Commons or Public Goods: The Case of the Public Libraries in Finland

This teaching case presents the evolution and model of the National Public Libraries System in Finland to support the discussion on the potential roles of the State in providing shared resources. Those public libraries encompass extensive collections and services beyond traditional ones, seeking to be the people's living rooms. In addition to the collection of books, magazines, and cultural items, the Finnish public libraries work as a library of things and as spaces for learning, entertainment, and conviviality (right to the city). Conceptually, this case primarily discusses the blurred boundaries of commons and public goods when going beyond the conventional conceptualization of the State's role in providing shared resources. In addition to the conceptual discussion, this case can be used to position the question of shared resources in broader debates about social, economic, and political choices and societal configurations, especially when discussing welfare state models and alternatives of shared economy. This case can be used to discuss different possibilities and compositions to provide shared resources, approaching commons and public goods as complements. The main goal is to bring back governments' potential roles and opportunities to provide access to shared resources, as well as the advantages and shortcomings of this approach. The discussion proposed resonates with debates of sharing as an alternative for more sustainable use of resources.