Ülle Talihärm

Library Adviser in the Cultural Heritage Department at the Estonian Ministry of Culture

With a degree in Library and Information Science from Tallinn University, Ülle continued to expand her professional competencies in the field of information science. In 2024, she completed a microdegree at Tallinn University of Technology, gaining advanced knowledge in process and quality management as well as in the practical application of artificial intelligence. Her professional experience includes a long-term service at the National Library of Estonia, where she is responsible for implementing the integrated library system, developing the digital archive, establishing pre-cataloguing processes, and providing training support for vocational students. She also served as a lecturer at Tallinn University, contributing to the academic development of future librarians and information specialists. For the past 12 years, her work at the Ministry of Culture has focused on developing and implementing public library policy, as well as coordinating several major sectoral reforms. Her contributions include participation in the preparation of the national cultural heritage digitization action plan, drafting the Legal Deposit Copy Act, and initiating the Library Accelerator grant program, which has strengthened both heritage preservation and the modernization of library services. Currently, she is involved in public library reform, including amendments to the Public Libraries Act and the National Library of Estonia Act, as well as broader reform and development activities within the sector. Her work is guided by a commitment to supporting the strategic development of the library network and ensuring that users have access to modern, convenient, and forward-looking services.

Empowering Communities Through Library Reform

Over the past five years, the Ministry of Culture, in cooperation with the library sector, has prepared and implemented a public library reform with the aim of ensuring user-centered and accessible library services across Estonia. The reform is based on the principle that understanding community needs and preserving local decision-making authority must remain at the core. With the amendment of the Public Libraries Act, the principles guiding the development of the library network will be updated, and the state’s administrative responsibilities will be reorganized. This transformation will replace the previously fragmented system with a more coherent structure, allowing librarians to focus more effectively on the substantive development of services. The National Library of Estonia will become the development hub for the public library sector, providing regional professional guidance, coordinating training, procuring publications with state support, and creating and developing nationwide services. A key step in this process is the introduction of modern technology through the establishment of a unified library information system. This will enable readers to conveniently access the collections of Estonian libraries through a single platform, thereby promoting reading and supporting the growth of a knowledge-based society.

Date and time: 2025-12-02, 11:15-11:45 (20 min)

Hall: ALFA