Writing home cultures through books at the time of the pandemic

The building is normally bustling with the activity of readers, book clubs, lectures, and events until late at night. During the pandemic, it turned to hallowed grounds, a notional void, epitomizing the city’s exhaustion. Libraries continued serving the customers: e-books and audiobooks were available with the library card, and many newspapers, journals, and magazines were opened online. In Karkkila, all public events were cancelled and the library was closed at the end of November, but after citizen feedback it was soon opened in the afternoons for picking up reserved books during limited hours. During the winter, it was also possible to borrow skiing sets for adults and children. Some reasons for this choice are obvious—a well-composed bookcase conveys a sense of trustworthiness, competence, and authority.