RecognitionsRecognitions
We recognise
Tallinn Central Library’s Thank You Award number 11 has been awarded to Tiia Mets for her collaboration, which has helped strengthen the library’s role as a caring community center and a supporter of residents’ mental health.
Tallinn Central Library thank you plaque
Public recognition is given to an individual or organisation whose professional or community activities have positively influenced the development of Tallinn Libraries and contributed to the achievement of the Central Library’s objectives.
Recipients
Estonian Jewel, Lummus, author of the 8th commendation. The author of badges 1-7 and 9-10 is jeweller Mari Relo-Šaulys.
Since 2002, Tallinn Libraries has been awarding an annual employee award. Library staff are entitled to submit nominations for particularly productive and outstanding work in a given year, or for long service, good performance and outstanding activity in the library.
| Employees who have received the annual award | |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Daire Lüüs, Librarian of the Südalinna Library (Estonian Literature Department). |
| 2024 | Andrea Ruud, Head of eLibrary, Processing Department |
| 2023 | Laura Vunk, Head of Development Projects, Public Relations Department |
| 2022 | Annika Marsh, head of the library bus Peeter Veevo, head of the economics department’s bus driver-freight forwarder |
| 2021 | Aimur-Jaan Keskel, Head of Pääsküla Library Triinu Rannaäär, Librarian of the Estonian Literature Department. |
| 2020 | Merle Tanilsoo, Head of Children’s Services, Estonian Literature Department. |
| 2019 | Svea Nuoranen, Head of Väike-Õismäe Library Tiina Randoja, Artist, Public Relations Department. |
| 2018 | Mirjam Kaun, Librarian, Estonian Literature Department Kirsti Aarniste, Kännukuke Library Manager |
| 2017 | Aivi Sepp, Head of Processing Department |
| 2016 | Kristel Palk, Head of Foreign Language Literature Department Kristi Veeber, Head of Music Department |
| 2015 | Triinu Seppam, Service Director |
| 2014 | Sille Ross, Head of Pääsküla Library Nadezhda Geryak, Head Librarian of the Foreign Language Literature Department. |
| 2013 | Lyudmilla Kapatsyna, Head of Foreign Language Literature Department Ülle Kütsen, Librarian, Paepealse Library |
| 2012 | Reet Kukk, Head of Kännukuke Library |
| 2011 | Kaja Palmiste, Head of Kalamaja Library Anneli Kengsepp, Head Librarian of the Children’s and Youth Services of the Estonian Literature Department. |
| 2010 | Reet Artemjev, Librarian, Department of Estonian Literature Mari Sieberk, Head Librarian, Department of Estonian Literature. |
| 2009 | Merle Tanilsoo, Head of Pirita Library Sille Ross, Head Librarian of the Estonian Literature Department. |
| 2008 | Reet Ojasoo, Head of Kännukuke Library |
| 2007 | Piret Martinov, Head of Paepealse Library Malle Järv, Librarian, Pirita Library |
| 2006 | Reet Valter, Sõle Library Librarian |
| 2005 | Alvar-Jaanus Tamm, Librarian of the Department of Estonian Literature. |
| 2004 | Lyudmilla Kapatsyina, Head of Foreign Language Literature Department |
| 2003 | Heljo Jantsus, Librarian in the Processing Department |
| 2002 | Kaie Holm, Director of Tallinn Central Library |
2025. The Kännukuke Library wins the Best Children’s Service of the Year award.
Tallinn Libraries has been recognising the best children’s services unit since 2004 and the best youth services unit since 2012.
| Year’s | Children’s Service Award | Youth work award |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Kännukuke library | Paepealse library |
| 2024 | Sõle Library | Kännukuke library |
| 2023 | Foreign Language Literature Department (Liivalaia Library) | Laagna Library |
| 2022 | Kadrioru library | Nurmenuku library |
| 2021 | Sõle library | Department of Foreign Language Literature |
| 2020 | Paepealse library | Department of Estonian Literature |
| 2019 | Department of Foreign Language Literature | Paepealse library |
| 2018 | Sääse Library | Kalamaja Library |
| 2017 | library bus | Department of Estonian Literature |
| 2016 | Department of Estonian Literature | Kännukuke library |
| 2015 | Kalamaja Library | Pääsküla library |
| 2014 | Pirita library | Department of Foreign Language Literature |
| 2013 | music and movie hall | Laagna Library |
| 2012 | Pääsküla library | public relations department |
| 2011 | Männiku library | |
| 2010 | Sõle library | |
| 2009 | Nurmenuku library | |
| 2008 | Torupilli Library | |
| 2007 | Väike-Õismäe Library | |
| 2006 | Kännukuke library | |
| 2005 | Paepealse library | |
| 2004 | Department of Foreign Language Literature |
Recognition of us and our staff
Tallinn Trainer of the Year 2025 is Katrin Antonenko, Librarian of Liivalaia library.
