biblioproject

Categories
Contents

Studies and Reports

The digital transformation has challenged the traditional notion of public libraries. The idea that technologies are a force of “disruptive innovation” in the library sector has been discussed in the academic literature and the wider press (Tait, Martzoukou & Reid 2016). Today, people get their information online: with the introduction of the Internet, the volume of online information now exceeds that available in every physical library in the world.

Nowadays users are getting used to the digital transformation and want to re-elaborate digital contents and not only consult them in a passive way. Therefore, librarians should be prepared to facilitate and even promote the creative use of digital archives for the production of new digital contents that can be accessed through multiple tools and technologies (e.g. AR & VR, Open data platforms, apps, etc.). Libraries have not met this digital demand. Many of those developments have called into question what the role of physical libraries is (or should be) in the 21st century.

With BIBLIO, we are implementing several research activities that involve librarians and educational stakeholders in defining the training needs of the present and future library professionals within the realm of the digital transformation!

Categories
Contents

Educational Framework

In the library sector, there is evidence that individual roles have expanded to include digital responsibilities. An analysis of job descriptions for curators in the US library and museum sector highlighted the interplay between professional knowledge, technical skills (such as understanding software, web mark-up languages, relational databases, digital repositories) and digital knowledge (understanding metadata) (Jeonghyun, Warga, & Moen, 2013).

At the same time, the number and content of activities supported by local libraries and national libraries are increasingly changing. Within the EU, according to the Digital Skills for Library Staff & Researchers Working Group of Liber Europe, nowadays libraries are regularly re-assessing existing services and offering new ones. In addition to being a traditional place for study, libraries now host events, provide training and offer recreational and cultural activities. The versatility and uniqueness of services and the multitude of tasks require the contemporary librarians to develop and maintain advanced competences. This is, in itself, positive but produces a serious skills gap.

BIBLIO offers a new educational framework for library staff and researchers in order to be able to cope with a myriad of topics: electronic resource management, data access, blockchain, and text and data mining, to name a few. In order to support these activities, we will support libraries in enriching and diversifying their in-house pool of competences, broader than those possessed by a “traditional” librarian, both to adapt library infrastructure to new technologies and to pass on digital skills to users. BIBLIO revolutionize the librarians’ professional preparation by reshaping the concept of the librarian profession.

Categories
Contents

Training Programme

The BIBLIO VET curricula mainly addresses EQF 5 and foresees the development at least 40 modules:

  • 20-25 modules for transversal competences (communication, entrepreneurship – mapped into EntreComp, leadership etc.)
  • 20-25 modules for digital skills that will be mapped into the DigComp framework related to: application design and development, electronic resource management, data access, blockchain, text and data mining, ICT quality strategy development etc.

The training programme will be tested in 4 piloting countries (Italy, Bulgaria, Latvia and Greece) and will be aimed at delivering the curricula that will be structured as follows:

  • MOOC of 6-8 weeks addressed to 100 library professionals per involved country, for a total of 400 library professionals from all over Europe
  •  Specialization courses on the two BIBLIO profiles – DIGY and CECO addressed to 25 trainees per piloting country (tot 100), including:
    • 240 hours of Blended training;
    • 20 hours of Face to Face sessions;
    • 160 hours of Digital/Virtual Classes and self-study
    • 40 hours of Project-based/collaborative learning
    • 25 hours of Assessment
    • 160 of work-based learning experiences (traineeships or job-shadowing)

The Specialisation courses are open to anyone interested in the digitalisation of libraries and working or studying in a related field. Since places are limited, priority will be given to those participants who:

– have successfully joined and completed the BIBLIO MOOC course;

– are already in contact with a local library where they could be hosted during the Work-based learning phase;

– present a valid project idea.

Further details will be given in the application form.

Selected modules can be skipped (prior previous acceptance) based on the capacity of the participant to provide certificates/diploma that proves an equal number of study hours for each module as it is described in the course curriculum. Professional experience will be also taken into consideration by evaluating the professional experience described in the CV provided.

