Tartu Ülikooli Raamatukogu aastaraamat

Koostöö, usaldus ja eluterve valmisolek muutusteks: TÜ raamatukogu aastatel 2022–2023

Krista Aru — 2024-06-18

Cooperation, Trust and Common-sense Preparedness for Changes: the University of Tartu Library in 2022–2023

The last two years, 2022 and 2023, have been very specific in the life of the library. In 2022, the library celebrated its 220th anniversary. Feeling the weight of its dignified history, our task is to act wisely, so that the university’s research library can adapt to the expectations and demands of the information and digital turn without losing the dignity accumulated through its history.

The International Vision Conference held in 2022 sought to answer questions about the role of research libraries in the coming decades. Although there was no single right answer, the important role of libraries as the sharers of knowledge, supporters of intellectual life and keepers of links between the past and the future was emphasised.

The jubilee year was overshadowed by Russia’s launching of a full-scale war in Ukraine in 2022. This made the library prepare for possible emergency situations, including the reorganisation of the shelter, which is ready for emergency use starting from the beginning of 2023.

The library has become livelier and more flexible, taking into account the changing preferences and needs of its users. It is important to be continuously aware of different cultural spaces and to offer diverse services and experiences.
In terms of sustainability, the library has invested in solar energy production and implemented innovative solutions such as robotic cleaners. The library has also committed to comply with the sustainability agreement and continues to improve the energy efficiency of the building.

The library is open and attentive to its users, trying to maintain its democratic nature and offer services to all interested parties. In 2022, the library’s very diverse activities were throughout the year introduced to the public in the series of articles „Utlib 220”, which appeared in the newspaper Postimees once a month. A painful lesson in collection security encouraged the library to map the threats related to the movement and preservation of collections and to start eliminating them in a modern way.

Finally, it is necessary to emphasise the importance of library cooperation and mutual support. The jubilee year, vision conferences, solar energy investments, sustainability agreement and security reflect the library’s multifaceted development and adaptation to the changing environment.

Näitustest Tartu Ülikooli raamatukogus 2022–2023

Marianne Marlene Tiik — 2024-06-18

Exhibitions at the University of Tartu Library 2022-2023

Aastanäitus „Juri Lotman – Tartu Ülikooli professor“

Nataliia Gradoboeva — 2024-06-18

Exhibition „Juri Lotman – Professor of the University of Tartu”

The exhibition „Juri Lotman — Professor of the University of Tartu”, held in the UT Library (28 February – 29 May 2022), was part of the international events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Juri Lotman’s birth. The purpose of the exhibition was to show the relationship between the professor and the university and their mutual influence from the beginning of Lotman’s career at the University of Tartu in 1950 until today.

Lotman’s various pedagogical, scientific and organisational activities were shown not only by materials already familiar to the general public, but also through rare materials located at the UT Library, especially in the personal archives of Juri Lotman and his wife Zara Mints. The exhibited original letters from Lotman’s extensive correspondence with colleagues and cultural figures from different countries also came from these collections. Documents concerning different awards, honorary badges and titles awarded by scientific foundations gave an idea of Lotman’s extensive fame as a scientist. The exhibition included works of art featuring Lotman, made in various techniques, such as graphic works and paintings, photo portraits, and a sculpted bust. The complete list of the exhibited materials and the poster are included in the Lotman archive located in the UT Library.

Omnia munda mundis. Marju Lepajõe 60

Marianne Marlene Tiik — 2024-06-18

Omnia munda mundis. Marju Lepajõe 60

On 28 October 2022, an exhibition to mark the 60th birth anniversary of Marju Lepajõe, professor of the University of Tartu, religion historian, classical philologist, translator, opinion leader and scholar, was opened in the UT Library. The classical Latin saying omnia munda mundis, which can, perhaps, be taken as the shortest summary of Lepajõe’s nature and existence, was chosen as the exhibition title. The opening of the exhibition was part of the Lepajõe Memorial Day celebration in Tartu. One of the reasons for her popularity was her ability to use the Estonian language with such substance and flexibility, precision and meaning as few, if any, have
succeeded before her.

Lepajõe had a special connection with the UT Library, where she had worked for 3 years in the late 1980s after graduating from the university. Lepajõe has said that particularly the library is the place where a real spiritual dynamic can be born, giving a person’s life its unique dignity. Libraries intertwine two dimensions – the eternity and the present are always side by side, and even the everyday life can be divine.

The exhibition attracted its visitors with manuscript scrolls attached to the walls, which contained texts from her public appearances. Books written, compiled, translated, edited, commented and reviewed by Lepajõe were shown in display cases and on bookshelves. There was also a selection of books that had been part of her own library, which had been donated to the UT Library just before the exhibition. Kind help of the Estonian Cultural Historical Archive made it possible to exhibit some items from Lepajões’ personal archive, including photos, manuscripts, diplomas, certificates of honor and other objects. The viewers were excited to see the pocket watch which had measured time during Lepajõe’s lectures. From the School of Theology, I got some books that had been on her office desk and the legendary ashtray, which had been a gift from the scholar and Catholic priest Vello Salo.

As the organizer of the exhibition, I was happy to see that not only was the opening event extremely crowded, but also among the daily visitors, there were many who came often and again for a thorough and focused viewing.

Homme de lettres. Juhan Luiga 150

Marianne Marlene Tiik — 2024-06-18

Homme de lettres. Juhan Luiga 150

Juhan Luiga (1873–1927) was the first Estonian doctor of psychiatry (1904), who was in high demand among his patients. However, he was far better known as a public figure and a writer with a sharp pen, whose opinions on both current and eternal topics quite often appeared in the columns of several different newspapers and magazines. Luiga’s opinions were either supported or condemned, but they rarely failed to open a new public debate.

After Luiga’s death in 1927, the Estonian cultural public missed him so much that the publication of books of his collected writings began as early as 1934. Also in 1995, when the monumental book series „Estonian Thought” (currently more than 170 volumes) was started, gathering and publishing the most valuable part of the Estonian intellectual heritage throughout the ages, it was decided to dedicate its opening volume to Juhan Luiga’s legacy (Rebellion and mental illness, Tartu, 1995).

