Thessaloniki gets ready for its metro launch in November
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
It will serve as a virtual companion to the municipal network of libraries in the country
The National Library of Finland is launching its E-library service today – announced as a pioneering platform on the planet and probably the first such in the world. For the moment, it will be available to 85% of Finnish residents as it’s a network that municipalities can choose to join.
The E-library will be available as a downloadable app for phones and tablets, and it will allow users to borrow e-books, audiobooks and digital journals.
Instead of a library card, strong authentication is used when first registering for the service. E-library can be used by anyone whose municipality of residence has joined the service. The service costs 0.7 euros per resident to municipalities.
The demand for the service originated in libraries, and the initial funding was granted by the Finnish parliament. Reportedly, a similar yet different service has been developed in Denmark and the idea is also taking hold in other Nordic countries.
“The Finnish model is based on the separation of platform and material. In other words, the materials can be chosen more freely, as they are not tied to the limitations of a specific platform. And we also control the app development,” explains Annastiina Louhisalmi, Head of Services for E-library.
Being a new service, the project managers do not yet know how it will develop in the future. Only time will tell which items are more requested for borrowing. App users can also submit feedback about the service and help with its consequent development.
It turns out, though, that the E-Library will also suffer from some of the problems innate to old-school libraries, chiefly the fact that users will likely have to wait sometime for newly published materials to be made available for borrowing. That’s because the number of reading rights limits the scope of services to an extent.
The great thing, however, is that reading materials will be available in Finnish, Swedish and English.
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin
That’s because the state has to spend money on updating the railway infrastructure rather than subsidizing the cost of the popular pass
Rethinking renewable energy sources for the urban landscape
The examples, compiled by Beyond Fossil Fuels, can inform and inspire communities and entrepreneurs that still feel trepidation at the prospect of energy transition
Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin
The 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns (ESCT) sets the stage for stronger cooperation between the EU, national and local level to fast track Europe's transition to climate neutrality.
At least, that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
At least, that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo
Hostal de Pinós is located in the geographical centre of the autonomous region
Despite its church-y name, the district has long been known as the hangout spot for the artsy crowds
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
An interview with the Mayor of a Polish city that seeks to reinvent itself
An interview with the newly elected ICLEI President and Mayor of Malmö
A conversation with the Mayor of Lisbon about the spirit and dimensions of innovation present in the Portuguese capital