Job Shadowing among the “people of Groni”.
The sense of humor and the pleasure of coworking are the lasting memories I brought back with me from The Netherlands. Everything went smoothly: the indigo blue sky, the well-connected and clean transportation, the peaceful accommodations in the city center, and the delightful company of my colleagues. Last but not least, an appealing destination for someone like me who manages a public library.
This experience began with a KA121 project that included job shadowing. Job shadowing is not commonly practised as a form of adult education in public administration and local authorities in Italy. While it is a standard practice in the school system, it remains atypical in other public sectors.
This is why we debated about the right panel to live this experience. Being a librarian, it was essential to gather a task force catering to different groups. So, we agreed to take on a new challenge and a special team was established, consisting of a librarian, an administrative assistant and a police officer. Anyone of us have been dedicated to tutoring colleagues and citizens to enhance a better quality of life, promote inclusiveness, uphold legality and improve digital services since long. The focus is rooted in informal education within third spaces and peripheral public administration. So, we chose the stunning Forum of Groningen, Netherlands, as our location, that you shouldn't miss during your cycling holidays! The bicycles are widespread with an average of 2.5 per person!
A non-EU professor mentioned that it would be an unforgettable experience for a librarian like me, and she was right. The Forum, a 10-storey multi-space building, serves as an exemplary model of a modern participatory plan that brings together public authorities, citizens, and internal staff. The longer you engage, the greater the benefits.
The first day after the lock-down, the Forum immediately attracted 5000 visitors. “The new-look shopping mall that doesn't sell stuff”, The Guardian wrote on March 11th, 2020, a few months after opening it.
Let's revisit the importance of humor, which is a valuable soft skill. We explored the coworking and hot desking areas, including the "boring area." At the entrance to the workspace dedicated to management and staff, there is this fun sign instead of a no-trespassing notice - an ironic touch to discourage entry. This reflects a new thoughtful approach to institutional communication.
Together with the librarians other professionals stably work: digital animators, cartoonists, scientific assistants, sound technicians.... There is a skilled team of nearly 150 people along with staff and volunteers from other eight local libraries, providing decentralized opportunities.
Five days were not enough to fully experience our visit. We utilized digitally equipped areas, attended an international exhibition, explored the Storyworld Museum, discovered the “World of Music,” watched films at art-house cinemas, and spent time in the extensive library. We also visited the SmartLab featuring digital creators, and moved from the basement, showcasing an incredible sustainability initiative, all the way up to the rooftop terrace. From there, you can truly appreciate being in the symbolic center of the town.
We can only write here a few pieces of evidence of our Erasmus+ trip to make you feel curious and pop in there for a guided tour, sooner or later. We enjoyed:
a notable skill to combine form with functionality towards ecological footprint and sustainability in all creative processes and cultural proposals,
a great effort to accountability and inspiring citizenry,
the expertise to manage open spaces, i.e. the coworking system is successful,
the creativity in "emotioneering" solutions, where arts support technology and vice versa.
In a nutshell, our job shadowing trip is evoked by a metaphorical image that an artist drew on purpose for us.
From our small public library, we are imagined as approaching the Forum on a whimsical flying bicycle. The Forum attracts over 1.6 million visitors each year. Our illustrator, Michele Eynard, envisioned us constantly riding. A long endless trip, maybe we won’t land, but the daydream is real!
Athugasemdir
Participating in the Erasmus…
Participating in the Erasmus+ mobility program in Groningen helped me grow both personally and professionally. I have improved my English a lot, not only in grammar or vocabulary, but also in the way I speak and interact in real-life situations, both formal and informal. Spending time in a multicultural environment taught me to be more flexible and open-minded. I learned how important inclusion is, not only as a concept, but as something visible in the way spaces are organised, as people are welcomed and services are made accessible to everyone. At the Groningen Forum, for example, I saw how culture, technology and education can really be accessible to everyone, including children, migrants and people with different needs. We have also explored the practical functioning of migration policies in the Netherlands.
To be more involved, I interviewed a member of the security staff who told me how they manage security without being too visible. They take pictures if someone breaks the rules (such as drinking too much or not returning things) and, depending on the situation, they can be banned for a few months. I found it interesting how everything is organised and quiet.
Bikes and University for sustainability: #2030Agenda
During our Erasmus+ journey in Groningen, we discovered how the priority given to light mobility works, even among young people. There were so many bicycle riders, even when we arrived at the University entrance! It is a significant cultural issue.
In addition to this extraordinary situation from which we can learn a great deal, during our visit to the local University, we discovered another issue, which shouldn't be underestimated: the importance of creating new, inclusive systems and bespoke social applications. The focus is on making concrete efforts to move beyond the global mainstream and establish sustainable paths for the future. It's not just about being replicants, but about fostering trial-and-error projects to improve digital access for all, regardless of age or vulnerability.
We would like to draw your attention to the following study tracks, which we discovered thanks to Annamaria Neag, assistant professor at the Research Centre for Media and Journalism studies, specialising in digital inclusion and the (digital) activism of marginalised communities in a global perspective.
Shadowing activity #1
At the academic library, we attended a workshop dedicated to the project ‘Mastodon’ within a broader debate about alternative conversational tools, inspiring those who use social media for professional purposes, launched by Rachel Lara van der Merwe along with Cigdem Bozdag .
The application is both free and user-friendly. Its emphasis is on privacy. Some scholars consider it the current gold standard for private communications.
The proposal was brought to our attention by Babette Knauer, as a team leader in Communications at the University Library. They made a full transition from Twitter/X last 2023, conducting a mixed-methods research project to investigate the involvement of academic staff on this decentralized platform. The choice seems to offer potential for academic networking.
Shadowing activity #2
Two further scholars provided us with valuable suggestions for digital inclusion.
Maud Rebergen (PhD candidate Rijksuniversiteit Groningen) mentioned a portal with lots of recommendations, dann.nl, with an overview of digital skills training courses in the Northern Netherlands for everybody and any level of education. Proposals come from various institutions, including libraries.
The public libraries Maud works with are connected with local foundations and welfare organizations. “They regularly host a variety of consultation hours in collaboration with them to support citizens and entrepreneurs in navigating a wide range of practical, digital, and administrative challenges”, she adequately explained. “Partners include the Volkskredietbank (Public Credit Bank) for debt counselling, Stichting SeniorWeb for IT support tailored to those aged 65 and over, and organizations like Humanitas and Cadanz Welfare, which assist with filing taxes and applying for tax exemptions or social benefits. All these initiatives aim to support citizens when they need help and teach them how to become more self-reliant. Additionally, the Taalhuis offers one-on-one support for practicing essential skills such as language, math, and digital literacy, often with the help of volunteers.”
Maud observed that many users are fearful of making mistakes with serious consequences: sending personal information to the wrong recipient, losing money while using online banking, or being accused of fraud due to a minor error in a benefit application.
Working in tandem, Alexander Smit offered us further valuable guidance. I am hereby sharing the suggestions I find intriguing, as a fan of library coworking as I am.
For further information, you can contact these scholars via their website. It directs you to their research projects focusing on the inclusion in an increasingly digital society to overcome inequalities.
In a nutshell, the thread of digital inclusion and vulnerability marked our entire job-shadowing journey.
When I was a kid, I was told to look at the snowflakes on my hand: none of them were the same, although my eyes could not realize it. After a while, I witnessed their meltdown in the same manner. They were all different, yet all the same: this nudged a little wisdom in a child towards fragility.