Luiga’s forthright views, but even more his courage of thought and proud self-respect, seemed to be so dangerous to the Soviet occupation authorities, who annexed Estonia after World War II, that his works were immediately included in the list of prohibited literature, where they remained until the collapse of the empire. Today’s equivalent of Luiga’s role as an extremely active speaker in the press would probably be an opinion leader and a blogger, although many of the latter do not have the same extensive and deep education.

I have heard much about Luiga from my mother, his figure has been with me since my earliest childhood memories. The exhibition was based on the collections of the UT Library and my personal collection, which includes, for example, Nikolai Triik’s portrait of Luiga and an inkpot, used by Luiga a century ago.

Argipäeva ja kirjandusklassika sümbioos inspireeris looma näitust „Kas keegi on näinud elektrit?“

Herdis Olmaru — 2024-06-18

An Exhibition Inspired by the Symbiosis of Everyday Life and Literary Classics

The exhibition „Has Anyone Seen Electricity?” came into being in the autumn of 2022 due to several fortuitous circumstances.

The need to fill a temporary gap in the library’s exhibition schedule coincided with the authors’ desire to break away from the traditional exhibition display format. When Evelin proposed the idea of an electricity-themed exhibition, it initially seemed absurd, but we never hesitated to follow it. Electricity and electricity-related debates were at that time highly relevant in society, making it a universally engaging topic. By connecting electricity with everyday life, literature, and Pop culture, we aimed to create an intriguing result.

The exhibition featured old out-of-use and discarded electrical appliances, which used minimal power and came as contribution from our colleagues. The centrepiece of the exhibition was a large sphere made from electrical wires. We drew inspiration from the novel Things in the Night by Mati Unt, interpreted the text and its ideas freely and created new connections, being sure that Unt would not mind but rather, would be fascinated by our effort.

Visitors’ comments and feedback in the guestbook praised the exhibition’s style, humour, and educational value, indicating that the creative fusion of electricity and literature resonated with many.

Aastanäitus „Peidus pool. Käsitöököitest masintoodanguni“

Tiia Nurmsalu — 2024-06-18

Exhibition „The Hidden Side. From Hand-made Bindings to Machine Production”

The description of bookbindings in the history of bindings has largely been design-oriented. In this exhibition, we put more emphasis on how the binding is structured and how it has developed over time. We were interested in how the book went from hand-made to machine-produced bindings and what changes accompanied the process. We decided to use the timeline step of a couple of centuries, and supported it with sample volumes from library collections. The viewers may have been surprised that we displayed volumes that were not fully repaired or intact, but this was a great opportunity to show the hidden side of the book’s structure. It might also have been unexpected that, in order to focus on the form of the volume and not on its content, we did not add brief publication details about the exhibited books. In order to give the viewer the opportunity to experience the book as a physical object through different senses, we showed models of bindings, generalised by the time step, for the viewers to browse, and offered information about courses for learning simpler binding methods.

If someone asked what was the most difficult part of putting together this exhibition, for me it was the drawing up of a model that would best characterise the changes that took place over the course of a century. You can include several different versions when composing a text, but it is impossible to do two different things at the same place at the same time when making a physical object. Looking back at the exhibition, I was pleasantly surprised by the popularity of the binding courses. The opinion that the masters do the work and others watch respectfully from a distance does not hold any more. At present, people really like to be able to make something with their hands, and we had the pleasure of giving them the opportunity.

Näitused 2022-2023

TÜ Raamatukogu — 2024-06-18

Exhibitions at the University of Tartu Library 2022-2023

Vabariigi Presidendi kõne raamatukogu 220. aastapäeval

Alar Karis — 2024-06-18

Speech made by President of the Republic of Estonia Alar Karis at the Festive Assembly to Mark the 220th Anniversary of the University of Tartu Library

President of the Republic of Estonia gave a speech at the 220th anniversary assembly of the University of Tartu Library, where he underlined the importance of the university’s place among the top universities of the world. He pointed out that a university library cannot be only a textbook reading room, but it has to offer much more to its visitors. The library has strongly supported the university research and achieved international recognition. The President also highlighted the library’s role in advancing Estonia’s intellectual life and supplying an important environment for knowledge creation and for discussions about Estonia’s future. He said that the skills of critical thinking and differentiating between the essential and the negligible are crucial in our information-saturated world and libraries could assume a leading role here.

The President emphasised the importance of libraries at the city, community and educational levels and hoped that libraries would help people in making wise choices for the future. Estonian people have always believed in the wisdom of books, using it in decision-making about the development of the state and education.

Last, but not least, the President encouraged people to keep learning and exploring new things all through their life. He recognised libraries as the sources of knowledge and acknowledged the University of Tartu Library as a role model for Estonian education.

To sum it up, the President concluded that libraries and the University of Tartu Library in particular, form the spiritual centre not only for the university but also for the whole country of Estonia, helping to shape its future.

Vivat, crescat, floreat Bibliotheca Universitatis Tartuensis in aeternum!

Tartu Ülikooli rektori kõne raamatukogu 220. aastapäeval

Toomas Asser — 2024-06-18

Speech made by Rector of the University of Tartu Toomas Asser at the Festive Assembly to Mark the 220th Anniversary of the UT Library

The guiding principle of the University of Tartu Library states that the library is a „Meeting Place of Wisdom and Youth.” Indeed, while wisdom and youth may not always go hand in hand in an individual’s life, this slogan should not be interpreted to mean that young people lack wisdom before reaching university and the library. Our young people are wise. However, the library serves as a focal point that brings these two together, allowing the youth to experience the measure of wisdom and the wise to feel younger. In reality, the role of the library is to connect all individuals who have a desire to learn something new, including the young awaiting their university journey, those who have long since completed their university studies, or those whom life has not brought to university at all.

It is very symbolic that we celebrate the great anniversary of the University of Tartu Library right here, in this space, in this building where the library operated for a full 180 years. I believe that every University of Tartu graduate has a story to tell about the library, whether it was born within the walls of the old Cathedral or in the current building on Struve Street. Personally, I started borrowing books in this building when I was still a high school student. Later, during my university studies, my main trajectory was between this building and the old Anatomy Building.

