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Session

It’s no secret that public libraries are community hubs and can facilitate democratic processes – so much so that the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission will publish a rough guide for citizen engagement aimed at libraries, practitioners and policy makers. This rough guide is co-authored by librarians from the Lisbon Public Libraries network and Public Libraries 2030 – an European advocacy organisation for public libraries. Learn about how some of Europe’s innovative public libraries enact citizen engagement activities and see how you can start some of these in your library. This rough guide responds to the need for a more creative, flexible and participatory approach to citizens by providing a review of key concepts and essential tools for fostering democracy in public libraries.

The session will present the rough guide, including case studies, guidance, and tools for starting citizen engagement processes in communities. Participants will have the opportunity to trial some of the interactive formats present in the rough guide in order to see the various processes available to them and to also engage with each other. This is not a guide with standard recipes for success. Participants will also learn about the practices of their colleagues in Europe that have worked, lessons learnt, and policy outcomes.

Maximum capacity: 40 people

Hosts

Filipa Barros, Ilona Kish, Luca Moltman & Susana Silvestre

Filipa Barros, Library Coordinator, Lisbon Library Network. Filipa Barros has worked in mental health, documentary, picture book illustration, and social and cultural mediation.

Ilona Kish, Director, PL2030. Ilona is a Library Avenger. As Director of Public Libraries 2030, she aims to create a stronger European library sector through EU advocacy and network building. Ilona has extensive experience in EU advocacy and campaigning, as well as a thorough working knowledge of both the operational and political functions of EU institutions.

Luca Moltman, Project Officer, PL2030. Luca has a background in cultural work with a focus on urban development issues. She aims to contribute to the public and political visibility of the social and cultural relevance of public libraries in European cities.

Susana Silvestre, Librarian and founder of www.boostyourthinking.com. Susana is a practitioner of citizen engagement and democratic participative processes, focusing on inclusive and sustainable governance. She is working with co-creation and partnerships – nationally and internationally – to push development, network and innovation in public libraries.

Public Libraries 2030 (PL2030) is a Brussels based project and advocacy organisation.