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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.

The Committee for Public Information (TJNK) awards public information grants to individuals or members of working groups (but not to associations or societies) to implement work plans that contribute to public information, mainly as a form of compensation for creative work.

Grants may be awarded for non-fiction books, radio and TV programmes, articles in periodicals, information products published in electronic form or other information products that popularise information. Grants are also awarded to support the piloting of forms of cooperation in the field of public information, particularly the transfer of information between researchers and decision-makers, projects in areas where science and the arts intersect, and to support scientific education. 

Grants are not awarded for scientific research (including doctoral dissertations/PhD theses), fiction books, translations and textbooks. Grants for translations are awarded by other organisations such as FILI, which is part of the Finnish Literature Society.

For more information about the project forms that can be financed, go to the Finnish page.

Amounts of grants

Public information grants are awarded as personal grants, mainly to support creative work. Grants are awarded for working months. The amounts of grants correspond to the amounts of library grants and subsidies for authors and translators and include the MYEL pension insurance premium.

• Two months of work: EUR 3,750 (note: no MYEL pension insurance obligation)
• Four months of work: EUR 7,500
• Six months of work: EUR 11,500
• Eight months of work: EUR 15,000

Grants can also cover expenses of a technical nature in special cases and for justified reasons.

In 2021, a total of EUR 570,000 is awarded in grants. Learn more about previous grants awarded and project descriptions (in Finnish).

Applying for a grant

Public information grants can be applied for in May every year. The application service opens on 1 May and closes at 4pm on the last working day of May. Note that when the application service has closed, applications can no longer be saved or confirmed (submitted).

Please note that the application form and instructions are currently available only in Finnish and Swedish:

• Applications are prepared on the application service’s electronic form (in Finnish/Swedish)
• Guidelines for making an application (in Finnish)
• Frequently asked questions (in Finnish)

Grant decisions are made bt the end of September.

Additional information

• In the event of technical difficulties with the application form, please contact technical support: tuki(at)tsv.fi
• In matters related to the content or substance of grants, please contact Reetta Kettunen, the Secretary-General, Tel: +358 40 733 5935

For other enquiries, see our contact details.