Over the 220 years of the library’s existence, the people working here have not only done it with dedication but also with great passion. It might be more accurate to say that for them, it has not always been just work, but life. For instance, the founder of the library, Karl Simon Morgenstern, was so passionately dedicated to his library that when Emperor Nicholas I visited it in 1829, university Rector Moier appointed not Morgenstern, but the young librarian Emil Anders, as the emperor’s escort. This was purely because Morgenstern would have been too intrusive and verbose as the emperor’s escort and would not have been able to restrain himself when speaking about the library. Emil Anders, a young man who had, at the time of the emperor’s visit, worked at the library for only three years, was capable of answering the emperor’s questions modestly with a „yes” or „no.” In his memories, Anders described how his experienced colleagues retired only when they could no longer walk up the Toomemägi every day. When Anders was himself facing the same problem as an elderly man, he did not leave his post; instead, he moved to live in the library. Since today’s event is titled „The Library is My Homeland,” it is fitting to mention Emil Anders as an example of how, despite many efforts to move away from Tartu, he could not do it ... because the library was truly his homeland. His soul resided in that building.

My previous words are not meant as an insinuation to the current library staff. I believe and hope that in the present time, people are able to separate work and personal life, even though I know that the passion for library work is with you even outside working hours. This dedication gives the library its almost palpable ethos. This atmosphere can be felt at every step in the new library building on Struve Street as well. Speaking about how the library of today is much more than just a place to borrow books would take a whole conference, so I will not dwell on it at length on this festive day. In any case, it is a pleasure to see that the library aligns itself with the
academic community’s needs, technological advancements, and societal changes. Keep it up!

Congratulations! Long live and flourish, University of Tartu Library!

Raamatukogumälestusi

Doris Kareva — 2024-06-18

Reminiscences about the Library.
Speech made at the Festive Assembly to mark the 220th Anniversary of the UT Library

Since I was a child, the library has been one of the most important spiritual temples for me, the nature and meaning of which reveals itself in many ways.

By the age of four, I had read out to my grandparents almost all the books found at home, and my grandmother took me to the Tallinn Children’s Library. The days became exciting again, although the shelving system became familiar very quickly, and I found myself time and again borrowing the already read books. One day the kind librarian looked at me thoughtfully. „You are a strange child,” he said, and signed me up to the section of adult literature. The moment I stepped on the threshold of the new labyrinth was the peak of my entire life so far.

When I entered primary school, I found a door in the cloakroom in the school basement that led to the library. It was a veritable Graveyard of Forgotten Books, where the scent of the old days still lingered. In this literally underground chamber, you could find the almost complete Golden Series of Children’s Books and many other fascinating volumes that had long since been weeded from the city library collections. Unfortunately, changes came to this library as well. I guess by the next fall, the quiet fairy librarian with the head of silver grey hair had left. Together with her, all the old volumes and their peculiar smell evaporated from this treasure room in one summer. The shelves were filled with only the dull mandatory literature, which was lent to pupils by a lively leader of young pioneers. This way, the door of one of the libraries closed quietly and for good on me.

When visiting their friends with my parents, the conversation often turned to topics that I did not find interesting. In such cases, I politely slipped away from the table and, with the kind permission of the family, explored their home library. It was a great opportunity to discover new authors, their voices, hints and whispers in a relaxed atmosphere. In such hidden gardens, I could usually find some unknown, bitter and sweet, sometimes even forbidden fruits, and exciting hidden springs.

My mother worked for many years at the music department of the Estonian National Library. After school, I often ran up to Toompea, to the library building, which now houses the Finnish Embassy, chose a record, put on headphones and sat in the reading or, actually, the listening room, where windows offered an amazing view of the red roofs of the old town. I listened to classical music and solved my homework, and sometimes even wrote some poems, simply for fun. The world with its problems remained below in the downtown, I could observe the ever-changing clouds above the church towers and the sea stretching to the horizon, and have the sounds carry me.

I believe that the library is also a kind of a holy place where you can gradually get rid of selfishness and practice devotion. The work of a librarian is a labour of love comparable to that of a teacher and a gardener, it is constant attention and care, so that the oil in the lamp does not run out, that the light does not go out, that all stored intellectual treasures last, grow and offer replenishment from generation to generation.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank the keepers and managers of all libraries, an unseen myriad, who have taken care of the indestructibility of the Estonian spirit throughout the ages and are still doing it today. The significance of their work is unimaginably great.

Minu raamatukogu

Kaire Maimets — 2024-06-18

My Library
Speech made at the Festive Assembly to mark the 220th Anniversary of the UT Library

The library has played a very important role in the author’s life and intellectual development. From her home library, she quickly moved on to the city library and the school library, borrowing often and reading many books. One particularly memorable book was Une-Mati, Päris-Mati ja Tups, which described the library as a special place where a librarian emphasised the need for silence and the importance of books.

In the University of Tartu Library, she discovered the library as a bottomless source of knowledge. Her interest in musicology was first born from the Encyclopaedia Britannica article “music”; until then, she had only made music, not so much thought about music. The music department of the library offered her the opportunity to listen to music on CDs, where it was much easier to find her favourite passages. After reference books, she moved on to scientific literature - and a new world opened up. Later, when she studied musicology, the library became a place where she did her research and wrote her doctoral thesis and articles.

The meaning of the library for the author also lied in the peace and quiet that she found there. For her, the library was a place where she could focus on her work and research while still feeling part of the intellectual community. The author emphasised the anonymity and sense of security she experienced in the library.

In addition, she pointed out the library as a place where people are free to search, discover and find new knowledge. She reflected on the changing role of the library in modern society, where it is encouraged to involve new target groups and offer diverse services. Finally, she expressed her deep affection for the library and called it her „church” and „freedom.”

And she admits that she is proud to work there!

Tartu Ülikooli raamatukogu konverentsisaali gobelääni saamislugu

Anneli Sepp — 2024-06-18

The Story of the Tapestry for the UT Library Conference Hall

The largest tapestry (5.6 x 10.9 m) in Tartu, completed by Mall Tomberg in 1979, adorns the end wall of the UT Library Conference Hall. Designing of the tapestry started already during the construction of the library building.

Its design shows abstract outlines of the old library building and the Emajõgi River. On this background, we can see portraits of the first Director of the library Karl Morgenstern and the first university Rector of the time Georg Friedrich Parrot.

