The Best in Heritage is a non-profit organisation operating out of Zagreb. It is committed to supporting entities that value cultural heritage. Every year, the organisation holds a conference where the best operators and practices are presented from among museums, archives, libraries and similar. The goal is to promote the use of cultural heritage and its position in society. In 2020, the winner of the Project of Influence category is Helsinki’s Central Library Oodi, which was presented at the conference by librarian Harri Annala.
The jury was extremely impressed by how users have been involved in the development of the Central Library from the initial phases, and how Oodi has reached a position where it shapes its community after its completion. The jury also praised Oodi’s function as a centre of information that brings various actors together and offers a diverse selection of resources to be used by people. Even though the Central Library has a strong connection to the past, it also serves the present extensively with the help of modern technology. In their statement, the jury also highlighted the architecture of the building, which sends a message of inclusion and involvement in every way and connects Oodi to the city around it.
Oodi was selected as the winner from among over 40 projects presented at The Best in Heritage conference, which was held digitally this year.
The jury congratulates Oodi and lists the selection criteria on video