Lithuanian Public Libraries: Preserving, Creating, Cooperating
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COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES ASSOCIATION LITHUANIAN LIBRARIANS‘ ASSOCIATION LITHUANIAN PUBLIC LIBRARIES: PRESERVING, CREATING, COOPERATING LITHUANIAN PUBLIC LIBRARIES: PRESERVING, CREATING, COOPERATING 1 LITHUANIAN PUBLIC LIBRARIES: PRESERVING, CREATING, COOPERATING Editor: County Public Libraries Association In cooperation with: Lithuanian Librarians’ Association Compiled by Gerda Putnaitė /VCPL/ Edita Urbonavičienė /KCPL/ Daiva Stasaitienė /KlCPL/ Ekaterina Prakapene /ŠCPL/ Sponsors: Virginija Švedienė /PCPL/ Edited by: Laima Pačebutienė /KlAVB/, [email protected] Translated by Loreta Dapkienė Designer: Jūratė Bizauskienė Photos from libraries archives Publication is available as free pdf file at www.klavb.lt © County Public Libraries Association, 2012 © Lithuanian Librarians’ Association, 2012 2 CONTENTS PREFACE KLAIPĖDA REGION INNOVATIVE LIBRARY – A PART OF SUSTAINABLE NETWORK KLAIPĖDA COUNTY I. SIMONAITYTĖ PUBLIC LIBRARY / KlCP THE MAP OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES OF LITHUANIA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC LIBRARIES OF KLAIPĖDA REGION Preserving LIBRARIES IN LITHUANIA Creating MARTYNAS MAŽVYDAS NATIONAL LIBRARY OF LITHUANIA /LNB Cooperating CHANGES IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES DURING THE PROJECT LIBRARIES FOR INNOVATION (2008 – 2012) ŠIAULIAI REGION ŠIAULIAI CAUNTY POVILAS VIŠINSKIS PUBLIC LIBRARY/ŠCPL LITHUANIAN LIBRARIES IN NETWORKS: PRESERVING, CREATING, COOPERATING MUNICIPAL PUBLIC LIBRARIES OF ŠIAULIAI REGION Preserving VILNIUS REGION Creating VILNIUS COUNTY ADOMAS MICKEVIČIUS PUBLIC LIBRARY / VCPL Cooperating MUNICIPAL PUBLIC LIBRARIES OF VILNIUS REGION Preserving PANEVĖŽYS REGION Creating PANEVĖŽYS CAUNTY GABRIELĖ PETKEVIČAITĖ-BITĖ PUBLIC LIBRARY/PCPL Cooperating MUNICIPAL PUBLIC LIBRARIES OF PANEVĖŽYS REGION Preserving KAUNAS REGION Creating KAUNAS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY / KCPL Cooperating MUNICIPAL PUBLIC LIBRARIES OF KAUNAS REGION Preserving LITHUANIAN LIBRARIANS’ ASSOCIATION / LBD Creating COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES ASSOCIATION/ AVBA Cooperating LITHUANIAN MUNICIPAL PUBLIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION / SVBA LITHUANIAN RESEARCH LIBRARY CONSORTIUM / LMBA LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS LITHUANIAN PUBLIC LIBRARIES: PRESERVING, CREATING, COOPERATING 3 PREFACE e are on the threshold of a new stage of library development. Social Europe 2020 is the EU’s growth strategy for the coming decade containing social technological transformation that became especially intense market economy vision prepared taking into account one of the priorities: advanced lately all around the world makes us reconsider the place, role development of knowledge and innovation economy. The libraries must be ready and prospects of libraries in a modern network society radically. to accept global and rapidly happening challenges of network society and to WSatisfaction of the documentary and digital needs of Lithuanian information integrate them in daily solutions. The libraries may not expect to be successful society must be ensured through integrated national library infrastructure. In this performing today’s works according to yesterday’s work models. manner, contribution of a system all types of libraries to the cultural, scientific and educational progress is realized, and opportunities are provided to use information In order to successfully participate in the processes of European digital agenda, as a strategic resource for the development of all fields of public activities. library activities and services must comply not only with the political goals of Europe 2020 strategy, but also offer their own value. The cooperation of the entire library M. Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania holds a special place in these processes system with other actors of elnclusion and memory institutions must be based of national importance. The vision of the library is to become an exceptional on efficient and meaningful strategic partnership. It is also necessary to achieve institution of documentary and digital national cultural and scientific heritage that consolidated decisions of library information policy and infrastructure would preservation and active intellectual use, substantially contributing to the be implemented and efficient strategic communication mechanism between the accelerating of the progress of Lithuania in the global information society and libraries and other actors in the processes of the development of information increasing the international competitiveness of the state in modern knowledge society would be created. economy conditions, which is becoming a stronger reality everyday. Prof. Renaldas Gudauskas, Managing Director of Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania, Chairman