Support for quality books is a purchase subsidy granted to municipal libraries annually by the Ministry of Education and Culture. The purchase subsidy covers all Finnish municipalities except those in Åland.
The subsidy aims to make high-quality literature of low circulation more readily available. It also helps public libraries increase and diversify their collections and expand their range of material to readers.
The appropriation allows libraries to acquire literature for their collections from a list of works containing approximately 500-600 titles for both adults and children, including fiction, non-fiction and books written in easy-to-read language that have been published in Finland.
The books selected for the list of works subject to the subsidies are decided annually by the Ministry of Education and Culture based on proposals submitted by the National Council for Literature (Arts Promotion Centre), the Committee for Public Information, and the Plain Language Centre.
More information about purchase subsidies is available on the website of the Ministry of Education and Culture.
Deadline for proposals 1.12.
The Committee for Public Information drafts a proposed purchase subsidy list for non-fiction literature and submits it to the Ministry in March.
Only high-quality literature of low circulation can be proposed to the subsidy list.
In addition to books, the purchase subsidy list may also contain plain language literature, audio books, large text books, sign language recordings and Sámi literature. Translated works can also be proposed for inclusion on the purchase subsidy list.
For publishers:
Proposals concerning non-fiction literature must be made by 1 December each year on the electronic form (the same form as used for state award nominations). NB. The form is only available in Finnish and Swedish. Proposals can also be submitted by email or post. See our contact details.
Publishers are requested to deliver to the committee’s office one (1) evaluation copy of each non-fiction book proposed for inclusion on the purchase subsidy list.
All of the works delivered to the Committee throughout the year will be included in deliberations in the same way as for works nominated for the State Award for Public Information.
For further information, see contact details.
