The Estonian Agricultural Academy was established based on the three faculties of the Tartu State University: Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary.
The library of the Estonian Agricultural Academy was founded in December 1951 located in the city center of Tartu, Ülikooli Street 14.
The Tartu State University handed 24,919 volumes of books, magazines, and abstracts of doctoral dissertations (defended in Germany in the field of agriculture from 1918 to 1941) to the newly established library.
The first head of the library was Aino Mattisen (until 1964).
1954
The library moved into the Estonian Agricultural Academy main building, Riia Street 12.
1955
The collection and cataloguing of students’ thesis and lecturers' research papers were initiated.
An archival fund was established.
1959
The first bibliographic service techniques were introduced. The newsletter bulletin was started.
1960
Cataloguing on the typewriters began.
1961
Librarianship courses for the students began.
1962
The first position of head of the department was created to manage both cataloguing and bibliographic work.
The bibliography of lecturers' publications was initiated.
The exchange of scientific publications with other research institutions was started. There were 198 exchange partners in the USSR, 28 in the socialist countries, and 38 in the capitalist countries.
1965
Vaike Linnasmägi became the director of the library.
Due to the inventory, the library was closed for two months.
1966
The library was awarded with the category III across the Soviet Union.
The number of staff increased to 15.
1967
The newspaper "Agricultural Academy" began to be bibliographed.
1968
The department of the bibliography was established.
1969
In January, the first branch of the library was opened in the Betooni 3 dormitory. The selection of reference works, newspapers, and magazines, but also study literature and diploma theses were moved to there.
The number of staff increased to 20.
A reader's ticket was introduced.
1976
In line with the directive of the USSR Minister of Agriculture, the EPA library was appointed as the instructor of the agricultural libraries of the USSR and the library became the central agricultural library of the republic.
1979
In May, the branch of the technical literature was opened on the first floor of a new tower dormitory. The reading room from dormitory Betooni 3 was also moved to the 16th floor of the new dormitory.
The bibliography department started conducting annual memory tournaments.
1980
In March, the fiction branch was opened in the dormitory of Betooni 3 (Tuglase 7).
The funds department was established.
1981
The information department was established.
1982
The new library branch was formed in the building of the newly completed Faculty of Forestry and Land Improvement.
1984
On August 15, the director Vaike Linnasmägi resigned.
Over the next six years, the library was headed by seven people.
1990
The library was awarded with the category II across the Soviet Union.
The library could use the surpluses of its payroll to pay performance salaries.
On June 6, Tiina Tohvre became the head of the library (first acting director, then deputy director).
1991
The Estonian Agricultural Academy (EPA) was renamed the Estonian Agricultural University (EPMÜ). Development directions were renewed, there was a transition to a new study organization.
Old textbooks turned out to be largely inappropriate and outdated. To make room for new books the obsolete literature was written off.
1992
The bibliography and information department were merged into the reference bibliography department; brigade work was terminated. The number of employees was reduced from 40 to 26.
The fiction branch located in the Tuglase 7 dormitory was liquidated and literature was brought back to the main collection.
A new branch of veterinary literature was established in the study building of the newly completed Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
On October 12, the library became a member of AGLINET, which is an organization that unites European and American agricultural libraries.
1993
On March 9, the library became the official entry center for FAO AGRIS / CARIS in Estonia.
1994
In September, the library received its first computer. In December, the reader service was started for reading CD databases.
1995
In the line with the Regulation No. 5 of the Minister of Culture and Education of the Republic of Estonia 5 (19.01.1995), EPMÜR was named as the central scientific library in the field of agricultural sciences.
The computer network was set up in the library.
1996
The library joined the Estonian Library Network Consortium (ELNET Consortium) as a founding member.
The new main building of EPMÜ (Kretzwaldi 64) was built and all subdivisions located in the previous main building moved to Tähtvere. The main collection of the library remained in the house returned to the Defense League.
The livestock literature was moved to the building of the Institute of Animal Husbandry of Estonian Agricultural University and merged with the faculty library.
1997
In the spring, the library as the last subdivision of EPMÜ moved to the study building of the Faculty of Forestry and Land Engineering (Kreutzwaldi 5). The library was merged with the branch council there.
In the guidance of the ELNET Consortium, a unified library software INNOPAC (USA) was purchased with other Estonian research libraries.