The tapestry features many different details, illuminated windows, the silhouette of the F. G. W. Struve monument and the landscapes and lakes of Southern Estonia. The color of the tapestry is predominantly brown-gray, with added liveliness of red-blue, yellow and white. This work of art links the library’s present-day activities with the traditions that were born in the previous location of the library on the Toome Hill. The motto of Karl Morgenstern’s book collection LABOR DELECTAT (Work creates joy) also originates from the former library building.

The impressive tapestry was woven as four vertical panels under the direction of Mall Tomberg at the Tallinn Art Products Combine „ARS” and it has been very well preserved. The size of the work (61 m2) caused some difficulties when setting it up, but in the end, it fit exactly on the end wall of the Conference Hall.

Tartu Ülikooli raamatukogu lühter

Kai Lobjakas — 2024-06-18

The Chandelier of the UT Library

The chandelier above the main staircase of the UT Library, completed in 1982, is part of a larger set of works of art, related to the architectural solution of the newly completed library building.

Glass artists Aet Andresma-Tamm and Mare Soovik-Lobjakas participated in the creation of the chandelier. Their work was exceptional, as glass art at the time focused on decorative forms and stained glass. The courage of glass artists also manifested in their use of different materials. These artists had earlier worked together on the light ceiling at the Viru Hotel; later, they completed several space-specific monumental works.

Starting the work on the chandelier, the artists first got familiar with the library’s architecture and interior design. In cooperation, designs were quickly made, and amber-colored flat glass was chosen next to the metal structure.

This work, created more than 40 years ago, is still an eye-catching decoration in the library’s main lobby.

Tartu Ülikooli raamatukogu helisignatuur

Kaire Maimets — 2024-06-18

Kuis tulid DSpace ja OJS

Heiki Epner — 2024-06-18

How DSpace and OJS came to the Library

An feuilleton-like overview of the implementation of the University of Tartu digital archive on DSpace in 2006 and the introduction of the platform for e-journals (Open Journals Systems, OJS) in 2012.

Esimene teadusraamatukogude visioonikonverents Eestis

Kristhel Haak — 2024-06-18

The First Estonian Vision Conference of Research Libraries

On 1 November 2022, the first-ever vision conference dedicated to the future of research libraries was held in Estonia. The event marked the national year of libraries and the significant anniversary of the University of Tartu Library. Approximately 100 participants from various libraries, with 75 of them on-site and the rest online, engaged in discussions about the most critical issues in the development of research libraries and sought to set goals for the future.

The conference began with presentations in English, focusing mainly on open science. The first speaker was Ragnar Siil, founder and CEO of Creativity Lab, a think tank for international cultural policy and creative economy, and President of the European Network of Cultural Policy Designers. Rector of the University of Tartu Toomas Asser emphasised the vital role of libraries in a democratic society, noting that while university libraries have for centuries been responsible for preserving, managing, and providing access to research and cultural collections, the digital age has expanded their benefits and accessibility.

Eva Mendez, a renowned expert in open science, discussed the challenges in front of traditional scientific publishing practices, emphasising the „publish or perish” model and the need for open science to enhance the quality of research and global understanding. She highlighted the importance of flexibility in adapting to changing research practices, in leveraging contemporary technologies, and in amending intellectual property laws to better align with societal interests and scientific goals.

Kristjan Luukas Ilves, the Deputy Chancellor for Digital Development at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications of the Republic of Estonia, stressed the significance of improving user experience, ensuring data quality and accessibility, and fostering the culture of open data. He underlined the importance of data security and the need for comprehensive data structures and technology and management skills development.

MIT Libraries’ experiences in the United States provided an example of effective change management. Erin Stalberg and Heather Sardis discussed MIT’s principles, emphasising the importance of the digital shift, open research, data management support, strategic human resource development, diversity, equity, and inclusion. They encouraged Estonian research libraries to develop strategies for change management.

MacKenzie Smith from the University of California, Davis, discussed the evolving role of research libraries.
While traditional libraries focused on their collections, today, the emphasis is on the user and their needs in a digital world. She suggested that research libraries should invest more in digital services, recruit IT experts, and utilise linked data. Smith also emphasised the growing importance of artificial intelligence and encouraged libraries to experiment with AI-based solutions.

In conclusion, the conference addressed three questions about the future of libraries: their names (with most favouring „libraries”, but also considering alternatives), required skills for librarians (with data management topping the list), and the possibility of conducting research without libraries (with responses divided between „yes” and „partly”).

The second part of the Vision Conference began with a presentation by Andres Kollist, the Director of Tallinn University Academic Library, discussing the understanding, ownership, value, and price of information in the context of the rapidly changing information landscape. He stressed the role of libraries in helping users assess, search, and find quality information in an environment often filled with information noise and misinformation.

Martin Eessalu, Head of a research infrastructure at the Ministry of Education and Research, provided an overview of the collaboration between the state and research libraries and outlined future perspectives. The Estonian Research and Development and Innovation Strategy „Research and Development and Innovation 2021–2035” prioritises the continuity of data archives, research libraries, and access to essential research databases. The government recognises the importance of making data and resources more accessible and promoting the open data culture.

Aija Sakova, an expert in literature and Manager of Business Cooperation and Knowledge Transfer at Tallinn University, discussed the seemingly contrasting roles of research libraries. She highlighted the library’s timeless role as a sanctuary for reflection and intellectual exploration, at the same time emphasising the need for libraries to evolve and become change agents in the data-driven world, supporting research data management, open science, and data literacy.

Tanel Alumäe, professor at the Tallinn University of Technology, presented the project „Estonian Text Summarizer”, focusing on text summarisation and computer-assisted navigation in large text corpora. Summarisation systems automatically generate concise summaries from extensive texts, making it easier to navigate and comprehend large volumes of text. He discussed the challenges and opportunities of developing such systems, highlighting the importance of training data, noise handling, and the potential of artificial intelligence in information retrieval.

Olga Einasto, Head of the Service Department at the University of Tartu Library, highlighted the importance of communication in libraries, tracing the evolution of communication processes in libraries from the Gutenberg era to the digital age. She emphasised that libraries have transformed from authoritative institutions to open and participatory learning environments, adapting to societal changes and realising the need for finding balance in their communication and power relationships with readers.

Liisi Lembinen, Director of Development at the University of Tartu Library and the main organiser of the conference, expressed her hope that the conference provided inspiration and a clearer vision of the expectations for research libraries and their future direction for all participants.

