What is the current situation of school libraries in Finland? Are there school libraries in all primary/secondary schools or is it up to each school or…

Surprisingly it seems there is no complete database of school libraries in Finland. Libraries.fi-site, which lists almost all libraries in Finland, when using the key word koulukirjasto, only gives three school libraries: in Lieto (Keskuskoulun ja lukion kirjasto) and Ilmarinen and Tarvasjoki (which both belong to the of City of Lieto). However, according to the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2021, there was a school library in 67 % of schools (Leino).

Municipalities can decide independently whether to have libraries in schools or not. The law (Section 47 § Supportive activities) merely suggests that "library, club and other activities closely relating to education may be arranged In conjunction with basic education". I would imagine it all depends on the money - how much each municipality can afford or is ready to invest for such service. 

In an YLE article from 13 years ago it was stated that the quality of school libraries varies greatly; while some school libraries are at the municipal library level, others operate with donated books. (Niiranen)

In Ask a Librarian -service there are older answers to similar questions, you can check them from the links below. Unfortunately, most reference links in these answers are outdated. For example, Suomen Koulukirjastoyhdistys (The Finnish School Library Association) was closed down on 26 August 2020.

How many School has its own school library? Also, I heard about there are some public libraries which are in School buildings. How many of them are there in… | Kysy kirjastonhoitajalta

Where I found informations about school libraries of Finland? | Ask a Librarian

Minä vuonna Suomen Koulukirjastoyhdistys lakkasi toimimasta? | Kysy kirjastonhoitajalta

References:

Kirjastohakemisto. https://hakemisto.kirjastot.fi/ 

Leino, K. Lasten lukutaito ja muita PIRLS 2021 -tutkimuksen tuloksia. Jyväskylän yliopisto, Koulutuksen tutkimuslaitos. https://www.kirjastot.fi/sites/default/files/content/Leino.pdf . (Viitattu 2.12.2025)

Niiranen, P. Koulukirjastojen taso huolestuttaa opetushallitusta. YLE-article. 27.4.2012. https://yle.fi/a/3-9943194 (Viitattu 2.12.2025)