Eesti raamatu suurjuubeli avapäev Tartu Ülikooli raamatukogus

Abstract

Opening Day of the Year of the Estonian Book 500 in Tartu University Library

2025 was proclaimed the Year of Estonian Book under the patronage of the President of the Republic Alar Karis to mark the 500th anniversary of the first known printed Estonian text and the Estonian literary language. The yearlong celebration
included numerous different events all over the country; the celebration was officially opened in the University of Tartu Library on 30 January 2025.

This honour fell to our Library following our idea, born in May 2024, to hold a jubilee conference examining the overall role of books. It was originally spearheaded by our then director Krista Aru, Kristhel Haak and Marianne Marlene Tiik from the
Library plus Priit Rohtmets and Urmas Nõmmik from the School of Theology and Religious Studies. Later the work was led by our current director Jaanika Anderson. As a result, our conference got preceded by the official opening ceremony of the
Year of the Estonian Book and was followed by the opening of retrospective exhibition of Estonian educational literature, particularly the university textbooks, highlighting the leading role of the Tartu University in the field of national education.

In addition, in our lobby, as a warm-up for the conference, the “Embassy of Utopia” tackled everything about the books with their trademark unbridled freedom of thought and fantasy. As an example, Meelis Friedenthal, one of almost three dozen speakers, knew the best medicine against the mounting issues of mental health in contemporary society – it is reading books of course! – and the authorities to remind our citizens to read at least half an hour a day with the same persistence
they remind us to sort our waste.

Speaking at the opening ceremony President Alar Karis recalled the efforts of the Soviet occupation authorities to erase our people’s memories of freedom by destroying Estonian books containing any “dangerous” thoughts. He re-endorsed the
idea of his predecessor President Konstantin Päts from 1935 that, if a monument to Estonian people should ever be erected it should depict a mother teaching her children to read. The speakers included Toomas Asser, Rector of Tartu University,
Urmas Klaas, Mayor of Tartu, Kristina Kallas, Minister of Education, Heidy Purga, Minister of Culture. Commemorative coin and postage stamp were introduced by the representatives of the Bank of Estonia and Estonian Post. 25th Friedrich Puksoo
prize, on the 135th birthday of the legendary former director of our Library, was handed over to Malle Ermel for her monography University of Tartu Library 220.

The conference itself, moderated by the vice chairman of the Main Committee of the Year of the Estonian Book, Toomas Kiho, featured 9 speakers: Tarmo Toom (theologian), Kristiina Ross (linguist), Tõnu Õnnepalu (writer), Krista Kaer (publisher), Meelis Friedenthal (theologian), Toivo Maimets (biologist), Maarja Kangro (writer), Maarja Undusk (artist) and Anu Lamp (actress). They looked at the times 2000 years ago and at least 500 years into the future. Scientific analyses were enriched by
personal memories and emotional insights inspired by books. Their combined angle of sight was at least 360 degrees. Brief abstracts of every speaker’s main thesis are provided.