The conference aimed to benefit not only library professionals but also anyone interested in the future of research libraries. It addressed a wide range of topics, from the changing information landscape to the evolving role of libraries in the digital age, and the importance of open science and data management.

Raamatukogu inimsus: lugejateenindus pandeemia ja sõja vahel

Olga Einasto — 2024-06-18

Humaneness of the Library: User Services between the Pandemic and the War

The article describes the experience and activities at the University of Tartu Library during the COVID-19 pandemic. The library had to adapt to rapid changes by implementing various measures and services in order to provide its users with the needed resources and introducing, among other features, alternative lending methods, contactless services, a quarantine period in handling books, as well as the emotional support aimed at readers, e.g. the poetry therapy project. Libraries were closed due to the pandemic, but the author emphasises that this did not mean a lack of access. Libraries paid attention to e-resources and online services that had already been successfully developed before the pandemic. The IT infrastructure was upgraded and remote access to information was more important than ever. Globally, the use of e-collections increased significantly during the pandemic.

The author discusses the experience of the UT Library in implementing contactless services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The library reacted quickly by launching contactless book lending. The popularity of the service grew rapidly and more than 3000 books were borrowed in the first eight weeks. The author highlights the creative solutions used to design the service, such as the use of the Smart Locker and ensuring the safety of the entire process. In addition, the article reveals the types of most borrowed books during the pandemic, and stresses the important role of the library in supporting both the university and the community under new circumstances. Finally, the author describes the library’s activities in receiving and supporting Ukrainian war refugees, emphasising the library’s role as a safe and helpful environment. The author acknowledges that the pandemic and the war in Ukraine have affected the library’s daily work, but these challenges were met by learning to adapt and to adjust the services if needed.

Infopädevus e-õppe teel

Vilve Seiler — 2024-06-18

The era of information literacy began at the University of Tartu Library in 2006, when the subject librarians, who had previously worked at different library departments, came together to form the Department of Subject Librarians. Teaching information literacy became an important part of their tasks. It was decided to create a web-based information literacy course and to find ways to add it to different university curricula. Starting from 2007, the e-course „Fundamentals of Information Literacy” is held every autumn semester as a university-wide optional course for bachelor and Master’s students. During 15 years, 2845 students have passed the course, the aim of which is to introduce the quality information resources available through the library and freely accessible on the internet, and to teach practical knowledge and skills of searching information on the students’ speciality. The e-course „Introduction to Information Research” has been offered to doctoral students starting from 2008. The courses take place in the Moodle learning environment and provide links to learning materials, instructions and forums, where the students submit their assignments and get feedback.
In 2009-2016, the e-course „Information Literacy or Why Google is not enough” was held for school students. The MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) „Information Literacy” was created in 2017; during five years, 2248 students passed the course. Starting from 2021, the course can be taken for a small participation fee. Based on the experience of conducting the MOOC, we redesigned the basic course of information literacy, where the achievement of learning outcomes is mostly checked with tests. This makes it possible to increase the number of students and to add the course as an optional or mandatory subject into the curricula of the fields that may want it.

Raamatukogude ja ühiskonna sidemete tugevdamine kodanikuteaduse toel

Svea Kaseorg — 2024-06-18

Strengthening the Academic Library-society Connection through Citizen Science

Academic libraries in the Baltic countries have, for over a decade, been actively engaged in open science. In recent years, the involvement of citizens in open science has increased, as the new Horizon Europe research and innovation-funding programme expects its projects to engage citizens or civil society organisations. However, participation in citizen science projects in libraries is still in the early stages of development.

The LibOCS (University libraries strengthening the academia-society connection through citizen science in the Baltics) project was launched in 2022 with the support of the Erasmus+ programme. Its goal is to enhance the connections between the academic community and society through open citizen science, with the involvement of Baltic research libraries. Project partners include the University of Tartu and Tallinn University of Technology from Estonia, the University of Latvia from Latvia, and Kaunas University of Technology and Vytautas Magnus University from Lithuania. Additionally, the project is supported by the partners Web2Learn from Greece and Immer Besser GmbH from Germany, who have participated in citizen science projects.

LibOCS has five objectives for advancing citizen science and open science initiatives in the Baltic region. The first objective focuses on mapping the drivers and barriers of civic engagement in libraries. The second objective aims to establish and sustain a meaningful dialogue and action plan among higher education teaching/research staff and librarians in the Baltic States.

The third objective emphasises the importance of training initiatives to enhance the skills of academic and library personnel in the realms of citizen science and open science. The team created an open access course (Citizen Science for Librarians: A Self-Paced Learning Course) comprising of five modules. The fourth objective seeks institutional change by testing and implementing a single point of contact for citizen science within the participating LibOCS universities. This initiative could optimise and stream citizen science efforts within academic institutions.

Finally, the team will create an impactful open access toolkit for librarians, specifically focusing on citizen science. This toolkit, comprising open educational resources (OER), is intended to be openly accessible for reuse and repurposing within the librarian community.

The UT Library’s LibOCS working group includes Director of Development Liisi Lembinen, Head of the Department of Subject Librarians Lilian Neerut, and subject librarian Svea Kaseorg. The LibOCS project is set to conclude in the summer of 2024.

Raamatukogu koostöö TÜ majandusteaduskonnaga

Liisi Lembinen — 2024-06-18

UT Library’s Cooperation with the Faculty of Economics of the University of Tartu

For three years, the UT Library has cooperated with the Faculty of Economics of the University of Tartu to study the behaviour of users in the library. For all three years, the collaboration took place within the framework of a subject that introduces research and analysis methods in the economic and social sciences. In the first year (2020), it was an undergraduate subject, and in 2022 and 2023, it was already a Master’s subject.

The aim of the cooperation is to offer students of the Faculty of Economics the opportunity to experiment with business anthropology, which helps to identify the natural behaviour of library users through observation accompanied by interviews. As part of the course, students form research groups and concentrate on specific research topics, i.e. the area in the library, where they have to find the answer to a specific question: what are the library visitors’ patterns of consumer behaviour?

