Lessons from Helsinki’s Oodi

At a time when the book reading culture is declining across the world, how does one country keep it alive and thriving? Calling itself “a living meeting place”, Oodi was the city’s gift to its people on the centenary celebration of Finland’s independence. But it’s far from the infrastructure and program Oodi proposes.” Enter the ‘bookship’ A recent visitor to Oodi, graphic novelist Jaideep Unudurti says he was impressed by the library’s commitment to create a space for culture, without having any commercial motive. Referring to the library’s striking facade, he adds, “I first saw Oodi on a misty and snowy afternoon, and for some reason my first impression was that of a sailing ship. The book travels the conveyor belt mechanically to reach Veera, one of the three robots servicing the Oodi library since 2019, so the library staff could have more time to interact and engage with visitors.