Meetings at the Helm - Celebrations for Librarian's Week at GMU
Representatives of all higher education libraries in the Tricity area and public libraries in Gdynia met this week at GMU to celebrate Library Week.
Those in attendance were greeted on 7 May 2025, the day before the official start of Library Week, by Dr Joanna Krzywonos, the director of the GMU Main Library, who gave a welcome speech. The event was then opened by Dr Dariusz Barbucha, GMU Deputy Rector for Science.
The first event in the celebrations was a discussion panel featuring guests, including staff and university library directors from the Tricity area.
The discussion, dedicated to the challenges of modern librarianship, also included representatives of the Gdańsk Library of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Gdynia Municipal Library, managed by Director Natalia Gromow. Among the topics raised during the panel was the need to create more welcoming and open spaces for readers. Librarians also addressed the importance of supporting students, including by expanding collections with books on mental health. A key conclusion that emerged from the discussion was that the modern library is not only a place for book work but also a safe space that fosters integration and community-building. After the panel, participants visited the Gdynia Maritime University Faculty of Navigation, where they toured the A. Ledóchowski Planetarium and had the opportunity to visit the ship manoeuvring and navigation simulator.
The librarians also visited the 'Avoid ships with no animals on board' exhibition on board Dar Pomorza.
The highlight of the celebrations was the ceremonial handover of a wooden ship's wheel – a symbol of taking on the role of host for next year's Librarian's Day celebrations. The wheel was presented by the Director of the GMU Main Library, Dr Joanna Krzywonos, to Anna Dąbrowska, Director of the Library at Gdańsk Tech.
The celebrations concluded with workshops, during which librarians decorated display stands intended for presenting the chronicle dedicated to the ‘Meetings at the Helm’ events. During the session, each group was also tasked with presenting the history of the foundation of their own library.
