Kalajärvi Library to be developed together with residents – ideas survey opens in February
Residents of northern Espoo will have the opportunity to suggest ideas and vote on which service, activity or other improvement will be implemented at the Kalajärvi Library during 2026. Espoo City Library will launch a participatory budgeting process in February, with EUR 15,000 allocated for the improvement of the Kalajärvi Library.
The ideas collected in Kalajärvi during the spring will also be used in the development of services and activities in other small local libraries in Espoo.
Suggest ideas for improvements
In the participatory budgeting process, residents of all ages can suggest ideas to improve the Kalajärvi Library. Ideas may be related to events, services or the comfort and appeal of the library space. In this round, the money will not be used for library acquisitions (books and other loanable materials).
Ideas and suggestions will be collected through a survey(external link, opens in a new window) open to all in February. Residents can fill in the survey online or at the library. A working group made up of library staff and local residents will review the suggestions and select the most popular and feasible ideas. These ideas will be put to a vote in April.
Submit your idea using the Webropol survey(external link, opens in a new window) by 28 February 2026.
Schedule
The ideas survey opens on Monday 9 February. During the spring, suggestions and ideas will be developed further into feasible plans.
- Submit suggestions and ideas: 9–28 February 2026
Residents can submit their suggestions by filling in the survey form(external link, opens in a new window) online or at the Kalajärvi Library. - Vote for your favourites: 6–26 April 2026
In April, residents will vote for their favourites among feasible ideas. - Idea to be implemented is announced: 4 May 2026
A group formed by local residents and library staff will review the voting results. Implementation of the selected idea(s) will start in the summer, if possible.
Participatory budgeting in libraries
Participatory budgeting offers residents the opportunity to have their say in how the city’s tax revenue is used. Espoo City Library uses participatory budgeting both to allow children and young people to get their voices heard and to develop library services for adults.
Espoo’s libraries are involved in ManiMiitti, organised annually by Youth Services. ManiMiitti gives Espoo’s lower secondary school pupils a chance to have their say in matters related to their neighbourhoods and leisure activities. Primary school pupils can have their say through Toimintatonni, which is part of Espoo City Library’s participatory budgeting and democracy education activities. Participatory budgeting for improving adults’ library services began in 2025 with the development of services at the Entresse Library. The events created based on the voting results have received enthusiastic feedback.