Head of Library & Archive

Lejre Municipality

Lejre | Denmark

Tobias Mortensen (born 1984) is a Danish historian, cultural administrator, and Head of Lejre Library & Archive (Lejre Bibliotek & Arkiv). He is recognized for his work in preserving local heritage, strengthening community engagement, and developing libraries as inclusive, democratic spaces – often in close collaboration with volunteers.

Educated at the University of Copenhagen (cand.mag. in History), he has worked with public history and cultural communication throughout his career, including cross-museum initiatives on Zealand focused on the origins of Denmark (2011–2017). He later served as Coordinator for the Lejre Archive and Volunteerism, where he developed sustainable frameworks for cooperation between professional archival practices and community-based engagement, strengthening the role of volunteers in preserving and interpreting local history. In 2024, he was appointed Head of the institution.

Tobias works to position libraries as central drivers of strong local communities by building partnerships, supporting democratic engagement, and creating inclusive spaces where citizens can participate, contribute, and feel a genuine sense of belonging. The aim is to lead initiatives that connect people with knowledge, culture, and one another, while promoting volunteer-driven activities that foster shared ownership and a vibrant community life.

Tobias’ approach to working with systems awareness takes its point of departure in strengthening his self-awareness, relational competence, and reflective insight. He seeks to understand himself as an active part of the systems he engages in, with attention to how his thoughts, behaviours, and responses influence others and the wider context.

From this foundation, he aims to contribute to interactions where colleagues and citizens meet each other with empathy, curiosity, and a sense of responsibility. Through this approach, he strives to help foster more conscious, responsive, and sustainable ways of relating and collaborating within the systems they are part of, while also strengthening shared democratic confidence and trust.