From 4 to 7 November, specialists from the Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė Panevėžys County Public Library and twelve municipal libraries of the Panevėžys region participated in a job shadowing visit at the Municipal Library of Prague and its branches. The visit took place as part of the Erasmus+ Adult Education Accreditation project.
A total of 17 library professionals took part in the job-shadowing visit, exploring the experience of their Czech colleagues in reading promotion, digital, media and information literacy, and the development of sustainability initiatives. Lithuanian librarians were particularly interested in how Czech libraries bring communities together, create programmes for diverse visitor groups, apply artificial intelligence tools, promote safe and critical information use, and find creative ways to discuss civic engagement and democratic values.
Innovative Services in the Municipal Library of Prague
During their visit to the Municipal Library of Prague and its branches, participants discovered a wide range of both traditional and non-traditional services for adult visitors.
In the Czech Republic, there is a strong public interest in cinema, and libraries have become one of the spaces where city residents can enjoy films. The central library in Prague houses two modern cinemas and even a puppet theatre.
Another inspiring feature is a recording studio that replaced the former computer classroom, after librarians noticed that the demand for such classrooms had significantly decreased. The studio is now used for recording podcasts, interviewing public figures and authors, and hosting library events. In the future, it is planned that library users themselves will also be able to use the studio to create their own recordings.
The Petřiny Branch – The Heart of the Community
Participants also discovered a cinema hall in the Petřiny branch, located in a residential district of Prague. This space was created in response to community needs – local residents wanted a place for film screenings, and today it operates actively every day. In addition to cinema events, the branch also hosts theatre club rehearsals, yoga sessions, and various cultural activities.
The Petřiny branch is designed to support community interaction and creative work. It offers workstations, a coworking desk, and four rooms that can be reserved for individual or group work, as well as for educational activities. Visitors can use three community kitchens and enjoy the library’s garden, which serves as a cozy leisure and event space.
The branch also hosts a knitting club, an artotheque (a space for borrowing artworks), and various creative workshops that encourage community spirit, creativity, and sustainable living.
Creativity and Sustainability in Harmony
Lithuanian librarians were particularly interested in how Czech libraries promote creativity and sustainability. One of the most impressive examples was the “Ateljé” project at the Jezerka branch, where these two ideas come together. Visitors there can learn to sew, knit, or quilt, and give a second life to used clothes or objects.
Such activities not only foster creativity and community engagement, but also help to develop a more responsible attitude towards consumption and the environment.
Digital Odyssey in Libraries
Participants were also introduced to the Digital Odyssey in Libraries project, implemented by Czech libraries in cooperation with the Vodafone Foundation. Through this initiative, library staff in Prague help elderly people learn to use smartphones and other devices, and to overcome daily digital challenges.
The rapid development of technology poses a risk of social exclusion, but librarians help seniors keep up with the times. In consulting centres, they learn how to use WhatsApp to stay in touch with family and friends, navigate online maps, check public transport schedules, and shop online. As public administration increasingly moves online, these consulting centres are becoming even more important for local communities.
Libraries – Alive, Open and Accessible to All
Visits to Prague’s library branches revealed the high level of spatial functionality and attention to visitor comfort. Czech libraries aim to be places where everyone feels welcome. Some branches have already introduced, and others are preparing to introduce, a “library without a librarian” model for certain hours. This allows libraries to extend their opening hours and give users more autonomy in accessing services.
Sustainability, Language Development and Preparation
The participants themselves actively contributed to one of the main priorities of the Erasmus+ programme – sustainability. They travelled to Prague by eco-friendly transport, reducing the environmental impact of the trip. Preparation for the visit was carried out virtually, through online group meetings and discussions.
The Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė Panevėžys County Public Library, as the project coordinator, provided language support for participants both before and during the visit. Those wishing to improve their English speaking skills took part in online English lessons led by Project Manager Virginija Švedienė. It is encouraging that several participants, both from this and previous Erasmus+ visits, wish to continue learning English remotely even after the project’s completion.
This demonstrates that, thanks to the Erasmus+ programme, participants truly recognise the importance of foreign language learning and understand how essential it is to continuously improve their linguistic competences. This visit became not only a source of professional experience, but also an inspiration for further development of non-formal adult education in the Panevėžys region’s libraries.
The ideas, innovative solutions and cooperation experience gained through the project are expected to contribute significantly to strengthening libraries as modern, open, and community-oriented centres.
Virginija Švedienė
Coordinator of Adult Education Activities