Katrin is committed to supporting digital literacy, language skills and cultural cohesion among elderly people of other languages. As a result of Katrin’s mentoring, people from other languages have become better integrated into Estonian society and have gained valuable knowledge in language, culture and digital skills.
Daire Lüüs, a librarian at the Südalinna library, was awarded Tallinn’s special student of the year award – she has been the oldest student in higher education – she started vocational school at 51, bachelor’s at 53 and master’s at 57. According to Daire, learning gives you the courage and confidence to add value to your life and make changes in your life.
Estonian Librarians Association Annual Award 2024 was awarded to our service director Triinu Seppam-Saar.
Service Director of Tallinn Libraries Triinu Seppam-Saar
Estonian Librarians Association The “Achievement of the Year in the City Library” 2024 award went to our reading programme “Reading Friends”.
“I would like to thank you for developing the Estonian language skills and reading interests of children with a different mother tongue with the help of the Reading Friends programme, which is unique in Estonia and increases interest in reading by offering children a successful reading experience and supporting their linguistic development.”
Tallinn Youth Work Awards Competition Great Deeds for Youth 2024
North-Tallinn Youth Centre and Tallinn Central Library collaborate on “From book to plate: cooking together”. The aim of the project was to bring young people together through cooking and literature, introducing them to Estonia, Estonian language, culture and history and promoting integration.
In autumn, four cooking events were organised, where dishes inspired by Estonian literature were prepared. The project strengthened cooperation between the North Tallinn Youth Centre and Tallinn Central Library and increased the visibility of the library among young people. The innovative project combined literature, cooking and experiential learning, supporting the development of young people and encouraging the sharing of cultural heritage.
Estonian Librarians Association annual award was given to Tiina Põldmaa, Head of the Südalinna Library (former Estonian Literature Department),
who upholds the image of librarians as readers’ advisers and inspires adults to read.
“Tiina introduces the library’s activities and services in various national media channels and maintains the image of a librarian who reads a lot and knows how to recommend literature, both in her library and in the national media! Supporting reading habits and finding attractive and inspiring ways to do so is also a focus for Tiina in coordinating the annual “Welcoming spring with a book” reading programme for adults. Tiina’s knowledge of literature is a source of envy for everyone who interacts with her.”
Tallinn City Government awarded Tallinn Central Library employee Reet Ojasoo with a medal.
The Tallinn City Government decided to award a medal to Reet Ojasoo for her long-standing dedicated service to the citizens of Tallinn. Reet Ojasoo has worked at Tallinn Central Library since 1993. She has worked both as a librarian and as a service unit manager. Today, she works as a librarian at Männi library, and readers appreciate both her reading suggestions and computer tutorials.
Tallinn Council medal is an award of the City of Tallinn given to a natural person in recognition of services rendered to the city or outstanding achievements.
ELA Best Young Librarian 2022
The title of the Best Young Librarian of the Estonian Librarians’ Association was awarded to the head of the Nurmenuku and Õismäe libraries of Tallinn Central Library Kelli Pullisaar.
ELA Best Children’s Librarian 2022
The title of the Best Children’s Librarian of the Estonian Librarians’ Association was awarded to the Head Librarian for Children and Youth Work of Tallinn Central Library. Merle Tanilsoo.
Letter of thanks from the Ministry of Culture
“For contributing to the success of the Year of Libraries. Thank you for bringing libraries closer to the people. You did it with commitment and a warm heart. Together, we will make libraries stronger and stronger community centres.”
(Piret Hartman, Minister of Culture, 7 December 2022).
2021
The 2020 European Citizen’s Prize was awarded to the Tallinn Central Library’s “Let’s Read Aloud” (Loeme ette) initiative, which provided support to parents working from home during the state of emergency.
The European Citizens’ Prize is the European Parliament’s recognition of those who promote mutual understanding between citizens and social cohesion. This year, the focus was on projects that addressed the problems related to the corona crisis.
(2021, European Parliament)
2017
International recognition for Tallinn Central Library for hosting CodeLessons.
(2017, CodeWeek EU)
2014
The international non-profit organisation EIFL selected ELLU, the e-book lending and reading environment of Tallinn Central Library, as one of the winners of the Innovation Award – for Creative use of ICT in public libraries (2014, EIFL – Electronic Information for Libraries).
