Library

Valamo Library

The Valamo Monastery Library, which continues the activities of the Valamo Monastery Library in Lake Ladoga, is a special library that serves the monastery's brotherhood, college, staff, as well as the monastery's guests, researchers, students and other information seekers.

The library has the largest collection of Russian Orthodox literature in Western Europe, comprising approximately 20,000 volumes: books, periodicals and manuscripts. The oldest works date from the 17th and 18th centuries. The Valamo collection in Lake Ladoga and other old Russian and Church Slavonic literature are located in a closed storage vault.

The library's new collection comprises over 30,000 volumes. The collection is growing through acquisitions, exchanges and donations. The focus is on literature dealing with Orthodoxy and monastic tradition. Growth areas of theological literature include iconography and hagiography. The new collection also includes a large amount of non-fiction and fiction, especially that which has connections to Orthodox culture and life values.

The Valamo Monastery Library, located in the Valamo Cultural Centre in Heinävesi, is, alongside the Orthodox Church Museum RIISA, the most important memory organization of the Finnish Orthodox Church.

Opening hours

Winter (1.9.-31.5.)
Mon–Sat 12–14

Summer (1.6.-31.8.)
Mon–Sat 12–15

Research work is possible by separate agreement during the library's office hours, Mon–Fri, 8–16.

Outside office hours, research work is possible by separate agreement in the library and archives with a librarian or archivist present for a price of €60 / hour.

The right to make changes is reserved.

Library exhibition

Contact information

Valamo Monastery Library
Valamontie 42
79850 Uusi-Valamo
Tel. 044 425 9217
kirjasto@valamo.fi

Additional information

Librarian Virva Suvitie
Tel. 044 425 9258

virva.suvitie@valamo.fi

Virtual Valamo Project Manager Pasi Hyytiäinen
Tel. 040 357 7317
pasi.hyytiainen@valamo.fi

Virtual Valamo

Research service
Research requests 40 € / hour
Minimum hourly rate 0.5 hours

Library usage

The library's old collection, the so-called Valamo collection of Lake Ladoga, is located in a closed vault. The works are given to researchers for use in the reading room during library hours. Separate instructions are followed when handling the works and other documents. The staff will guide you in finding them.

Works from the new collection are loaned out for 28 days, to researchers by agreement. Loans can be renewed three times if there are no valid reservations for them. Magazines, reference books, manuals, or materials defined as rare works are not loaned out for home use.

There are several reading places in the library premises. Customers have access to a photocopier, printing and scanning facilities, and an Internet connection.

The collection catalogued in the database can be browsed in the online library without logging in. By logging in to your personal information with your Valamo library card customer ID and four-digit PIN, you can also renew loans, build a virtual favorite bookshelf, edit contact information, and reserve and rate materials in the online library. The Advanced Search menu allows you to limit and expand your information search with many options. You can also use it to track the arrival of new books in our collection.

The remote service follows the instructions agreed upon by the remote service libraries and the regulations of the sending library. Remote service is subject to a fee. If you want to remotely borrow a work from our collection, please contact your nearest library.

Fees and compensations

The loan period is 28 days, after which fees begin to accrue. You lose the right to borrow when you have accumulated 10 € in fees.

Late fee
25 cents/loan/day, late fee maximum 7 €/loan

Reminder
First reminder 1.50 €, second reminder  3 €

Sending an invoice for the material to be replaced
5 €

Lost or damaged material
Acquisition price of the volume. The compensation prices are determined by the library that owns the material.

Further collection
The collection agency sets the price.

Library material reservation
1 €/volume

Interlibrary loan order
4 € + sending library fees

Interlibrary loan shipment
Starting at 10 €

Black and white photocopies and printouts
A4 – 0.20 € / 0.40 € (double-sided), A3 – 0.40 € / 0.80 € (double-sided)

Color photocopies and printouts
A4 – 2 € / 4 € (double-sided), A3 – €3 / €6 (double-sided)

First library card
Free

Lost or renewal library card
€4

Material donation

The library accepts donations only on the principle that the library itself may decide whether to place an individual work in the collection, put it up for sale, removed or otherwise recycled.

The following factors affect acceptance:

  • The suitability of the material for the collection profile of the Valamo Monastery Library

  • The condition of the material

  • The resources available to the library

The library accepts donations of publications that are in good condition and that are missing from the collection or that supplement it if necessary.

The intention to donate should be discussed with the librarian in advance.

Procurement proposal

Is the material you are looking for missing from the Valamo Library collection? You can send us an acquisition proposal by email to kirjasto@valamo.fi

As a volunteer at the library

Are you interested in volunteering, internships or civilian service at Valamo Library? Every year, we welcome several library professionals, interns and experts in the special areas of our collections to volunteer. Knowledge of Axiell Aurora, cataloguing skills, understanding of the Orthodox faith and versatile language skills are an advantage in this inspiring work. We particularly value knowledge of foreign languages, such as Greek, Russian and Church Slavonic. Feel free to contact us!