The 2020 survey took place in the spring semester when the COVID-19 crisis began in Estonia; the library was, therefore, first closed for a few weeks and then only partially open to visitors. Due to the crisis, it was not possible to conduct observations, and the students solved the task with interviews. That year, 304 library users were interviewed individually or in focus groups. The overall results for 2020 showed that relatively little was known about library services and facilities. Suggestions for improvement were made for services that already exist in the library. Following the suggestions for improvement outlined in the 2020 study, the library introduced several changes.

Another study took place in 2022, this time carried out by Master’s students. Overall, 700 people were observed, and three participatory observations and two introspections were also carried out. Master’s students conducted 160 interviews. The library implemented some smaller and quickly achievable changes during the year after the research.

The research projects for 2023 were carried out in eight groups, each of which had eight members. The topics covered included the visiting habits, the help-seeking experiences, guiding signs and pointers, the White Hall, places most preferred by the visitors, reading rooms, ways of conducting information search, and the lobby environment. The project submission deadline was the end of December 2023, and the results were presented in the library in early January 2024. The library has received valuable feedback on its services and its environment from a large number of users while, hopefully, the students have gained an exciting experience for the future and thus also found their way to the university library.

Hans-Christoph Schmitti pärandist ja Vana Testamendi alasest teaduskirjandusest Tartu Ülikooli raamatukogus

Urmas Nõmmik — 2024-06-18

Hans-Christoph Schmitt’s Legacy and Old Testament Scientific Literature at the University of Tartu Library

In spring 2023, the University of Tartu Library received a substantial book donation from Germany, comprising the personal library of Hans-Christoph Schmitt, a former Old Testament professor at Erlangen University. The donation significantly enriches the collection in the fields of biblical studies, Judaica, and Ancient Near Eastern science, as well as other related disciplines. The legacy was facilitated by Monika Schmitt (Hans-Christoph’s widow) and his students Jürgen van Oorschot and Markus Witte. The speaker, Urmas Nõmmik, a professor of Old Testament and Semitics, expresses gratitude to all involved.

Hans-Christoph Schmitt, born in 1941, was a theologian with a comprehensive approach, well versed in Old and New Testament studies, systematic theology, church history, practical theology, religious sociology, and general religious studies. His academic career included positions at Marburg, Augsburg, and Erlangen-Nuremberg universities. The legacy encompasses a vast array of German, English, and French literature, covering Old Testament studies, Ancient Near Eastern science, New Testament studies, and Judaica.

Schmitt’s extensive library, now at the University of Tartu, reflects his bold approach to Old Testament studies, emphasising historical-critical research. The collection includes significant contributions to fields such as Vetus Testamentum, Journal of Biblical Studies, and various monograph series. Noteworthy are the additions to commentaries on the Old Testament, a crucial genre in biblical studies.

The legacy also benefits areas beyond theology, including literature, feminist and liberation theology, and iconographic studies of ancient cultures. The collection complements existing resources in Tartu, filling gaps and expanding the scope of available literature. The significance of the donation is even greater considering Estonia’s relatively small academic community and limited resources.

In conclusion, the speaker highlights the indirect connection between Hans-Christoph Schmitt’s legacy and the earlier influence of Otto Kaiser, another significant Old Testament scholar, whose work and contributions have left a lasting impact in Tartu

Mõtteid kasutajasõbralikust disainist Tartu Ülikooli raamatukogu näitel

Kristian Kirsfeldt — 2024-06-18

Thoughts on User-Friendly Design on the Example of the University of Tartu Library

The author describes activities at redesigning the UT Library main lobby and the wayfinding system of the library in relation with the new user-centred approach. By utilizing user movement analysis, following the principles of information hierarchy and accessibility, and defining the institution’s values, the library’s wayfinding system will be improved in 2024. The use of the lobby will be re-evaluated and its physical space renewed. All of these efforts aim to provide a user-friendly reading experience for the library’s visitors.

Väljasõit Anu Raua juurde

TÜ Raamatukogu — 2024-06-18

In August 2022, a library people's had a trip to the museum and farm of Anu Raud.

Tartu Ülikooli raamatukogu struktuur

TÜ Raamatukogu — 2024-06-18

The structure of the University of Tartu library

Enim laenutatud raamatud 2023. aastal

TÜ Raamatukogu — 2024-06-18

The most borrowed books in 2023

Raamatukogu arvudes 2023

TÜ Raamatukogu — 2024-06-18

The library figures in 2023

Publikatsioonid ja ettekanded

TÜ Raamatukogu — 2024-06-18

Publications and presentations

Raamatukogu tänab ja tunnustab

TÜ Raamatukogu — 2024-06-18

The library thanks and acknowledges

Muusikaosakond 40!

Kaire Maimets — 2024-06-18

Music Department 40

In 2023, forty years passed since the foundation of the Music Department of the UT Library. When the renovation of the library building was finished in 2018, the Music Department got new premises, which made it possible to place records, sheet music, books and magazines on open shelves for everyone to discover. The newly bought digital piano quickly became popular. Tartu Folk Club’s monthly gatherings and program recordings found a home in our new seminar room.

For decades, the music library has provided the University of Tartu with audio-visual materials needed for teaching and research, as well as given access to electronic magazines, books and music databases. Just as other library collections are open to all users, the collections of the Music Department and the expertise of the staff members are also available to various interest groups. We welcome the academic community of the university, as well as music teachers of Tartu kindergartens, schools and high schools, high school students, local music groups and music organisations, musicians and composers, music enthusiasts and collectors, and radio broadcasters.

The three full-time librarians of the Music Department perform all library work within the department. We acquire new materials, catalogue, classify and enter key words to sheet music, audio and video recordings, and deal with the preservation and organisation of our collections. We are equally responsible for reader services (lending, information requests, counseling), and organising events (lectures, conversation evenings) and exhibitions introducing our collections. As much as we can manage besides the daily library work and reader services - we also try to create “visibility” on social media.

In addition to the task of collecting and preserving Estonian musical heritage, the aim of the department is to create as versatile a music collection as possible in the university library - with an emphasis on the keywords „quality” and „good taste”. Today we have the largest collection of traditional or world music in Estonia, an excellent collection of jazz music, an impressive selection of early music and oriental classical music, not to mention the canon of Western classical music and popular music - carefully selected and collected record by record over the course of 40 years. In April 2023, the 25 000th CD of our collection hit the shelves. By the end of the year, all our vinyl records had been entered into the catalogue ESTER.

