This autumn, Turku City Library is offering hundreds of free events on almost every day of the week.
Highlights include stunning underwater nature photography, events celebrating sustainable living, and plenty of poetry through discussions and visits from poets. You'll also find the library's popular lecture series, book clubs and hobby groups, where you might discover a new free pastime.
"Once again, we have a packed autumn programme," says Events Information Specialist Suvi Kiukas. "Alongside our regular events, book clubs, author visits and lectures, the Main Library will host performance art and a monologue performance. We'll also have interesting discussions on topics such as poetry, sustainable living and translated literature."
To celebrate Baltic Sea Day, the Main Library's Rotunda will host a pop-up photography exhibition. World Unseen features award-winning photographer Meeri Koutaniemi and underwater photographer Pekka Tuuri. Their images take visitors from tropical coral reefs to the underwater world of the Baltic Sea. The exhibition runs from 27 August to 13 September.
Other exhibitions during the autumn will be organised by Jöötti Association, the Turku Comic Society, Aura of Puppets and Turunlahden Sanaversomo.
Poetry, Turku and Sustainable Living
The autumn season gets underway on 8 September with a performance celebrating International Literacy Day. Danish artist Tina Mariane Krogh Madsen will present a collective reading performance at the Main Library.
The library's poetry season begins on 9 September with a discussion organised together with Poesia. Poets Erkka Filander and Miia Toivio will explore questions such as who, or what, is speaking in a poem. Poetry lovers can also join a panel discussion on Turku poetry on 16 September.
The library is well known for promoting the circular economy, so it is naturally taking part in Turku's Sustainable Living Week. On 15 September, the library will host the Sustainable Living Celebration discussion event.
The City of Turku will also be celebrated on Turku Day, 20 September, when the library will be filled with activities and events throughout the day.
Another autumn favourite is the traditional Book Fair Warm-Up event. This year, author Heli Laaksonen will be the guest on 23 September.
Favourite Events Return
Autumn also marks the return of the library's many book clubs. A new addition is Lukukupla ("Reading Bubble"), a quiet reading group at the Main Library. Everyone is welcome to come and read together in a relaxed atmosphere, and there is an opportunity to discuss your reading at the end of each session.
The library's lecture series will continue throughout the autumn, covering topics such as history, science literacy and children's reading.
Branch libraries are also offering a busy programme. At Nummi Library, monthly Tuesday events for families with children will continue throughout the autumn. The Neighbourhood Culture programme will bring a variety of activities, from films to karaoke, to the libraries in Pansio, Yli-Maaria, Runosmäki and Varissuo.
In October, the Main Library will once again host its popular Comics Festival, and in November Poetry Week will bring even more poetry to brighten the dark autumn season. December will be filled with Christmas events and festive craft activities.
