Live-stream recording from the conference Nordic Libraries Annual 2025. This live-streamed video includes a presentation by Hanna Carlsson, Associate Professor, Department of Cultural Sciences, Linnaeus University, Sweden: “Keynote – Navigating Polarisation: Libraries in the Midst of the Culture War”. Before the presentation, the moderator of the conference, Päivi Jokitalo, introduces the speaker, Hanna Carlsson.
Hanna Carlsson is an Associate Professor at Linnaeus University, Sweden, where she coordinates the Master’s Programme in Library and Information Science (LIS). Her research and teaching focus on the role of libraries as democratic institutions, with particular emphasis on cultural policy, media literacy, reading promotion, and the development of digital competencies. Through her scholarly work, Carlsson investigates the evolving responsibilities of libraries in supporting democratic values, inclusion, critical thinking, and civic engagement in an increasingly complex political landscape.
Nordic Libraries Annual is an annual conference that addresses topical issues in public libraries and library development. The Nordic Libraries Annual 2025 was organized in Helsinki on October 29–30, 2025. The two-day event included library visits on the first day, while the presentations took place on October 30 in Maijansali at Oodi Central Library.
The theme of the 2025 conference was “Libraries Working Against Polarisation”. Polarisation is one of the most topical issues in society today, and it also affects libraries and their field of work. Public libraries are considered vital societal institutions. Nordic Libraries Annual 2025 examined polarisation as a phenomenon from various perspectives and highlighted Nordic examples of how libraries can help mitigate it. Presentations were given by speakers from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland.
The conference was organized by the Regional State Administrative Agencies in Finland in collaboration with Kirjastokaista and funded by Finland’s Ministry of Education and Culture.
Read more:
All videos from the conference
See more presentations in English
Live-stream: Mikko Helander, Joonas Nevalainen and Jonne Taipale
Producer: Riitta Taarasti
Produced by Library Channel (Kirjastokaista), 2025
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