1999
Together with other member libraries of the ELNET Consortium, a common information system INNOPAC was introduced.
Entries for incoming books were entered into the electronic and card catalogues.
Library participated in the compilation of the Estonian Subject Thesaurus (EMS).
2000
In the spring, the main collection and the technical branch were moved to the main building.
A local library network was created and it was connected to the EPMÜ intranet and the internet.
No new entries to the card catalogues.
The library became the depository library of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
2001
In the spring, the branch of the veterinary literature and in the autumn the branch of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine were liquidated.
In the winter, the books of the library of the magazine "Eesti Loodus" were transferred.
Participation in ELNET consortium retrospective projects.
Access to foreign magazines ordered in Estonia via the Internet was guaranteed.
2002
The library received its budget for the first time.
Participation in ELNET consortium retrospective projects.
The library got its website.
2003
Wireless internet connection (WiFi) was installed in the library.
A fund survey was conducted.
The cooperation agreement was signed with Hansapank for the purchase of encyclopedias, dictionaries, and manuals in the period 2003–2006.
2004
With order no. 89-k of the Government of the Republic of Estonia of 12 February 2004, the Library of the Estonian Agricultural University was named as the research library until 24 September 2007.
In August, the library switched to an electronic lending system.
The barcode reader tickets were introduced.
2005
On November 27, an amendment to the Universities Act entered into force, by which the name of the Estonian Agricultural University was changed to the Estonian University of Life Sciences.
University decided to build a new main building, where the location of the library was also planned.
ID card software is installed into the reader computers.
The printing and copying center was set up in the reading room.
In 2005-2007, The Mellon Foundation supported the purchase of user licenses for the JSTORE Biological Science collection.
2006
Participation in the construction process of the new main building and library.
The library got a new website.
The new university insignia was introduced.
The reader service got an ID card application.
2007
In March-April the library moved to the main building of the university (Kreutzwaldi 1A).
The library was opened on May 2.
With the directive of the Minister of Education and Research (June 26, No. 600), the library was approved as a research library until 31 December 2011.
The full texts of the dissertations to be defended were made available on the library`s website.
Public procurements were held for the purchase of research periodicals and databases.
An annual cooperation agreement was signed with Hansapank for the purchase of study literature.
2008
Estonian research and archive libraries passed the audit by the National Audit Office of Estonia (Acquisition of research and archive libraries).
The library started with the topic and personal exhibitions.
2009
Work in the new database of Estonian articles, ISE (Index Scriptorum Estoniae) began.
The university participated in the quality assurance process during which the self-assessment took place as a pilot project.
Pilot use of the DSpace repository.
2010
As part of the quality assurance process quality assessment took place at the university.
The library started to enter the books purchased by the structural units of the university in the e-catalogue ESTER.
The library implemented the DSpace repository.
The beginning of the exhibition of the works of Estonian artists in the library premises was started.
2011
According to the directive of the minister of education and research (No. 623 / 3.08.2011 "Appointment of research libraries") it was determined that the library will perform the functions as a research library until 31 December 2016.
Library compiled/organized and designed the jubilee exhibition of the Estonian University of Life Sciences.
The celebration of the library's 60th anniversary.
2012
It was decided to preserve all the theses defended in the Estonian University of Life Sciences in the digital archive EMU DSpace.
2013
The opening hours of the library were extended to 7 pm on business days and 2 pm on Saturdays.
The new version of the library website was created.
A web-based course "Introductory course: information retrieval and the use of databases" was developed for students.
2014
Cloud printing service was implemented.
In July, the e-catalogues ESTER Tallinn and ESTER Tartu were merged into one e-catalogue ESTER.
In October, the new Sierra library software system was introduced.
2015
Seminars and short courses for dissertation supervisors were organized.
Gate library was opened and an information kiosk was implemented.
As a member of the DataCite Estonia consortium library became responsible for DataCite and DOI services at its university.
A web-based shared calendar was implemented to improve the information flow inside the library.
The open repository was reorganized and switched to a science-based placement.
The database trials were obtained without intermediaries.
2016
Kersti Laupa and Heli Viira participated in the 11th International Digital Curation Conference "Visible data, invisible infrastructure" in Amsterdam as representatives of the Estonian University of Life Sciences.
The structure and design of the digital archive DSpace were changed.
