Past NLA Conferences

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 

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