Our era is often called the age of uncertainty. The world is in a state of turmoil we have not seen for decades, and understanding change sometimes seems downright impossible. Young people’s faith in the future in particular is being put to the test, and continuous public discussion about threats and their anticipation affects everyone’s mood. Even though many things are happening, some of which we have little power over, it is important to keep in mind that many other things remain the same. At times, there is even cause for optimism. Reliable and stable institutions, such as universities and libraries, are now increasingly important for maintaining wellbeing and trust. The core duty of our Library is to foster education and sustainable wellbeing through the power of research-based knowledge, and to promote the openness and accessibility of such knowledge broadly in society. Last year, we once again succeeded in this mission.
In 2025, our operations focused on promoting student wellbeing and improving the conditions for studying. The most visible achievement in this area was the completion of the renovation of Learning Centre Aleksandria and the opening of the wonderful new facilities for students in July. The autumn visitor numbers for Aleksandria and the Kaisa library demonstrate the genuine demand for these facilities. We also came up with other means to support studying. Last year, the Gradufest event was organised for thesis writers, offering accessible support for bachelor’s and master's theses and other written output. After a successful trial run, Gradufest will be organised in the spring of 2026 as well.
The year was busy also for the Library’s research services. Helsinki University Press, the University's open access publishing house, transferred in its entirety from Gaudeamus to the Library to strengthen our open access services. The service module for research data management was supplemented by a data catalogue developed at the Library.
Collaboration in domestic and international forums is a boon to the library sector. Last year, our domestic collaboration focused particularly on planning the deployment of a rights retention strategy (RSS) for research publications. Introduced at the University of Helsinki in the beginning of this year, the strategy ensures immediate openness for research publications, even when the publisher's terms do not allow it, and their preservation.
As an example of our diverse international collaboration, we will serve as a benchmark for organisational development for Gothenburg University Library in the autumn.
To successfully carry out its core duty even in times of change, the Library must regularly assess and develop its internal practices as well. Service development that puts the customer first and the promotion of an increasingly team-oriented operating model manifest to customers too as smoother services.
The University’s services were assessed last year, including those provided to the University community by the Library. The methods used included self-assessment, customer surveys and interviews conducted by an external assessment group. Students, researchers and other members of the community believe that the Library’s services are high quality and meet their needs.
I was also pleased that the Library’s practices and service development measures appear successful from the outside, serving as a model for the University community. While there is naturally always something to develop, positive feedback inspires further enhancement.
The best part of my work is working in an expert community capable of renewal and developing operations in cooperation with the University community as well as domestic and international partners. The Library’s brand is strong, but its value is measured every day through customer interaction. Thank you to all of our customers and stakeholders; we will continue to do our best to be worthy of your trust.
A heartfelt thank you to the Library staff for their uncompromising efforts in support of studying, learning and research in the past year. You truly are tremendous!
Minna Niemi-Grundström
University Librarian