The Library of Mariehamn & the Åland University Library

1. The Library of Mariehamn & the Åland University Library Joint Librarysince 1990 Henrica Sjöblom – Åland University Library Leena Uhlenius – Library of Mariehamn

2. History of the Åland University Library • 1970’s • The Åland Open University and of the Library of Mariehamn • Some books, no personnel • December 1989 • The new library building in Mariehamn • The building was planned as a joint library with the Åland Open University • February 1990 • A full-time librarian employed by the library of Mariehamn, but paid for by the Open University

3. History of the Åland University Library • 1997 • Cooperation between higher education in the Åland Island • New patrons: full-time students and teachers • An assistant librarian • The library staff located at the library of Mariehamn • While the books are scattered at different faculty libraries • 1999 • A second librarian

4. History of the Åland University Library • Fall 2002 • Idea: move all the books to the library of Mariehamn • Reasons: too few employees and a lots of books disappear • Resistance from the teachers • 2005 • All material for loans were placed at the library of Mariehamn • The faculty libraries are only for reference books ect.

5. History of the Åland University Library • 2006 • The library director becomes a permanent position and employed directly by the university • Move to one of the university’s buildings • 2007 • The second librarian and assistant librarian employed by the university • Today • Working on establishing all three positions as permanent positions • Still materials at two faculty libraries

6. The Library of Mariehamn • Mariehamn City Library • Åland University Library • Central Library for the Åland Islands • ”Infoteket” • The Hospital Library • Except the University Library staff, the staff is employed by the Library of Mariehamn

7. Growing apart, growing close • Growing apart and forming a new identity • Growing closer to the rest of the university • Trying to reintegrate with the library of Mariehamn

8. Cooperation within the joint library • Joint work schedule, desk duty and meetings • Databases and other media available for everyone • Sharing tools and spaces

9. Information is important • Important to keep each other updated • Understand each others work situation • Still trying to find a good balance

10. Mariehamn and RFID • The Library of Mariehamn implemented RFID Management System in April 2008

11. Items • About 100 000 items were converted into RFID

12. Self Check • Two new Self Check in/out stations were installed

13. Happy • The overall experiences are very positive, both among our patrons and the personnel. • “Quick and easy” is the comment from the patrons. • Today about 84 % of all the loans are made through the stations.

14. Evaluation • An evaluation will be done in Autumn 2008 : what are the benefits of the project and what could have been done better!

15. Mariehamn 2009 • 1989-2009 - celebrating 20 years! • The physical and virtual space • May or September? • Welcome to Mariehamn next year!