Hi, I'm an a American Student at the Kent State School of Library and Information Science in the United States. I'm interested in working in Finnish libraries. I previously wrote and was was directed to the Finnish Ministry for Foreign workers because my question was framed around what the process would be for seeking employment as an American Citizen. This time, I would like to know if there is any other advice you could give me, from a more specific library professional perspective, about working in a Finnish the library. How does your system differ from the American system if at all? Do you use the Dewey Decimal System for cataloging? Any other issue you can think of that you'd like to share, the more candid the better.
Answer
Your question is a bit difficult to answer since i do'nt know the american library work, but in general i guess that the differences are'nt very significant. We use decimal classification, but not the same in university libraries and public libraries. Both are developed similarly to Dewey decimal classification, so the classification system should'nt be a problem. University libraries, special libaries and public libraries use different kinds of systems in acquisition of materials, cataloguing, shelving, but nothing so radically different, that it would'nt be comprehensible to a librarian. The new trends in library work and material are much the same as in the United States. I would guess that the biggest challenge in working in a Finnish library would be our language!
Here is a link for you to a few programs about finnish library work, http://www.kirjastokaista.fi/en/kirjastoala/finnishlibrariesnow/ .
Add new comment