From Croatia - with ideas for the programs of library communities
Open to their visitors and adapting to their needs, not forgetting their most important mission – promoting reading and books, respecting traditions, nurturing ideas of sustainability, bravely facing challenges and implementing innovative solutions – these are the public libraries of Croatia, visited by seventeen specialists of Panevėžys region public libraries on the 10–13th of October, 2023.
This job shadowing visit took place in a frame of the project, funded by the Erasmus+ program in the field of adult education, implemented by Panevėžys County Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė Public Library together with 12 district municipal libraries of Panevėžys region. Project duration: 01 03 2021–31 12 2027.
Library specialists were interested in cultural, social, and digital competence development programs for users in Croatian libraries, joint initiatives of libraries and the community, creating attractive spaces and activities for the leisure time of adult visitors. The participants of the visit were interested in what opportunities libraries provide to the community itself in terms of initiating leisure activities (hobby and discussion clubs, events); what activities influence community spirit in libraries, the image of libraries and reduce social exclusion.
In Viktor Car Emin Public Library of Opatija, the host organization of this visit, the participants heard about the activities of their colleagues in the field of non-formal adult education: reading, knitting, embroidery, English language clubs, where library visitors can get together, learn and communicate with like-minded people. Lithuanian librarians were impressed by the "Liburnija Literary Camino" organized by Opatija library every year during the city festival – a literary-musical-recreational-gastronomic festival for its participants, the purpose of which is to bring people together for a pleasant activity that encourages active leisure spending, interest in literature and respect for local writers and artists. Another important reading promotion event that takes place every year in all Croatian libraries is the Croatian Literature Month, the theme of which this year is translations. This is to honor translators whose work is often unseen and underappreciated, even though a good translation very often is crucial to the success of a book.
The participants of the visit were impressed by the ambitious activity of the small Opatija library – the publication of works of local writers, thus demonstrating the significance and importance of local culture. Local artists are also respected here – the library is happy to exhibit their works in its spaces.
The Opatija Public Library cooperates with the Volosko Home for Adults and Seniors, periodically visiting their residents, organizing educational classes, creative workshops and readings for them.
American Corner Rijeka, located in the Trsat branch of the Rijeka City Library, was founded with the support of the US Embassy in Zagreb and operates as part of a global network of library spaces dedicated to American culture and lifestyle. Many different activities take place here, visitors can try the latest technologies, learn and have fun. American Corner Rijeka invites lecturers who introduce the audience with various information about the United States, often educating young and older library visitors on cyber security topics. There is a book club where books are read and discussed in English. Urban gardening workshops take place here that promote sustainable consumption and creative care for the environment.
Zagreb Central Library is waiting for a new building – this is what the employees of this library told the participants of the visit, presenting the variety of their activities. Librarians of Zagreb central Library creatively use the limited spaces for arrangement of the collections and library exhibitions. Zagreb Central Library pays a lot of attention to adult education – the "65 plus" project is implemented here, the target group of which is older people, who participate in digital literacy classes, creative drawing workshops, readings for different generations – grandparents and grandchildren, various lectures on relevant topics, etc. The library can be proud of the program "Literary Friday", which has a very deep tradition of organizing and filming events in the library where the most famous Croatian writers, philosophers and public figures have already took part. The library's project for the socialization of homeless people is worth mentioning, for which the library has received the EIFL (Electronic Information for Libraries) award and which has really changed the lives of marginalized people in the area.
Specialists of Panevėžys region public libraries shared the experience and ideas of the job shadowing visit with their colleagues at a remote event that took place on the 31st of October, 2023.
Virginija Švedienė,
Coordinator of Adult Education Activities for Panevėžys County Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė Public Library