Today, the music department works in near-ideal rooms and conditions; we have many visitors. I hope that the next music librarian will also be trained before the elan of today’s veterans wears out.

Miks muusika pole enam see, mis ta varem oli

Tõnis Kahu — 2024-06-18

Why Music is not What it Used to Be
Presented at the 40th Anniversary Meeting of the Music Department

It is said that popular music of today is not what it used to be. On the one hand, behind such complaints can be an inherent attachment to a person’s own youth and the idealisation of matters related to it. On the other hand, it is argued that the trajectory of pop music’s development has changed or even lost its direction, and this claim deserves some discussion.

In the first half of the 20th century and in the following decades, in order to understand the changes in the world surrounding man, it was necessary to understand what was happening in the cultural field. The world was—it had to be—somehow meaningful, and that meaning was encoded in various signals that traveled in the communication between people.

The notion borne in the spirit of romanticism, a kind of democratic utopia believing that there is something simple, but at the same time deep in human nature that unites us all, reached popular music through the idea of authenticity. As a part of democratic culture, pop music needed both a connection with the past of human society and a vision of its future.

Over time, popular music fell victim to its ever-increasing popularity. The amount of money circulating in the music industry grew to such an extent that the direction of pop music’s development was more and more dictated by market logic. Postmodern pop music no longer needs a connection to the past or a glimpse into the future. For a consumer clinging to the present moment, a momentary reflection is enough. This can be seen as liberation, but it can also be seen as downfall. However, there is incomparably more pop music available at the touch of a fingertip today than ever before. Everyone is free to create their smartphone playlist according to their understanding or their level of laziness.

Unistus võimutäiusest

Ilmar Vene — 2024-06-18

A Dream of Full Power
On the Occasion of the Publication of the Book About the History of Alchemy

Having grown up in a society where predicting the future was among people’s favourite activities, the author begins by stating that by now, we can daily experience the level of absurdity that the development of humanity can reach. Next to powerful great authorities, we can constantly find a smaller order of petty rulers, who have discovered that the fate of the world mostly depends on their will. What alchemists dreamed of for centuries has now become a reality.

Artifacts that have survived since the days of Babylon prove humanity’s age-old interest in predicting the future. Particularly perceptive persons came to the opinion early on that one can get an idea of the things to come after learning about the past and the present. Hence the fact that worldly phenomena have always been studied in order to get them under their „control”. The dream of wielding full power accompanies the humanity’s entire history of development.

The more knowledge, the greater the power grows. Alchemy, largely because alchemists’ primary focus was practical from the start, has throughout the ages played quite a prominent role in the study of the earthly world. This has happened despite all kinds of setbacks and repressions – if only to recall the accusations of fake gold production.

Regarding the alleged achievements of the alchemists, the author of the review recalls that the ability to believe in various things of a person living in the Middle Ages knew no bounds -- but he wisely does not draw a parallel with today’s social media consumers.

As a field of knowledge, alchemy is an extremely exotic and, (this should be most important), an endlessly vast and varied phenomenon. Kurmo Konsa and Meelis Friedenthal’s History of Alchemy is, according to the reviewer, a very concise presentation of extremely abundant material. Undoubtedly, it is a worthy attempt to introduce alchemy to Estonian readers, but a deeper explanation of the topic and the provision of a broader context that is essential for its understanding will have to wait for the next book by the same authors.

Elu esiküljel ja tagahoovis

Liina Espenberg — 2024-06-18

Life on the Front Page and in the Back Yard
Impressions about the exhibition and its catalogue

In October 2021, the exhibition „Life on the Front Page” was opened at the UT Library, which brought to its viewers Estonian-language newspapers published over the past 200 years, showing 231 front pages of 77 different newspapers published in Estonia, America, Russia, Sweden and Australia. Based on the materials of the exhibition, Roosmarii Kurvits prepared a 174-page catalogue Life on the front page. Front pages of Estonian newspapers 1821–2021, published at the beginning of 2022. This large-format collection, edited by
Tiit Hennoste, gives a comprehensive overview of the development of our newspapers, illustrated by their front pages; the catalogue is divided into four periods and accompanied by texts written by Krista Aru and Roosmarii Kurvits.

While browsing the exhibition catalogue, the author of the article recalls her childhood encounters with newspapers, their availability and reading of them.

Tatjana Šahhovskaja 80

Aili Bernotas — 2024-06-18

Tatjana Sahhovskaja 80

Mare Pikkel 75

Olga Einasto — 2024-06-18

Mare Pikkel 75

Maria Luštšik 70

Olga Einasto — 2024-06-18

Maria Luštšik 70

Marina Ostrovskaja 70

Lilia Külv — 2024-06-18

Marina Ostrovskaja 70

Heiki Epner 70

Piret Zettur — 2024-06-18

Heiki Epner 70

Agnes Kivi 60

Olga Einasto — 2024-06-18

Agnes Kivi 60

Liina Espenberg 60

Kristhel Haak — 2024-06-18

Liina Espenberg 60

Elo Tõnisoo 60

TÜ Raamatukogu — 2024-06-18

Elo Tõnisoo 60

Pille Naggel 60

TÜ Raamatukogu — 2024-06-18

Pille Naggel 60

Lembi Abel 60

TÜ Raamatukogu — 2024-06-18

Lembi Abel 60

Ave Teesalu 50

Kadri Tammur — 2024-06-18

Ave Teesalu 50

Kaarina Rein 50

Janika Päll — 2024-06-18

Kaarina Rein 50

Lilian Neerut 50

Tiiu Tarkpea — 2024-06-18

Lilian Neerut 50

Svea Pärsimägi 50

TÜ Raamatukogu — 2024-06-18

Svea Pärsimägi 50

Meelis Friedenthal 50

Janika Päll — 2024-06-18

Meelis Friedenthal 50

In memoriam

TÜ Raamatukogu — 2024-06-18

In memoriam

Teadusraamatukogude väärtus COVID-19 järgses maailmas

Liisi Lembinen — 2024-06-18

The Value of Academic Libraries in the Post-COVID-19 World

The debate on the value of academic libraries has been ongoing for the last few decades. The topic of value is mainly considered from two points of view—first, the value of the library as an institution for students who continue to visit it physically and second, the virtual access to information without a physical visit to the library is vital for researchers. Libraries are considered as a good place having a great symbolic value. On the one hand, this is a positive attitude, but at the same time, this understanding makes it difficult for libraries to change both from our point of view and from the users’ point of view, since libraries are seen within certain frameworks and with specific tasks. The value of research libraries in the eyes of the university is mainly determined by their activities and services. Traditionally, librarians have been in a passive role, and as a result, the academic staff has seen library as a “keeper of the books” which provides support services.

