In April, we had the pleasure to host our French colleague Delphine Lepaul from the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne Library (URCA). She contacted us at the beginning of November 2024 to inquire about the possibility of visiting our library as part of the Erasmus Mobility program. URCA is Karelia’s INVEST partner.
Once Delphine’s participation was confirmed, a small group in our library began planning the weekly program. We wanted to take our guest’s wishes into account as much as possible. Delphine’s task was to observe how customers are welcomed to the library and how it is arranged for the well-being of users. She also wished to learn about our practices. Additionally, Delphine expressed her desire to explore Joensuu and the local nature, such as Koli National Park.
Job shadowing, visits to other libraries and nature experiences
Based on our gest’s wishes, we planned a weekly program. Firstly, we aimed to introduce our processes and compare them with URCA Library’s practices. We booked one-hour slots in each library employee’s calendar for “job shadowing.” During these sessions, each of us presented our work to our guest and discussed how things are done in the URCA’s Library. Delphine gave us a short presentation about Reims and her own library. It was very interesting to hear, and it sparked us new ideas, for example how students can be involved in library’s social media communication.
Secondly, we wanted to introduce Delphine the other libraries’ facilities and services in Joensuu. This was because of our library size: We do all the same things as a bigger library (such as customer service, information search guidance and acquisitions), but our facilities are quite small. We had very friendly and well-guided tours at the University of Eastern Finland Library, Joensuu Main Library, and Mobile Library. We also visited all the smaller libraries in Joensuu, located in Rantakylä, Karsikko and Nepenmäki. In these libraries we didn’t have any guidance but explored them on our own. Delphine was particularly interested in the loom and sewing machine available to customers at the Rantakylä library. During our visits we received useful professional information about the services other libraries provide.
Thirdly, we believe that Koli National Park is a place everyone must absolutely see and experience. Therefore, at the end of the week we headed towards Koli. In Finland, weather in April can be unpredictable. We discovered this as it snowed around 15 cm of fresh and pure white snow on Friday morning (and the previous night). At first, we were afraid that the beautiful scenery would be covered by clouds, but miraculously we could see a little bit of blue sky as we climbed to the top of the Koli. Unfortunately, we could not hike the trails of the national park, as they were slippery and partly dangerous. We hope that Delphine can visit North Karelia and Koli again sometime, preferably in summer!
Learning from each other
When we told in our university’s work community that we would have a French guest in our library, a few teachers and staff members wanted to brush up their French language skills with native French speaker. We arranged them a possibility to have lunch with Delphine. Feedback on this was very positive: The meetings were useful in terms of both language skills and knowledge of culture, and the experiences were very pleasant.
Overall, the week was a nice change from our normal routines and offered us a fresh perspective on our everyday life, for example, would there be anything we could do differently or better, learning from our French guest. Delphine’s visit was also beneficial as we are planning to visit her university next summer. We will participate in the Erasmus exchange at the URCA Library for the International Library Staff Week. Delphine provided us with valuable advice regarding public transport and accommodation in Reims. It’s wonderful to have someone we are already acquainted with there!
A message from France
To this end we will add experiences sent by Delphine. The text is both in English and French. Translation to English is made by using Sanakirja.fi and DeepL translators.
From 7 to 11 April 2025, I completed an observation internship in the library of the Karelia University of Applied Sciences in Joensuu. The purpose of my internship was to observe the reception of the public, and in particular that of the public with disabilities, as well as well-being at work. In Finland I was less confronted with these problems because it seems to me that you have a practical vision on topics such as accessibility in public places in general and disability in particular. Anticipation is constant and empathetic.
This week has been very enjoyable, and unfortunately too short. I have learned a lot from your contact and through my integration into your team, in particular through videoconferences and various meetings. What impressed me the most was the proximity between the various Karelia UAS services and the democratic participation in each decision. The other outstanding idea is management and trust between the library team. I was able to observe the benefits of flexible working hours, the chance to have electric desks adapted to everyone’s needs as well as break rooms, which are real resting rooms.
Several visits to other libraries and various meetings with passionate people allowed me to observe other practices. The purpose of our profession as librarians is always to best adapt our collections and resources to the needs of the university community. And I came back to France with different vision that will undoubtedly allow me to understand the problems that can be encountered on a daily basis with different audiences. Our various exchanges have been beneficial to me.
I would like to warmly thank the entire library team for the time spent with me, and the time spent for me coming, as well as the people I met at the Karelia UAS. I was enriched by every activity I took part in and, I learned, a little, thanks to all of you, to understand the Finnish way of life. I strongly encourage everyone to have this experience through the Erasmus exchange.
Kiitos.
Delphine
Du 7 au 11 avril 2025, j’ai effectué un stage d’observation dans la bibliothèque de l’université des sciences appliquées de Carélie, à Joensuu.Mon stage avait pour but d’observer l’accueil du public, et notamment celui du public en situation de handicap ainsi que le bien-être au travail. En Finlande j’ai été moins confrontée à ces problèmes car il me semble que vous ayez une vision pratique sur des sujets tels que l’accessibilité dans les lieux publics en général et du handicap en particulier. L’anticipation y est constante et empathique.
Cette semaine a été très appréciable, et malheureusement trop courte. J’ai appris beaucoup de choses à votre contact et par mon intégration au sein de votre équipe, notamment par le biais des visioconférences et différentes rencontres. Ce qui m’a le plus marquée c’est la proximité entre les différents services de l’université et la participation démocratique à chaque décision. L’autre idée marquante c’est le management et la confiance entre l’équipe de la bibliothèque. J’ai pu observer les bienfaits des horaires flexibles, la chance d’avoir des bureaux électriques adaptés au besoin de chacun ainsi que les salles de repos qui sont de vraies salles de repos.
Plusieurs visites dans d’autres bibliothèques et différentes rencontres avec des gens passionnés m’ont permis d’observer d’autres pratiques. La finalité de notre métier de bibliothécaire reste toujours d’adapter aux mieux nos collections et ressources aux besoins de la communauté universitaire. Et je suis revenue en France avec une autre vision qui me permettra sans aucun doute d’appréhender les problèmes que l’on peut rencontrer au quotidien avec les différents publics. Nos différents échanges m’ont été bénéfiques.
Je tiens vivement à remercier l’ensemble de l’équipe de la bibliothèque pour le temps passé avec moi, et le temps passé pour ma venue, ainsi que les personnes rencontrées au sein de l’université. Chaque activité proposée m’a enrichie, j’ai appris, un peu, grâce à vous tous, à comprendre le mode de vie à la finlandaise. J’encourage vivement chacun à vivre cette expérience par le biais de l’échange Erasmus.
Kiitos.
Delphine
Authors:
Noora Kontturi, Information Specialist, Karelia UAS
Jaana Rummukainen, Information Specialist, Karelia UAS