The SLS archives are a rich source of knowledge about Swedish-speaking Finland, its history, traditions, literature, languages, everyday life and folk music.

SLS documents contemporary society and accepts donations of cultural and historical material comprising everything from manuscripts and photographs to audio and video recordings, and maps.

The Society of Swedish Literature in Finland is the largest funder of Finland-Swedish-related research in the humanities and social sciences.

Major areas of research include history, society, Swedish language, literature, ethnology, folklore and musicology.

Cooperation with universities, research institutions and funding bodies in Finland and abroad is an important part of the Society's activity.

SLS publishes scholarly literature and nonfiction about Finland-Swedish culture, language, society, and history.

SLS annually awards literary prizes to authors and researchers who write in Swedish.

In Vaasa there is a reference library with special emphasis on literature about local history, ethnology, folklore and folk music.