“We see ourselves as a beacon for society.”

Stefan Grosjean, Head of Customer Service and Communication

Since when have you been at the University of Bern, and in which capacity?
I have been the Head of Customer Service and Communication at the Medical and Natural Sciences Library since 2018. But I have, in fact, been at the University of Bern my entire adult life: I studied psychology and philosophy here, and already started working in the university library during my studies.  

How does your work contribute to the vision of the University of Bern – “This is where you create value. For yourself and for society”?
Our main job is to provide students with the best possible support. We make sure that they have a good learning environment – by providing modern workstations and a broad selection of literature and digital resources. An example: Every year, we organize E-Day, which is a Meet & Greet event for approximately 400 new medical students. E-Day is not just about access to resources; it’s also about networking – offering opportunities for speed-friending, for instance. This is extremely important, especially for students from outside of Bern. During exam periods, as many as 400 students a day use the study spaces in the Medical Library. Many say they would find it near impossible to pass their exams without this infrastructure. We pride ourselves on being a “beacon of an enlightened society”: We provide knowledge and space for education and, in so doing, we promote equal opportunity and networking.  

How would you describe the work culture in your area?
What matters most to us is the proximity to people. Every day, several hundred people come to the library – to study, work or just spend time. This proximity shapes our work. A key buzzword for us is agility. Libraries used to be very orderly and static. Today, we need to stay flexible and continuously adapt our services – that’s what makes our work engaging and dynamic.  

Which of the University of Bern’s values resonates most with you?
The statement that really resonates with me is “UniBE is quintessentially Bern”. I grew up in Bern and have a very close relationship with the city. For me, that means a healthy, down-to-earth work environment that is also open and evolving.  

How have you been able to grow professionally at the university?
Over the years, I have received exactly the support I needed at every stage of my life. I was a self-employed environmental psychologist for many years. Alongside that, I held a part-time position at the library – which provided me security. Later on, I pursued a degree in Information Science at the University of Bern and Lausanne while working – a major asset to my work as an academic librarian. Being able to apply what I had learned really helped me move forward.