Impact starts with librarians

Meet an impact maker: Elīna Veļa

At Rīga Stradiņš University Library in Latvia, Chief Librarian Elīna Veļa is the kind of leader many universities have, but don't always see: a librarian who quietly turns "research support" from a vague promise into something researchers can truly rely on.

In early 2025, Elīna identified a growing need across the Baltic research community: stronger, more consistent support for systematic reviews. She knew that when librarians are equipped with the right skills, knowledge and confidence, they can help research teams work faster, search smarter, and produce systematic reviews that stand up to scrutiny. Just as importantly, it's a powerful way for libraries to be recognized as active partners in research, and not just custodians of resources.

Elīna took this concept from idea to reality. She helped bring the Baltic-German Systematic Review Summer School to life: a four-day, hands-on event in July 2025 that welcomed 25 librarians from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Germany. She played a central role in shaping the programme, coordinating the logistics and creating a learning environment where participants could build both their professional networks and a critical understanding of best practice for systematic reviews. For Elīna, the impact of her work is both personal and collective. When a summer school participant told her, "The lecturer team is the best; how did you manage to get these lecturers?" Elīna had her answer: this work really matters—and librarians do, too.