Libraries have always been close to my heart. So, when I was invited to act as the host and moderator for the annual Library Days conference, held this year at the Sara Cultural House in Skellefteå, accepting the invitation was an obvious choice. The fact that this year’s theme was creativity made the assignment even more exciting and meaningful.
The preparations for the conference were many, and the day before, I decided to gather my thoughts with some relaxation at Vana Spa, located in the Wood Hotel where the conference participants were staying. Soaking in a warm bath outdoors had both a calming and invigorating effect - the perfect way to prepare for the days ahead.
As the conference opened I welcomed the 260 participants from all over Sweden and shared how I, as a child, was a voracious reader and that libraries and librarians had played a significant role in my upbringing.
After my introduction, Leif Mårtensson, a board member of the Swedish Library Association, took the stage to deliver the official opening speech. He spoke about how libraries are under attack in various ways, ranging from economic challenges to political pressures and emphasized the importance of libraries making their voices heard in the national debate. Despite these challenges, he expressed hope for the future and stressed that creativity is key to overcoming these obstacles.
The conference’s keynote speaker was Palle Dahlstedt - a composer, artist, and professor of interaction design at the University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology. He also began by sharing his childhood experiences with libraries, describing librarians as heroes.
His lecture took us on a fascinating journey through the history and development of creativity. He challenged the myths surrounding creativity - such as the idea that it is something mystical or divine - and instead highlighted that creativity is a process that permeates everyday life.
“Creativity is everywhere and in everyone; it is a force that can solve problems, drive research, and inspire inventions,” he said.
He also emphasized the importance of understanding both the brain’s creative processes and one’s own ability to grow and evolve:
“Dare to be a little crazy and let go of concerns about what others - or even you yourself - might think. All creation is valuable,” he concluded.
Later in the day, I held a workshop titled “Creative Leadership”, where I focused on inner leadership and how to become a creative and open leader. I discussed the importance of freeing oneself from thoughts that hinder creativity and creating routines to manage internal processes.
The participants engaged in interactive exercises designed to cultivate courage and attentiveness and I shared my personal experiences with creative leadership, including the importance of listening to what is not being said in a room.
It was an honor to lead The Library Days 2024 and get to participate in two packed, inspiring days filled with meaningful conversations and fresh ideas.
Some time after the event, I was invited to write a piece for S/Å Magazine, Skellefteå’s municipal publication. I immediately said yes and knew exactly what I wanted to write about: why the library is such an invaluable place for me.
You’ll find the text below.
SETTING SAILS ON THE OCEAN OF IMAGINATION
In the 1970s, when I was growing up, the Gothenburg City Library was still a new and modern building. There are photos of me and my mother, where I’m playing on the steps of the newly built library. At the time, I had no idea it would become my second home.
Sweden has a long and proud library tradition that stretches back several centuries. The oldest library, The Royal Library, was founded as early as the 1500s in the castle Tre Kronor, built from the collections of the Vasa kings. However, it wasn’t until the 18th century that Sweden began to create libraries for the public. The so-called parish libraries were run by priests and mainly stocked with Christian texts or practical books on agriculture. The idea that common people might want to read fiction was almost unheard of and was considered neither desirable nor necessary.
In the 19th century, the task of overseeing the parish libraries was handed to school inspectors. One of these inspectors, Per Siljeström, was a passionate advocate for expanding libraries and for women's right to education. He believed parish libraries should offer a broader range of materials, arguing that what was good enough for the educated classes should also be available to farmers and workers. Despite his efforts, progress was slow.
It was not until the end of the 19th century that the idea of a public library with a broader range of literature began to take hold. In Gothenburg, the Dickson Public Library was established in the working-class district of Haga. James Dickson, a wealthy merchant, wanted to provide "the hard-working laborers" with opportunities for entertainment and education. Finally, the library became a space where everyone, regardless of background, could discover new worlds.
My mother introduced me to books and reading at an early age, and I quickly became a voracious reader. Every visit to Gothenburg City Library was an adventure. The basement housed the record section, where I sat with headphones, listening to comedy albums and laughing so loudly that the librarians had to shush me. The top floor was the adult section, where serious adults sat in silence, and heaven help the child who dared make a sound there.
But the best part was the children’s section on the first floor. Here, you could talk as much as you liked—unless, of course, you were busy reading. The room was filled with books, and between the shelves stood glass cases displaying the most delightful little doll figures from Elsa Beskow’s stories. On the wall in the children’s section, a quote read: “Books are ships that pass the vast seas of time.” And I, an experienced captain on the boundless oceans of imagination, borrowed stacks of books that I read late into the night under my blanket, illuminated by the light of a flashlight.
Libraries and librarians are among the greatest treasures of our society. Yet somehow, we forget this as we grow older. We forget the joy of losing ourselves in a book. We forget the charm of a room filled with books, longing to be read. So don’t forget your local library. Visit it today—not only to support its activities but also to uphold one of the fundamental pillars of a strong and free democracy.
A library is a place where we all, regardless of our circumstances, can set sail on the oceans of imagination—completely free of charge—and return richer than when we first embarked!
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