This article uses results of various qualitative and quantitative studies, as well as materials reflected in scientific literature. The primary research includes studies from the LIBER, ALA, and Ithaka S+R U.S. libraries, conducted in 2020–2021. In addition, we also outline some opinions expressed in interviews with LIBER library directors.
As research libraries heavily depend on the university and its strategic directions, a crisis such as COVID-19 clearly demonstrated how dependent libraries are on the hierarchy of university decision-making processes. When decisions within the university took time, this was also evident in libraries. As the crisis escalated, the greatest weakness of libraries was revealed: most of their services were concentrated around physical library buildings or collections. The libraries, who had focused more on digital services proved to be more successful. The crisis forced libraries to introduce several changes and, at the same time, highlighted some of their short-comings, thereby providing an opportunity to improve. The pandemic allowed libraries to rethink some of their practices and improve their value.

Research during and after COVID-19 has shown that the role of libraries is undergoing a significant transformation in universities. Libraries need to get out of their physical buildings and passive roles. Virtual work processes, collections, and services which can be accessible to anyone and anywhere are becoming increasingly important. The keywords are speed, recovery capacity, and crisis management. The flexibility and resilience of libraries help prepare for the next crisis.

The article is based on a presentation „Re-evaluating library’s value post-COVID-19” at the LIBER conference on July 6, 2023 in Budapest.

Ettevaatust, mürgine! Arseeni sisaldavad renessanssköited Tartu Ülikooli raamatukogus

Moonika Teemus — 2024-06-18

Caution, Toxic! Arsenic-containing Renaissance Bindings at the University of Tartu Library

The paper discusses the historical use of arsenic-containing green pigments in bookbindings, particularly focusing on bindings from the 16th and 17th centuries. It is a well-known fact that arsenic-based pigments, such as emerald green, were in the 19th century widely used in various industries, including bookbinding, despite their toxic nature. However, recent studies have uncovered that specific German bookbindings from the late 16th and early 17th centuries, using fragments of older manuscripts, were sometimes coated with green paint containing arsenic sulphide mineral orpiment and indigo blue.

In 2022, the UT Library investigated five such bindings. The green-painted areas were analysed at the university’s archaeology lab using a portable X-ray fluorescence analyser (PXRF). The results revealed high arsenic content in all samples. The findings raise concerns about potential health hazards for those handling these books. Precautionary measures, including isolating the identified books and using protective gear, are now recommended. However, the fact that the use of toxic substances in bookbinding was not limited to Germany and the 16th/17th centuries points to the need to raise awareness and take precautions in historical book collections.

Uurimusi meie kogudest

Janika Päll — 2024-06-18

Anni Polding.
A Comparative Analysis of Key Words in Karl Morgenstern’s Inauguration Speech and in the Exercises of the Students of the
Pedagogical-Philological Seminary of the University of Tartu. Summary of a Master’s thesis.

The Master’s thesis examined the influence of Karl Morgenstern’s Latin inauguration speech „Oratio de litteris humanioribus, sensum veri, honesti et pulchri excitantibus atque acuentibus” („Speech on humanistic education, to sharpen and stimulate the knowledge of truth, beauty and goodness”), given in Danzig in 1798, on the works of his students at the University of Tartu.

The first part of the thesis provides an overview of Johann Karl Simon Morgenstern’s role as a provider of humanistic education and the activities of the General Teachers’ Seminar and the Pedagogical-Philological Seminar of the Imperial University of Tartu. The student works included in the researched corpus came from the Pedagogical–Philological Seminary collection of the UT Library (F.15).

The second part of the work uses the methods of digital humanities. The 50 most frequently occurring meaningful words were selected by word frequency analysis. The programming language R was used to find key words. Thus, a ranking of key words was formed, in which the first were: animus [‘soul’], studium [‘studies’], litterae [‘literature/written word’], verus/verum [‘truth, real’], homo [‘man’], lingua [‘language’], sensus [‘knowledge’], antiquus [‘ancient’], but also in combination humanus and humanitas [‘belonging to humanity’, ‘humanity’]. Since the word animus appeared most often both in Morgenstern’s speech and in the
whole corpus, the following qualitative analysis dealt with the use of this term in different contexts and in combination with other key words. It turned out that Morgenstern focused on educating young people and influencing their souls, especially by developing their knowledge of various basic values (truth, beauty, goodness/goodness). For the latter, Morgenstern used the word sensus throughout his speech. Comparing the use of the word animus, it turned out that Karl Morgenstern and his students at the Pedagogical-Philological Seminar used it for similar purposes and in the same sense, indicating dealing with the soul and its properties, as well as in the sense of paying attention. At the same time, both the students and their role model Morgenstern considered it important that the soul and its powers were trained through the written word and the texts of ancient authors. This confirmed the hypothesis that Karl Morgenstern’s students adopted his ideas in their written works.

Marten Teemant.
Johannes Vorst’s Letters to Johann Moth. Summary of a Master’s thesis.

The Master’s thesis examines the correspondence from the 1660s between Johannes Vorst, the Head of the Electoral Library of Brandenburg, and his former student, later an official of the German Chancellery (a Danish government agency) and the Archivist of the Royal Archives of Copenhagen, Johann Moth.

Johannes Vorst (1623–1676), one of the two directors of the Electoral Library of Brandenburg since 1662, corresponded with Johann Moth (1639–1705), his former student at the Flensburg Latin School. Vorst had been the Rector of this school since 1653. The convolute (Mscr. 45), containing Vorst’s letters and many other sources, including other people’s letters to Moth, was gifted together with 21 other convolutes to the Tartu Imperial University Library in 1806 by the High Pastor of Riga, Andreas Immanuel von Essen. The gift was mediated by the Tartu University professor of classical philology, aesthetics, rhetoric, literary and art history Johann Karl
Simon Morgenstern. Until now, the gifted convolutes have received little attention from researchers.