Grants and subsidies are also awarded to writers of non-fiction.

The National Council for Literature supports the training of writers throughout Finland, as well as creative writing and reading activities and various literary events.