Project Title
Tech.Library: Enhance public library services for visually impaired users through ICT tools and training
Project Goal
The project is aimed at enhancing public library services for visually impaired users through ICT tools and expanding library staffs’ digital competencies through tailored training activities while establishing a network of libraries for cooperation in responding to visually impaired users’ needs.
Duration
1 Sept. 2020 – 31 Aug. 2022
Description
Digital technologies and online tools are a key driver to foster improved library services for visually impaired readers.
Nevertheless, in most EU countries:
- library staff is not fully aware about the scope and potential of ICT tools and services for the involvement of visually impaired users, and awareness is also poor on valuable experiences and best practices that could be reproduced at local and international level;
- digital competencies of library staff are often insufficient to effectively integrate digital tools
TECH.LIBRARY focuses on 3 main objectives:
- favour the exchange of best practices among staffs of different libraries on services and ICT tools for the involvement of visually impaired users
- expand library staffs’ digital competencies through tailored training activities on ICT tools
- establish a network of libraries for cooperation in responding to visually impaired users’ needs.
Project activities
Following activities will be implemented in order to reach the foreseen objectives:
- Project coordination, which will guarantee a sound technical and financial management of the project,
- Exchange of best practices and study visits so as to give the possibility to each participant to learn and understand how other libraries and countries use ICT for the involvement of visually impaired users,
- Development of a web platform enabling users to get trained, share experiences and opinions, communicate, networking and disseminate project activities and initiatives,
- Short term joint staff training on latest ICT technologies to offer services to visually impaired users,
- Targeted dissemination and exploitation activities: 6 conferences (3 at transnational level and 3 at national level) to disseminate the project achievements and to engage stakeholders within the TECH.LIBRARY online platform.
The partnership is composed by 6 public libraries from 6 different countries, supported by one technical partner. The project will involve 122 participants in the training and exchange of best practices activities, whereas 260 will participate in the multiplier events.
Moreover, a significant number of external libraries will be engaged in networking and sharing of experiences through the web platform, which will also provide them with useful information, training videos and materials, demos and much more contents to improve their staffs’ digital competencies (it is estimated that more than 300 users will register and actively participate in the platform).
Expected project outputs
- LIBRARY online platform
- Training videos in 7 different languages
- Practical handbook and recommendations of best practices in 7 different languages.
The expected impact of the project is to promote the professional development of libraries’ staff in ICT methodologies all while upskilling their key competencies and
fostering much greater inclusiveness in libraries by improving key services dedicated to blind and visually impaired users all around Europe.
Becoming a genuinely inclusive library for visually impaired readers is not only about the capacity to adapt to ever changing digital technologies, but also about enabling library staff to play an all-inclusive role.
Partners
- Unione della Romagna Faentina, Italy (Co-ordinator)
- Gradska knjižnica Rijeka
- Mestna knjižnica Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Biblioteca Nationala a Romaniei
- Regionalna narodna biblioteca Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
- Maszalaca Municipality, Latvia
Budget
- Total project value: EUR 250,130.00 (100% EU funding)
Financed under
Erasmus+, key activity “Strategic Partnerships in Adult Education”
Official web site
Contact
Gradska knjižnica Rijeka / Rijeka Civic Libraray
Matije Gupca 23, Rijeka
e-mail: gkri@gkri.hr
tel: +385 51 211 139