Estonia drops planned cut to public library funding

Estonia will not reduce state support for public libraries next year, Culture Minister Heidy Purga said, according to ERR. The ministry has found funding to keep support at the same level, she said.

Purga said the decision followed talks between the ministry and libraries. She added that no organisation’s operating grant would be cut to cover the funding.

The ministry also supports the development of library collections and services through other measures, in addition to funding for library materials. Purga said a library accelerator programme for libraries in different municipalities was working well.

Last week, the ministry’s library adviser, Ülle Talihärm, told ERR that €1.77 million was planned for public library materials in 2027, compared with €1.87 million last year. She said the decrease was linked to a 10% cut distributed across state budget years.