In Finland, the idea of function is realised in very different ways in libraries and museum buildings. Libraries have often been designed specifically for use as libraries. By contrast, museums are often housed in existing buildings, and understandably so. This is a significant difference in terms of the design and functionality of the buildings.

Municipal Library of Vihti, "Agricola", was built in the central location of Nummela in 1998. The building project was carried out in a modified form from the original Agricola proposal of Hannu Jaakkola and Tapani Kerttula. The proposal won the first prize in an architectural competition arranged in 1990. Rakennus-Haaparanta was chosen to be the building contractor. The building has been beautifully landscaped.

The purpose of library and information services is to promote equal access to education, literature and art, and to constant development of knowledge, skills, and civic prowess, as well as to internationalism and life-long learning. The library will produce virtual and interactive web services as well as educational content in data networks.
Finland's first lending library Vaasan Lukukirjasto was founded 1794 in Vaasa, for "the amusement and pastime" of the members in Vaasan Luku-Seura.

The Pakkala Learning and Information Centre consists of the International School of Vantaa, Day Care Centre, Pakkala Citizen’s Office and Point Library. The heart of the school is the Learning Centre, which is also open to the library users after school hours. The building is like a four leafed clover in which the library is one leaf.

The Centre is located along Hagelstamintie and the library is like a crown in the street crossing. There is many lodges for different learning purposes and exhibitions in the library. The chapes of the lodges make the architectural idea of the library.

The Ylöjärvi main library “Kite” was opened to the public in November 2002. The building is centrally located along the busy main street Kuruntie and it fits harmoniously with the surrounding fields. The library consists of two large triangles, and the avenue between them divides the spaces into those for patrons and those for staff. The interior was designed to be spacious and sunny: a long glass wall is facing Kuruntie. The main colour inside the building is warm light brown accentuated with bright blue.

Lohja Main Library was completed 2005 and was opened to the public january 2006. Main Library is now a centre of public events and it is a popular meeting point for user groups of all ages. Library is provided with modern technology including 3 automated borrowing stations and one automated return system. Population of the Lohja City is 37000 inhabitants (2007).

Kokkola City Library provides a fundamental civic service available to everyone in close and daily cooperation with the University of Applied Sciences Library, Info-Point Europe and Luckan, the information center for the Swedish-speaking minority.

Welcome to the Leppävaara Regional Library in the Sello shopping centre! The Leppävaara Regional Library is the largest library in the area. Since its opening in 2003 it has also been the most frequented library in all of the cities of Vantaa, Espoo, Kauniainen and Helsinki – the Helsinki metropolitan area.