Researchers protest National Archives’ new policies in Turku, warning of threat to academic freedom

Around 80 researchers and students in Turku demonstrated on Thursday against the National Archives of Finland’s decision to reduce the opening hours of its Turku branch to just one day per month, Yle reports. The change, combined with new fees for accessing archival materials, has sparked concerns over restricted research opportunities and delays in academic work.

The National Archives defends the cuts by citing low visitor numbers and a shift toward digital services, but historians argue the restrictions undermine Finland’s tradition of open access to public records.

Access cuts disrupt academic work
Participants in the protest, including doctoral researcher Noora Viljamaa and professor Kirsi Vainio-Korhonen, warned that the reduced opening hours will severely hinder thesis research and degree completion. Viljamaa, who is writing a dissertation on Finnish history, said the one-day-per-month access makes systematic research impossible.

“This isn’t just about convenience—it risks the democratic future of Finnish society by threatening academic freedom,” Viljamaa said. She explained that historical research often requires reviewing large volumes of material before determining relevance, a process incompatible with the new restrictions.

Professor Georg Haggrén compared the policy to practices in authoritarian regimes: “Closed archives were typical of the old Eastern Bloc. In liberal Western societies, archives are open.”

Fees and digital shift raise concerns
Under the new model, researchers can order one archival unit (such as a book or file) for free every two weeks for digitisation. Additional or expedited requests incur a fee of around €60 per unit. While the National Archives claims no one has yet paid these fees—suggesting existing free options suffice—students at the protest argued the costs would quickly become prohibitive.

Chief inspector Tomi Ahoranta acknowledged the Turku branch had only about 250 visitors last year, with one-third requesting just one or two items. He noted that online access now matches or exceeds in-person usage. “We reach as many people in a single day online as we did in a year on-site,” Ahoranta said, insisting the changes would maintain or even improve service for many users.

Background: broader cuts planned
The National Archives has proposed closing branches in four Finnish cities as part of a wider restructuring. Critics fear the moves will further isolate researchers from primary sources, particularly those unable to rely on digital alternatives.