The bibliotheca baltica 2026 symposium

In our rapidly evolving world, we find ourselves navigating a landscape filled with written material, yet simultaneously witnessing a growing disconnection from traditional print media. Increasingly, we turn to social media, short videos, audiobooks and AI-tools for information and entertainment.

This raises important questions about the nature and transformations of reading in today’s society: What does it mean to read in this digital age? How do changes in reading habits change libraries? Do reading and libraries remain integral to our learning processes? As new technologies take up more and more of our time instead of quality reading, are libraries under threat? How are the role and mission of libraries changing due to changes in reading?

The Bibliotheca Baltica 2026 Symposium, scheduled for November 5 and 6 in Helsinki, invites you to explore these pressing questions and more. Our goal is to engage in a meaningful dialogue about how evolving reading practices and digital innovations are reshaping our understanding of reading and libraries. We will examine the extent to which libraries can adapt to meet societal needs, the types of specialists required in libraries today, and the proactive steps we have taken and must take to remain competitive in the cultural and knowledge landscape of the future. Furthermore, we will address the critical role libraries play in combating the rising tide of disinformation, and what this has to do with changes in reading habits.

We welcome representatives from all types of libraries, as well as experts from academic institutions and information specialists, to participate in this vital conversation. Your insights and experiences are crucial as we assess the changes in library activities and the opportunities available to us in response to rapid socio-cultural shifts.

	Thursday, 5 November
9.30-10.00	Registration at the Finnish Literature Society	Finnish Literataure Society, Hallituskatu 1
10.00-11.15	SESSION 1 Chair: Ulriikka Puura, (Library of the Finnish Literature Society) Opening words from the hosting organisation. Kati Mikkola, Secretary General of the Finnish Literature Society Greetings from the Bibliotheca Baltica. Liisa Savolainen, President of Bibliotheca Baltica Keynote 1: Riie Heikkilä, (University of Tampere). The Transformations of Reading in the Digital Era: What Should Libraries Know?
11.15-11.30	Short Break
11.30-13.00	SESSION 2 Chair: Jolanta Budriūnienė, (National Library of Lithuania) Maija Treile, (National Library of Latvia). Restarting Reading: Libraries Connecting Data, Experience, and Politics Renata Lygienė, (Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania). In Dialogue with Readers: Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania Experience Jaanika Anderson, (Tartu University Library, Estonia). Librarians as Shapers of Reading Culture: Future Skills as Opportunities and Challenges
13.00-14.00	Lunch Break
14.00-15.00	SESSION 3 Moderator: Christophe Didier, (National and University Library of Strasbourg) Panel Discussion: Social Cohesion and the Libraries. Participants: Kimmo Tuominen (National Library of Finland), Dagnija Baltiņa (National Library of Latvia), Karin Grönvall (National of Sweden), Robert Zepf (State and University Library Hamburg, Germany)
15.00-16.00	Coffee and Bibliotheca Baltica General Assembly
16.30-17.30	Option I. Tour at Oodi	Helsinki Central Library Oodi, Töölönlahdenkatu 4
16.30-17.30	Option II. Tour at Helsinki University Library	Helsinki University Library, Fabianinkatu 30
18.00-20.00	Tour and Dinner at the National Library of Finland	National Library of Finland, Unioninkatu 36

Thursday, 5 November

9.30-10.00

Registration at the Finnish Literature Society

Finnish Literataure Society, Hallituskatu 1

10.00-11.15

SESSION 1

Chair: Ulriikka Puura, (Library of the Finnish Literature Society)

Opening words from the hosting organisation. Kati Mikkola, Secretary General of the Finnish Literature Society
Greetings from the Bibliotheca Baltica. Liisa Savolainen, President of Bibliotheca Baltica

Keynote 1:

Riie Heikkilä, (University of Tampere). The Transformations of Reading in the Digital Era: What Should Libraries Know?

11.15-11.30

Short Break

11.30-13.00

SESSION 2

Chair: Jolanta Budriūnienė, (National Library of Lithuania)

Maija Treile, (National Library of Latvia). Restarting Reading: Libraries Connecting Data, Experience, and Politics
Renata Lygienė, (Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania). In Dialogue with Readers: Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania Experience
Jaanika Anderson, (Tartu University Library, Estonia). Librarians as Shapers of Reading Culture: Future Skills as Opportunities and Challenges

13.00-14.00

Lunch Break

14.00-15.00

SESSION 3

Moderator: Christophe Didier, (National and University Library of Strasbourg)

Panel Discussion: Social Cohesion and the Libraries. Participants: Kimmo Tuominen (National Library of Finland), Dagnija Baltiņa (National Library of Latvia), Karin Grönvall (National of Sweden), Robert Zepf (State and University Library Hamburg, Germany)

