The National Library of Finland has now digitised all Finnish newspapers from the 1940s for customer use

In the 1940s over 200 Finnish-language newspaper titles were published, with a combined total of some 1.4 million pages. Swedish-language newspapers were already digitised earlier, so both Finnish- and Swedish-language newspapers are now available in the digi.kansalliskirjasto.fi service.

Tutkain agreement enables remote research use of the digitised newspapers

As Finnish-language newspaper content from the 1940s is partially protected by copyright, the National Library cannot make it openly available online. However, the online research use of newspapers published until the end of 2021 is permitted to researchers and both seminar and master’s thesis students. This right is based on the Tutkain agreement concluded by the National Library, Kopiosto and Finnish higher education institutions. University of Oulu and Oamk researchers and students can access these materials through Haka identification at digi.kansalliskirjasto.fi.

For Finnish-language newspapers, open online use is possible for those published until the end of 1939. In addition, the National Library’s digital material can be accessed in full at legal deposit libraries. In Oulu University Library these materials are accessible on the legal deposit workstation in Pegasus Library.

At present, almost 20 million pages of newspapers are available in the digi.kansalliskirjasto.fi service. The National Library is currently digitising newspapers issued in the 1950s.

More information: kirjasto.kokoelmat@oulu.fi