About the Project

Project Coordinator

The Applicant for the Project is the regional Library Association of Bilogora, Podravina and Kalničko Prigorje, as a member of the national Croatian Library Association. It gathers about 130 librarians from all kinds of libraries from the area of 3 counties in the north of Croatia: Bjelovarsko Bilogorska, Koprivničko-Križevačka and Virovitičko-Podravska County. Due to the specific geographical features of the area, which is home to a large number of small settlements with a small population whithout local libraries, there are as many as three mobile library services in this region, with three mobile library vehicles - bibliobuses. The mobile library services are organized alongside the city libraries in the cities of Koprivnica, Bjelovar and Križevci and provide services to about 5000 users in the large rural area around these cities. Some other libraries in the region (Virovitica, Daruvar) want to establish mobile library services too, which would mean an additional 2000-3000 new users of mobile library services in this area, especially in its rural, less developed parts.

Project Goals

The main objective of the Project is to improve the work of mobile libraries and their services for adult users, especially those who do not participate sufficiently in educational programs after completing regular education. Emphasis is placed on services for the rural population, especially for young people who, after completing or leaving school, remain living in the countryside, as well as for young families, but also for the elderly and especially disabled people living in the countryside. The project seeks to gather knowledge and good practice examples for designing new library services for these users, with the aim of responding to their specific needs and developing new work models and tailoring services to the needs of users such as easier employability, social inclusion and active citizenship.

Libraries in Spain (Catalonia)

Public libraries in Spain are a very important part of the public service network, and the Catalonia region has one of the most developed library networks in Spain. Given that Catalonia has a similar size and distribution of settlements as Croatia, their mobile libraries, as well as the Catalan network of public libraries, are generally very interesting to Croatian librarians as an example of good practice. The aim of mobility is to get to know the organization and operation of mobile libraries in the Lleida and Barcelona districts, as well as programs for adult users of mobile libraries. One of the goals is to get to know the network of libraries in Spain (Catalonia), library programs and projects in collaboration with the local community and how libraries in Spain (Catalonia) meet the needs of their users.

Expected Results

The ultimate goal of the project is to contribute to increased adult participation in education and lifelong learning by acquiring new library services and offering content for reading and learning in bibliobuses, to gain additional skills and knowledge that will help them function more successfully in the work environment, but also in the family and the community in general. By organizing public manifestations and campaigns, the Library Assocciation also wants to sensitize the general public to the role and capabilities of libraries in encouraging reading and support not only in learning, but in all aspects of the life and work of all members of society, as well as the communities themselves.

About the Project: Collections