15.00-16.00

Coffee and Bibliotheca Baltica General Assembly

16.30-17.30

Option I. Tour at Oodi

Helsinki Central Library Oodi, Töölönlahdenkatu 4

16.30-17.30

Option II. Tour at Helsinki University Library

Helsinki University Library, Fabianinkatu 30

18.00-20.00

Tour and Dinner at the National Library of Finland

National Library of Finland, Unioninkatu 36

	Friday, 6 November
9.15-10.00	Tour at the Finnish Literature Society	Finnish Literature Society, Hallituskatu 1
10.00-11.00	SESSION 4 Moderator: Karin Grönvall, (National Library of Sweden) Panel Discussion: Why Should We Read? Four Perspectives on Literacy. Participants: Marjo Sirén (University of Jyväskylä), Christophe Didier (National and University Library of Strasbourg, France), Jolanta Budriūnienė (Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania), Kristina Pai (Tartu Public Library, Estonia)
11.00-12.00	*SESSION 4 continues* Gudrun Wirtz, (Bavarian State Library, Germany) and Ruth Sindt, (Kiel University Library). Baltic (Sea) Studies in Germany: How, Why and What Academics Read? Anne Holappa, (HUMAK University of Applied Sciences, Finland). Going 100% E(lectronical): How All-Digital Course Collections Reshape Academic Reading Habits and Library Practices
12.00-13.00	Lunch Break
13.00-13.45	SESSION 5 Chair: Jürgen Warmbrunn, (Herder-Institut Library) Keynote 2: Maria Deskur, (Universal Reading Foundation, Poland). Literacy is not for Culture
13.45-14.00	Short Break
14.00-15.30	*SESSION 5 continues* Elīna Veļa, (Library of Olaine, Library Association of Latvia). The Role of Public Libraries in Local Communities: Best Practices from Olaine, Latvia Katarzyna Regulska, (Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań). Evolving Competencies of Cataloguers in the Age of Artificial Intelligence Christian Winterhalter, (Greifswald University Library, Germany) and Przemysław Wraga, (Pomeranian Library in Szczecin, Poland). Promoting Civic Society and Digital Literacy in Pomerania: the Project “In Terris Gryphi”
15.30-16.00	Coffee and Closing Words

Friday, 6 November

9.15-10.00

Tour at the Finnish Literature Society

Finnish Literature Society, Hallituskatu 1

10.00-11.00

SESSION 4

Moderator: Karin Grönvall, (National Library of Sweden)

Panel Discussion: Why Should We Read? Four Perspectives on Literacy. Participants: Marjo Sirén (University of Jyväskylä), Christophe Didier (National and University Library of Strasbourg, France), Jolanta Budriūnienė (Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania), Kristina Pai (Tartu Public Library, Estonia)

11.00-12.00

SESSION 4 continues

Gudrun Wirtz, (Bavarian State Library, Germany) and Ruth Sindt, (Kiel University Library). Baltic (Sea) Studies in Germany: How, Why and What Academics Read?
Anne Holappa, (HUMAK University of Applied Sciences, Finland). Going 100% E(lectronical): How All-Digital Course Collections Reshape Academic Reading Habits and Library Practices

12.00-13.00

Lunch Break

13.00-13.45

SESSION 5

Chair: Jürgen Warmbrunn, (Herder-Institut Library) Keynote 2:

Maria Deskur, (Universal Reading Foundation, Poland). Literacy is not for Culture

13.45-14.00

Short Break

14.00-15.30

SESSION 5 continues

Elīna Veļa, (Library of Olaine, Library Association of Latvia). The Role of Public Libraries in Local Communities: Best Practices from Olaine, Latvia
Katarzyna Regulska, (Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań). Evolving Competencies of Cataloguers in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Christian Winterhalter, (Greifswald University Library, Germany) and Przemysław Wraga, (Pomeranian Library in Szczecin, Poland). Promoting Civic Society and Digital Literacy in Pomerania: the Project “In Terris Gryphi”

15.30-16.00

Coffee and Closing Words

Jussi-Pekka Hakkarainen
Treasurer
(Term 2022-2026)
National Library of Finland
PL 15 (Unioninkatu 36), 00014 Helsingin, Finland
Phone: +358 294122732
Cell: +358 504154419
jussi-pekka.hakkarainen@helsinki.fi

Jürgen Warmbrunn
Secretary
(Term 2024-2028)
Herder Institute for Historical Research on East Central Europe – Research Library
Gisonenweg 5-7, D- 35037 Marburg, Germany
Phone: + 49 6421184150
Fax: + 49 6421184139
Cell: + 49 151 17500130
juergen.warmbrunn@herder-institut.de

Karin Grönvall
(Term 2022-2026)
Kungliga biblioteket
Humlegårdsgatan 26, 102 41 Stockholm, Sweden
Phone: +46 0107093600
karin.gronvall@kb.se

Jolanta Budriūnienė
(Term 2024-2028)
Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania
Gedimino ave. 51, LT-01109 Vilnius, Lithuania
Phone: +370 5 2398637
jolanta.budriuniene@lnb.lt

The Bibliotheca Baltica 2026 Symposium

Programme

The 17th International Bibliotheca Baltica Symposium “Reading, Libraries, and Cultural Sustainability”

Bibliotheca Baltica General Assembly, 5 November 2026 at 15.00 (EET)

Board

President

Elected members