Services of the Archive of Parliament

Printed parliamentary documents can be studied in the Library's Reading Room without a separate order. Parliamentary documents that can be checked out are located in the Self-service Floor.

The subject and person indices compiled annually and for longer time periods may be used as cross-referencing aids for printed documents. In addition, a separate guide (currently available in Finnish and Swedish) has been drawn up to assist the users of printed parliamentary documents (Suomen valtiopäiväasiakirjat : käytön opas, Helsinki 2005). The electronic documentary archive also contains a subject index starting from 1919.

Information about individual documents, handling phases of parliamentary matters and parliamentary actions of an individual Member of Parliament can be searched for from the printed Index part of the parliamentary document series.

Nowadays, the Index part of the parliamentary document series is generated from the information system that contains the handling information of parliamentary matters.

The Archive of Parliament - Service Guide (PDF format)  »

Original documents, microfilms and CD-ROMs are ordered from the Reference and Archival Services Desk by filling out the archive loan request. The details needed for filling out the request form can be found in the archival and microfilm catalogues kept in the Library’s Reading Room. Committee documents are available on CD-ROM starting from the parliamentary session of 2003.

It is recommended that whenever possible, printed, microfilmed or otherwise copied documents are used instead of the originals.

The website of the Finnish Parliament contains:
- handling phases of parliamentary matters
- parliamentary documents
- reports and statistics on the handling of parliamentary matters by Parliament.

The oldest and, initially, rather sparse data registered in the system enables searches of legislative matters since 1919.

The first document series in the electronic documentary archives start from the year 1991 and are completed and updated annually. All parliamentary documents are nowadays stored in a database. In particular the documents produced by Parliament have a broad range of search options associated with them.

Most documents in the Archive of Parliament are accessible to the public. However, some documents of the Foreign Affairs Committee are kept confidential for up to 25 years. Some EU documents of the Grand Committee are also confidential until the Committee revokes the confidentiality (Rules of Procedure of the Grand Committee, section 6). Permission is also required for using some of the archives contained in special collections.

Photocopies of printed documents may be taken using the Library’s photocopiers. The photocopiers operate on cards that can be purchased from the vending machine in the Readers’ Lounge. Copies of microfilms can be taken by using the microfilm reader/printer.

Copies of original documents can only be taken by the Library staff subject to the currently valid price list.
Information service of the Archive of Parliament

The Archive of Parliament conducts simple archival searches free of charge. A fee only is charged for more complex queries.

Users may request copies or facsimiles of specific documents by phone, letter or e-mail. A fee is charged for these copies as stated in our price list.

The Archive of Parliament conducts simple archival searches free of charge. A fee only is charged for more complex queries.

Users may request copies or facsimiles of specific documents by phone, letter or e-mail. A fee is charged for these copies as stated in our price list.

Ask the Information Service of the Archive of Parliament »