Key information:

COURSE DURATION:

February – October 2022 Blended Course
July – October 2022 Work-based learning

COURSE VENUE:

Online and onsite in Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, and Latvia

Contact us if you want to remain informed on the final programme of the BIBLIO training activities!

Categories
Contents

Policy Recommendations

The BIBLIO Policy Recommendations summarised the experience gained from implementing the project in different countries and provided policy recommendations for its adoption in different contexts. It is addressed to policymakers, VET providers, libraries and other key stakeholders.
The recommendations have been officially presented during the Final Policy Event, that took place in Brussels at the end of March 2023. The event was hosted by the MEP Vice President Marc Angel at the European Parliament.

Categories
Authors

Public Libraries 2030

Public Libraries 2030 is a non-profit organisation that grew out of the Public Libraries 2020 programme funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Building on the network of library leaders and European policy-makers which came together under PL2020, PL2030 works to give libraries across Europe an extra edge through the curation of innovative projects and effective advocacy. We achieve this by fostering dialogues between leading European libraries and enabling the roll-out of new initiatives and innovative community-based services to tackle the global issues faced by EU citizens. PL2030 also cultivates close relationships with Members of the European Parliament and European Commission professionals to champion the potential of libraries in the delivery of EU objectives.

Categories
Authors

ALL DIGITAL

ALL DIGITAL AISBL is a pan-European association based in Brussels. It represents 60+ member organisations that work with 20,000 digital competence centres providing access and training to 1.5 million people in Europe every year. ALL DIGITAL aims to enable the 43% Europeans without basic digital skills to exploit the opportunities created by digital transformation.

ALL DIGITAL members are non-profit organisations (ICT community centres, public libraries, etc.) in the field of non-formal education providing access to Internet and ICT tools, as well as digital training, certification and opportunities for all with the focus on vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. We support our members by fostering knowledge sharing and collaboration and by representing their interest to the EU. Our activities include promoting methodologies & certifications; facilitating partnerships among members & stakeholders; organising events and awareness raising campaigns like ALL DIGITAL Week ; ALL DIGITAL Awards; projects and surveys. We contribute to EU policy in the fields of skills, employment, social and economic inclusion, social innovation, Digital Single Market, e.g. by policy papers and targeted communication.

Most of the activities we undertake are related to the creation and promotion of innovative solutions and good practices in the fields of digital skills and digital inclusion. To this end, we are directly engaged with a variety of stakeholders within the non-formal education and digital skills training fields: European associations and member organisations, civil society networks, ICT private companies and the European Institutions. Together with stakeholders on the European level, we succeed in understanding and rethinking digital inclusion and issues affecting it. Our main activities include:

  • Research and advocacy on digital literacy and digital inclusion geared towards governments and other stakeholders.
  • Development & promotion of learning tools and certifications in ICT and digital skills through participation in various projects
  • Organisation & promotion of our flagship European digital inclusion and empowerment campaign ALL DIGITAL Week
  • Support knowledge and experience exchange through our events, projects, and the UNITE-IT e-Inclusion network .
  • Organisation of our international annual conference ALL DIGITAL Summit.

ALL DIGITAL is leading dissemination activities of the Biblio project and is responsible for the website and social media curation.

Categories
Authors

DAISSy Research Group – Hellenic Open University

Founded in 2001 by highly skilled and motivated researchers with various backgrounds, the vision of DAISSy (Dynamic Ambient Intelligent Sociotechnical Systems) Research Group is to contribute to the realization of an advanced human society by inventing technology that adapts and supports human needs and not the other way around! More specifically, the mission of the Group is to address societal needs by developing ameliorative technology and constantly pursuing innovation.