According to the directive of the Minister of Education and Research (No. 1.1-2 / 16/282 "Appointment of research libraries for the period 2017-2021"), it was determined that the library will perform the functions as a research library until 31 December 2021.
The celebration of the library's 65th anniversary.
No new entries to the Estonian article database ISE.
2017
The structure of the library staff was reorganized according to the areas of activity.
The all-inclusive search solution EBSCO Discovery Service was implemented.
The mobile display of the e-catalogue ESTER was introduced.
The first seminar for the researchers, "Managing scientific data, how can I benefit from it?", was held.
The 100th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia was celebrated by handing over to Georges-Louis Leclerc de Buffon the Natural History Handbook “Histoire naturelle, générale et particulière” (1747-1841) and other rare books.
2019
On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, 100 articles written in Estonian and by researchers and lecturers of the Estonian University of Life Sciences were published digitally in EMU DSpace (EV 100).
New logging option for the e-catalogue ESTER: Smart-ID.
EMU DSpace was merged into the registers of open access repositories Registry of Open Access Repositories (ROAR), OpenAIRE, and the Estonian search portal E-varamu.
The database of Estonian articles ISE was transferred to the library software system Sierra.
Karin Naruskov participated in the university-wide seminar where distance learning experiences were shared. She talked about her e-courses and teachinglink opens in new page in the Covid-19 period.
Library staff participated in several collaborative projects.
A new spatial plan was implemented.
2022
The structure of the digital archive EMU DSpace was adjusted to the new structure of the Estonian University of Life Sciences.
The Estonian Quality Agency for Higher and Vocational Education recognized the online course "The Library and Information Skills" created by Karin Naruskov with a quality mark.
As part of the International Open Access Week, events introducing the topic were organized for the first time at the University of Life Sciences from October 24 to 30.
On November 8, the library became a member of LIBERlink opens in new page, Association of European Research Libraries.
2023
A self-service machine was purchased to provide more flexible services.
The Estonian University of Life Sciences celebrated the 105th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia in the library by recognizing researchers.
In recognition of our data submission throughout 2023, AGRIS recognized the digital archive EMU DSpace with the "Seal of Recognition for Active Data Provider of the Year 2024".
We celebrated the 15th birthday of the digital archive EMU DSpace.
On April 8-10, director of library development Kersti Laupa participated in the EBSCO Academic Advisory Board Meeting in Viin.
Digital archive EMU DSpace was upgraded to the 7.6.1 version in May 10.
The readers' computers were upgraded with all-in-one computers.
Modern furniture was purchased for the reading areas, including swivel chairs and a height-adjustable desk.
Cash payments for services were discontinued.
In recognition of our data submission throughout 2024, AGRIS recognized the digital archive EMU DSpace with the "Seal of Recognition for Active Data Provider of the Year 2025".
On April 3-5, director of library development Kersti Laupa participated in the EBSCO Academic Advisory Board Meeting in Copenhagen.
The seminar and individual study room booking system was updated. The rooms were given names: Solution, Thought, and Idea.
On October 22, Services Development Manager Kersti Laupa gave a presentation, "Rebranding of the Estonian University of Life Sciences Library – More Than a Mere Logo Change", at the 18th Research and Specialized Library Day in Tallinn.
In addition to print journals ordered for the university, e-journals began to be promoted on the shelves, with cover images equipped with QR codes.
We are pleased to announce that for the third year in a row, the Estonian University of Life Sciences Library was recognized for its data transfer with the “Seal of recognition for active AGRIS Data Providers 2025”.
From 13 to 16 April, Service Development Manager Kersti Laupa was in Stockholm to participate, as a member of the EBSCO Academic Advisory Board, in the meeting to provide input for shaping future strategic decisions.
From May onwards, the institute's academic affairs specialists were also involved in the processing of theses submitted via the Estonian University of Life Sciences' self-service environment.
On 10 June, the library hosted the DataCite Estonia Consortium’s open science seminar „Kui andmed hakkavad elama: teadusandmete haldamine ja koostöö Eestis“ in the Assembly Hall of the Estonian University of Life Sciences. A joint presentation,Loodusteaduslikud kogud. Eesti veekogude fütoplanktoni vaatlusandmedlink opens in new page was presented by Thea Kull and Kersti Laupa.