Public library

The functional idea of the Kuhmo Town Library is to offer versatile materials (some 95 000 books, newspapers, periodicals, CDs, DVDs, sheet music, language courses…) for Kuhmo’s inhabitants to loan and also to meet their informational needs. People can check on the Internet which items can be lent at the Kuhmo Library and place hold requests. The use of library and loaning are free of charge.

Library services are brought to the people living in the scattered settlements by a travelling library which drives around the wide territories of Kuhmo.

The building

The planning of the library building in Kuhmo is based on the scheme ”Atalante”, the open architectural contest winner of 1984. Atalante was the name of a riverboat that came along the river to the town in a poetic film by Jean Vigo; the film was called Atalante, too. The building was completed in the autumn 1987. The library was taken into use on 19 Dec 1988.

In Kuhmo, the library rose on the riverbank of Pajakkakoski rapids, bringing worldwide science and arts with it. This idea has been an inspiration for more dynamic and sculptural architecture and symbolic themes. In form, there is aspiration for comprehensive abstract expression that continues the modern tradition of architecture, but on the other hand it also contains touching variety, locality, surprising elements and subtleness. The aspiration for the total effect in form led to the fact that almost all the lamps and furniture were designed in the architecture office.