Past NLA Conferences

How can libraries contribute to a just ecological transition?
Researcher Ville Lähde, BIOS Research Unit

Smartly sustainable – Kuopio City Library got awarded for sustainable practices.
Library Systems Manager Liisa Rossi, Kuopio City Library

A library in the making: becoming an epicenter for a sustainable city?
Special Librarian Kaja Ahnfelt, Deichman Grünerløkka, Oslo

Espoo, the most sustainable City in Europe.
SDG manager Ville Taajamaa, VLR City Espoo

Energy efficiency in libraries – case City of Mikkeli.
Property Manager Jarkko Hyttinen, City of Mikkeli

Public libraries as environmentally responsible actors.
Chief Librarian Harri Sahavirta, Arabianranta and Vallila Libraries, Helsinki

Human transformations for a sustainable future.
Senior Research Fellow Maria Joutsenvirta, Aalto University

Public library models in local sustainability.
Ph.D., University lecturer Jonas Söderholm, The Swedish School of Library and Information Science, University of Borås

Beekeeping, balcony gardening and furniture renovation – Our library’s environmental action plan and its effects.
Library Director Fredrika Sundberg, Mariehamn City Library

The”Climate warrior” escape room in a mobile library and the climate actions of Ii. 
Library director Minna Halonen, Municipality of Ii 

A Responsible library as promoter of environmental awareness.
District Manager of Library Services Minna Männikkö, Oulu City Library

Sustainability in Danish libraries.
Advisor Jan Holmquist, Holmquist Consult

You can find the recordings of the 2021 conference here.

Greetings from Antti Kurvinen, Minister of Science and Culture, Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland

How the Nordic freedom of speech makes a difference?
Kai Ekholm, Author and former Head Librarian and Director of the Finnish National Library

Libraries live from freedom
Leena Aaltonen, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland

Norwegian culture- and library policies: libraries' roles in democratic public spheres
Håkon Larsen, Professor of Information Science, OsloMet University, Norway

Access to information as a cornerstone of an open democracy
Antti Virrankoski, Director for the Finnish Parliament Library

Library act in action: Finnish libraries promoting democracy
Virpi Launonen, Senior Officer, Library Affairs, Regional State Administrative Agency, Finland

The imagination is a good place to be – it is limitless
Bagir Kwiek, Sweden’s ambassador for reading, Swedish Arts Council

Case presentations from the project Libraries as forums of democracy 2020-2021 (Finland´s Fund for the Future, SITRA) 

Dialogue in public spaces
Kai Alhanen, Researcher, Leader of Dialogue Academy, Finland

Why information literacy is an essential skill for democracy
Anu Ojaranta, Senior Officer, Library Affairs, Regional State Administrative Agency, Finland

A library visit is not just a number: The impact and value of libraries in democracy
Christian Lauersen, Director of Libraries and Citizen Services, Roskilde Municipality, Denmark

Libraries - birthplaces of readers and writers
Juha Itkonen, author 

You can find the recordings of the conference here.

Wednesday

Library Tour with Charged Bus to Kirkkonummi Public Library Fyyri.  

Guided Tour in Oodi Library

Refreshments Available & Music by Duo Mene, Maijansali
Lotta Ahlbeck, violin and Helena Dumell, altviolin

Welcome to Nordic Libraries Annual 2022
Susanne Ahlroth, Senior Officer at Finnish Regional State Administrative Agencies (AVI) and Anna-Maria Soininvaara, Director of Helsinki Central Library Oodi  
Päivi Jokitalo, Teacher in Library and Information Services, moderator of the conference  

Keynote: The Most Common Superpower  
Silvia Hosseini, Author and Teacher, Finland 

Literacy, Libraries, and The Civil Society: Are Libraries Still Important Pillars of Literacy? 
A panel discussion between the managers of the Nordic Library Associations: Executive Director Juha Manninen (Finland), President Vidar Lund (Norway), and Secretary General Karin Linder (Sweden) 

Writers in Nordic Landscapes.
Finnish author Juha Itkonen interviewing two of the candidates for the Nordic Council Literature Prizes, Karin Erlandsson (Åland Islands) and Moa Backe Åstot (Sweden).

