Cecilia af Forselles to head the National Library of Finland

Cecilia af Forselles is looking forward to working with top library professionals. “Individual citizens, the academic community and the nation as a whole depend on memory to understand today’s world and envisage the future. The National Library must also maintain and develop digital services for the public and researchers, thereby increasing awareness of cultural-heritage resources and services. I want the National Library to promote solutions of open science and service environments together with other libraries and organisations.”

Rector Jari Niemelä is pleased about af Forselles’s appointment as the national librarian: “Cecilia is experienced, highly motivated and familiar with the National Library. She has in-depth knowledge of memory institutions and solid leadership experience and is thoroughly familiar with the National Library, having both worked there and served on the Board of Directors. She thus has an excellent understanding of the National Library’s strengths and operations. The National Library’s efforts to make resources openly available to researchers and the public are an important success factor for us.”

Cecilia af Forselles will take over as national librarian of the National Library of Finland on 7 January 2019.

More information:

Hanna Snellman
Vice-Rector and Chair of the National Library of Finland’s Board of Directors
+358 2941 22621
vicepresident@helsinki.fi

Cecilia af Forselles
+358 44 322 2373
cecilia.afforselles@finlit.fi

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The National Library of Finland is responsible for storing, preserving and providing access to the Finnish cultural heritage. The National Library serves as a research library particularly in the humanities and social sciences and plays a key role in ensuring the accessibility of cultural-heritage data. The National Library has a staff of approximately 200. In accordance with its strategic plan, the National Library promotes open science and digitalisation. The National Library is part of the University of Helsinki, an international scholarly community of more than 40,000 students and staff. The University of Helsinki, founded in 1640, is among the leading multidisciplinary research universities in the world.