of Lithuanian Library Council 4 INNOVATIVE LIBRARY – A PART OF SUSTAINABLE NETWORK here are 3000 libraries established by state, municipal and other author- The present publication reflects the achievements and good practices of today’s ities that are united into one national library network. Half of them are Lithuanian Public Libraries, collected through being an integral part of the whole public libraries providing services accessible to the general public in network. Their activities are reviewed at three key thematic cross-sections reveal- cities, towns and villages. The services have the highest accessibility and ing the significance of the libraries in the life of the country: preserving, creating Tsocial, cultural and economical benefit. and cooperating. Public libraries were started to be established in the country at the beginning of First of all, the libraries collect and preserve national written heritage, various na- the 20th century. They survived significant changes over the last decade that gath- tional valuables: museum expositions, memory of prominent people, special col- ered and united them for new goals, advanced solutions and innovative image. Bill lections, etc. They also create publications, different virtual products, databases and Melinda Gates Foundation funded project Libraries for Innovation that has been and digital stories representing their country. Finally, in cooperation with business, implemented over the last years had an immense impact on those processes. The state, public and governmental organizations, also with local communities, foreign project gave a new impetus to changes, allowed to develop, respond quickly to partners, etc., they implement a wide range of cultural, educational and other in- the needs of the society and to strengthen the role of the libraries in our country’s novative projects. life. The publication helps to learn more about Lithuanian libraries. The titles of libraries Yesterday the libraries focused on the books. Today we focus on the reader. Yes- that became kind of key words may be an excellent reference when searching for terday the library emphasized knowledge and information, today it is becoming a information, and regional division – an excellent guide when travelling along the space for communication and a community centre. Today the libraries participate roads of the libraries of the country. actively in public life, develop creativity, promote reading culture and reduce digi- tal and social exclusion. Alina Jaskūnienė, Chairman of Lithuanian Librarians’ Association LITHUANIAN PUBLIC LIBRARIES: PRESERVING, CREATING, COOPERATING 5 THE MAP OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES OF LITHUANIA There are about 3000 libraries established by the state, municipalities and other authorities in the country. Public libraries have extensive accessibility, affordability and impact on public welfare; they contribute to the quality of life, social and economical development of the members of our society. Ramunė Petuchovaitė, The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania Chief Specialist of Information Society Development Division 6 • There are 2 716 libraries in the country, and there are 6 232 professional librarians working in the libraries. LIBRARIES • In total, there are 105 million 396 thousand units of documents stored in the document collections of Lithuanian libraries. • 1 million 446 thousand and 761 people are users of library services. About 38 million documents are loaned to the library users per year. IN • There are about 26 million visits to the libraries of Lithuania per year. • The libraries have 13 329 computers available for library users, and 86.7% of them have internet access. • Computer and internet access is free of charge in the libraries of Lithuania since LITHUANIA 1 January 2006. • National libraries hold over 60 thousand different events per year, and 61.3% of those events are organized by public libraries. he Ministry of Culture carries out the state administration functions of foreign countries without any restrictions. It gives priority to meeting educational, the activity of Lithuanian libraries. The Lithuanian Council of Libraries, scientific, information, cultural and cognitive needs. consisting of 11 members – representatives of library practice and science, who are delegated by the professional community and the Public libraries have extensive accessibility, affordability and impact on public TMinister of Culture, takes part as expert and consulting institution in resolving welfare; they contribute to the quality of life, social and economical development library policy formation and implementation matters. The activity of the Lithuanian of the members of our society. There are 60 municipal library systems operating library system is based on the Law on Libraries of the Republic of Lithuania. The in Lithuania that usually consist of the central library situated in the centre of Law provides for the following