Year 2024 of the library

Uniarts Helsinki Library is slowly descending into the festive season. A lot has happened in the past year.  Here are some highlights.

Donations

This year, the library has received two culturally and historically significant donations for researchers.

The estate of opera singer Anita Välkki has donated her archive to the library, which contains archival material and sheet music publications used by Välkki. The library is currently arranging the material, and it can be accessed by separate agreement.

In early summer, the library received a valuable donation from Professor Reijo Norio’s estate. It is a facsimile edition of the Bible commented on by Abraham Calov with marginal notes by Johann Sebastian Bach. The value of the donation is high in monetary terms, but the cultural-historical significance is even more significant. Only a limited number of facsimile prints have been taken. The work will be deposited in the library’s manuscript archive. Once the details have been sorted out, the matter will be reported more extensively separately.

The library is grateful for both valuable donations.

Results of user surveys

The library’s services are highly valued based on user surveys. Questions about library services were asked in three different surveys during the past year. The library’s own user survey highlighted high-quality customer service and excellent materials. The library’s services also received very good ratings in the rector’s survey and service survey.

From the feedback received from user surveys, the library’s even closer relationship with teaching and research actors was identified within the library as a development target. A continuous and long-standing desire for research-oriented databases (such as Taylor &; Francis, Sage, Wiley) was also highlighted in the responses to user surveys.

Library speeches

In a blog post by the university libraries network FUN, Library Director Tommi Harju writes about the connection between art, research and its materials.

Also in the 3/24 issue of Acatiimi, Library Director Harju shares his views on future university libraries in the Oivallus -series. Link to the magazine.

Customers will continue to be at the heart of library service in the coming year. We welcome the feedback on our services and materials. Feedback will reach us via email address lib@uniarts.fi.

The library staff wishes all customers a bright festive season and a new year!