Alar Karis

Vabariigi Presidendi kõne raamatukogu 220. aastapäeval

Introduction

Vabariigi presidendi kõne raamatukogu 220. Aastapäeval. Estonian President Alar Karis's speech at the University of Tartu Library's 220th anniversary. Emphasizes libraries' crucial role in knowledge, critical thinking, research, and Estonia's future.

Abstract

Speech made by President of the Republic of Estonia Alar Karis at the Festive Assembly to Mark the 220th Anniversary of the University of Tartu Library President of the Republic of Estonia gave a speech at the 220th anniversary assembly of the University of Tartu Library, where he underlined the importance of the university’s place among the top universities of the world. He pointed out that a university library cannot be only a textbook reading room, but it has to offer much more to its visitors. The library has strongly supported the university research and achieved international recognition. The President also highlighted the library’s role in advancing Estonia’s intellectual life and supplying an important environment for knowledge creation and for discussions about Estonia’s future. He said that the skills of critical thinking and differentiating between the essential and the negligible are crucial in our information-saturated world and libraries could assume a leading role here. The President emphasised the importance of libraries at the city, community and educational levels and hoped that libraries would help people in making wise choices for the future. Estonian people have always believed in the wisdom of books, using it in decision-making about the development of the state and education. Last, but not least, the President encouraged people to keep learning and exploring new things all through their life. He recognised libraries as the sources of knowledge and acknowledged the University of Tartu Library as a role model for Estonian education. To sum it up, the President concluded that libraries and the University of Tartu Library in particular, form the spiritual centre not only for the university but also for the whole country of Estonia, helping to shape its future. Vivat, crescat, floreat Bibliotheca Universitatis Tartuensis in aeternum!

Review

This journal entry presents the abstract of a significant speech delivered by President Alar Karis of Estonia at the 220th-anniversary celebration of the University of Tartu Library. The address, titled "Vabariigi Presidendi kõne raamatukogu 220. aastapäeval," offers a profound vision for the role of libraries, particularly the University of Tartu Library, within both the academic sphere and the broader national context. It immediately establishes the library's significance as a cornerstone for a top-tier university and outlines its critical function extending far beyond traditional textbook repositories, emphasizing its pivotal role in advancing intellectual life and supporting world-class research. President Karis's speech articulates several pivotal themes concerning the contemporary and future roles of libraries. He highlights the library's crucial contribution to Estonia's intellectual life, fostering knowledge creation, and providing an essential environment for discussions pertinent to the nation's future. Crucially, the President emphasizes the increasing need for critical thinking skills in an information-saturated world, positing that libraries are uniquely positioned to guide individuals in discerning essential information from the negligible, thereby enabling wise choices for the future. He extends this importance to city, community, and educational levels, underscoring a long-held Estonian belief in the wisdom of books for societal and educational development. In conclusion, the speech culminates in a powerful declaration that libraries, and specifically the University of Tartu Library, serve as the spiritual center for both the university and the entire nation of Estonia, actively shaping its future trajectory. The President's call for lifelong learning and continuous exploration further reinforces the library's enduring relevance as a fundamental source of knowledge and a catalyst for personal and national growth. By recognizing the University of Tartu Library as a role model for Estonian education, President Karis not only celebrates its illustrious past but also sets a forward-looking agenda for all libraries to empower citizens, cultivate informed decision-making, and contribute significantly to the country's intellectual and societal well-being.

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