Thursday

Visit to the Library of Nordic Culture Point

Guided Tour in Oodi Library

Keynote: The Literature Outside of Literature - How Poetry Finds a Way to the Lives of People who Dislike Reading  
Aleksis Salusjärvi, Literary Professional, The Finnish Reading Center 

Reading Skills are Redefined on the Web: Is Reading in a Crisis?  
Riitta Hanifi, Researcher, Statistics Finland  

Children's and Young Adult's Reading Culture Today: What is Happening with the Joy of Reading? 
Lisbet Vestergaard, Project Manager, Danish Think Tank Libraries for the Future 

Young Children's Reading on Print and on Screen 
Trude Hoel, Professor of Reading Science, National Centre for Reading Education and Research, University of Stavanger, Norway   

The Book is Dead, Long Live the Book: What Happens to Book Media in a Digital World? What is Lost and what do We Win? 
Alexandra Borg, Associate Professor of Scandinavian Languages, Uppsala University, Sweden 

Literacy in Helsinki City Strategy – Comments to the Conference Themes
Katri Vänttinen, Director of Library Services, Helsinki City, Finlands

Poetry Slam by the ruling Poetry Slam Champion of Nordic Countries and of Finland Nihkee Akka

Thursday

You can find the recordings of the conference on Kirjastokaista - LibraryChannel.

Welcome to the Nordic Libraries Annual 2023
Päivi Jokitalo, Moderator, Niina Bruun and Eveliina Puntari, Library Pedagogues, Lippulaiva Library/Espoo City Library

Video Presentation of the Lippulaiva Library              

Making Space in the Library - the Conflict between Permissive and Safe 
Dan Hallemar, Journalist, Editor and Podcaster, Sweden       

Self-Service and Self-Activity - from the User´s Point of View 
Maija Berndtson, Former Director of Helsinki City Library, Manager of Library Ranking Europe, Finland

Discussion on the Themes of Library Spaces and Independent Use 
Discussion between Dan Hallemar and Maija Berndtson, moderated by Päivi Jokitalo           

Flexibility and Equality of Access, Self-Service Libraries in Finland 2022
Jonna Toukonen, Senior Officer at Finnish Regional State Administrative Agencies (AVI) 

Comments and Discussion  
Riikka Rajala, Organizational Planner, Finnish Library Association and Lisa Engström, Senior Lecturer, Lund University, Sweden 

Self-Service Libraries – Three Cases from Finland 
Mia Penttala-Salli, Nurmo Branch Library/Seinäjoki City Library
Jolanda Raitio and Mikaela Johansson, Pargas City Library
Minna Männikkö, Oulu City Library            

Self-service (Meråpent) in Norway - Trends and Tribulations 
Stian Færden Kristensen, Advisor, Viken Regional Library, Norway 

Self-Service Libraries – Cases from Denmark and Sweden 
Lone Billehøj, Solrød Library and Culture House, Denmark 
Naghmana Toom, Garaget/Malmö City Library, Sweden

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

You can find the recordings of the past conferences on Kirjastokaista - LibraryChannel

Welcome to the Nordic Libraries Annual 2024

Psychological Resilience, Digital Bildung and Public Libraries
Tapani Sainio, Senior Ministerial Advisor, Ministry of Education and Culture

Libraries as Beacons of Community Resilience in Times of Change and Crisis
Jamie Johnston, Associate Professor, OsloMET university

Art and culture as resilience and psychological defence
Hannele Valkeeniemi, Director, Finnish Institute in Estonia. 

Relying on resilience to realise resilience
Mia Høj Mathiasson, Assistant Professor, University of Southern Denmark.   

The role of libraries in socio-economic vulnerable areas in Stockholm – examples from Järva
Ida Udovic, Director for libraries in Husby, Kista, Rinkeby, Spånga and Tensta, Stockholm City Library. 

Life requires art, …
Isto Turpeinen, Special Advisor, Arts Promotion Centre Finland.

Comments and conclusion