To achieve this, DAISSy relies on its components:

  • The research laboratory “Pervasive & Mobile Computing, Quality and Ambient Intelligence” at Hellenic Open University (HOU)
  • The Research Unit 3 of Computer Technology Institute & Press “Diophantus”
  • The postgraduate course “Pervasive and Mobile Computing Systems MSc” offered by HOU

DAISSy realizes society-centered educational and technological research, supports communities of practice, develops online learning platforms, MOOCs and 3D environments, creates digital content, enables the development of digital and citizenship skills, promotes inclusion and multiculturalism, always using established frameworks and standards (e-CF, DigComp, ECTS, ECVET, EQAVET etc.).

Since its establishment, DAISSy has participated in more than 60 national and European projects, in various frameworks (e.g. FP5, FP6, FP7, Lifelong Learning, Erasmus+, etc.), amassing a total funding of more than 2,5 MEuro. Today the Group employs more than 30 persons including University professors, PhD and MSc holders, researchers in computer science, artificial intelligence, natural and social sciences, experienced ICT engineers, programmers and administrative personnel.

Categories
Authors

Culture Information Systems Centre

The Culture Information Systems Centre is a direct administration institution under the authority of the Ministry of Culture.

The Centre’s mission is to help memory institutions – archives, libraries and museums – preserve and make available cultural heritage for future generations through the latest information technology solutions. In order to implement this, the Centre develops information systems for libraries, archives, museums and other cultural and educational institutions, ensuring the availability of stored sources of information and cultural values to the public. The Centre also establishes cooperation with other national regulatory authorities, by introducing modern language technology and artificial intelligence solutions in the public administration to facilitate the effective communication of citizens with the public administration and the availability of information.

Categories
Authors

Data Media Group

SIA DMG ( Data Media Group) was established in 1998 as research ,project management, consulting, and media company in ICT and digital skills field. It has participated in many significant projects, organized a variety of events in the Baltic States and become a well-known and highly recognized company in the ICT  and digital skills sector.

DMG is a member of LIKTA ( Latvian ICT association ), has cooperation partnerships with many municipal education centers in Latvia as well as in the Baltic Sea region , as well as universities and schools. DMG researchers are also involved as experts by education and digital skills committees under LIKTA, as well as the state Employment agency and University of Latvia.

Relevant areas of expertise and experience:

  1. Digital competences design and evaluation for different profiles
  2. Digital skills training curricula and assessment tool design
  3. Trust network / connections with learning or employment organization;
  4. Promotion of digital transformation and digital competences
  5. Experience in EU project management and implementation.

DMG is a training provider. The Data Media Group has extensive experience and expertise in management of international projects, analytical and quantitative market research and analysis as well as ICT and competences related research , promotion and facilitation of international partnerships, organizing conferences,

Training and exhibitions, as well as publishing, PR and marketing services. Data Media Group experts all hold University Degree in Economics or IT.

Categories
Authors

Global Libraries Bulgaria Foundation

The Global Libraries – Bulgaria Foundation was founded in 2013 as a non-profit organization in public interest. Its board members are the Bulgarian Ministry of Culturethe Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications, the “13 Centuries Bulgaria” National Endowment Fundthe National Association of Municipalities in Bulgariathe Bulgarian Library and Information Association and the National Chitalishte Union. The foundation is a successor to the “Bulgarian Libraries – Place for Access to Information and Communication for All” Program which was implemented in Bulgaria in 2009 – 2013 with funding by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USA.

The Mission of the Global Libraries – Bulgaria Foundation is to contribute to the inclusion of Bulgarian citizens in the global digital community, to raise their quality of life and to promote civic participation. GLBF  works with network of 1008 public libraries in Bulgaria to provide free access to computers, Internet and information for all.
The Foundation works towards the following goals:

  • Creating conditions for free and equal access to information, Internet and electronic services for citizens;
  • Promoting information literacy, life-long learning, civic participation, social cohesion, local and community development;
  • Contributing to social integration of underprivileged groups, equal opportunities for education and healthcare for all citizens through improved access to information;
  • Contributing to the development of public libraries;
  • Promoting intercultural dialogue and international contacts.