Lithuania
Lithuanian Libraries - ESIF
The ERDF’s Policy Objective 4, aimed at inclusive and green growth, is crucial for Lithuania’s sustainable development. By focusing on economic growth that is both inclusive and environmentally friendly, the country seeks to address regional disparities, create jobs, and reduce its environmental impact.
Key areas of focus under Objective 4 include:
- Low-carbon economy: Promoting investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and clean technologiesCircular economy: Supporting waste management, recycling, and resource efficiency initiatives.
- Sustainable transport: Investing in public transportation, cycling infrastructure, and clean mobility solutions.
- Research and innovation: Fostering innovation and technological development for sustainable growth.
- Social inclusion: Ensuring that the benefits of green growth are shared by all segments of society.
Policy Objective 5 emphasizes the importance of improving quality of life and fostering a sense of belonging among citizens. In Lithuania’s context, this involves enhancing the accessibility of public services, promoting cultural heritage, and supporting local development.
Key areas of focus under this objective include:
- Rural development: Investing in rural infrastructure, supporting agriculture and forestry, and promoting rural tourism.
- Urban regeneration: Revitalizing urban areas, improving housing conditions, and enhancing public spaces.
- Cultural heritage: Preserving and promoting Lithuania’s cultural heritage.
- Tourism: Developing sustainable tourism and creating jobs in the tourism sector.
- E-government: Improving public administration and digital services
One type of institutions that is particularly important for the spread of digital skills and literacy are public libraries in Lithuania. These libraries run a network of 1 200 public internet access points in both urban and rural areas. Operating in a decentralized manner, they organise digital literacy training on their own initiative on a variety of topics for members of their community.
National Digital Library of Lithuania” Project
Co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), this project aimed to create a centralized national digital library platform. It involved digitizing vast collections from Lithuanian libraries, archives, and museums, making them accessible online to citizens across the country and promoting the preservation of cultural heritage. More than 1,200 Lietuvos public libraries and their branches (of which 1,000 are located in neighboring areas) have achieved new technology, enabling local residents to participate in digital competence development, digital content creation, and other digital information initiatives. In addition, these two projects aim to contribute to the 2014-2020 year Europos Sąjungos strukturinių fondų investijcių vekism programos 2 priority “Informacinės socievis skatinimas” poiųto rodiklių poļištimado. The ambitious goal of Užsibřej, when in 2023 87 percent of the population who regularly use the Internet; the share of the population who never used the Internet would reach 10 percent; the number of residents who use public administrative services provided by electronic huts will reach 60 percent; of residents with higher internet skills, 70 percent of the population.
The project is financed from the 2014-2020 year Europos Sąjungos strukturinių fondų investijcių vekism programos ir iš Lietuvos budget funds.
Libraries for Everyone Programme
This project, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), addressed social inclusion through libraries in the Vilnius Region. It included initiatives like digital literacy workshops for seniors and people with disabilities, multilingual resources for immigrant communities, and accessibility improvements in library buildings.
It is achieved through cooperation between Ludza, Rokiškis and Jēkabpils libraries. Libraries offering comfortable and pleasant conditions for families will be a place for socialisation and communication and where people can feel equal.
Project activities:entertaining and educational activities “Family Time”;
opportunity for parents and grandparents to participate in GAME hours in library premises;
two joint festivals in Ludza and Rokiški with the participation of the most active families with children;
joint seminars of the librarians involved in the project in Jēkabpils, Ludza and Rokiški, as well as a study trip to the libraries of Helsinki (Finland);
purchase of interactive equipment, books, games in libraries for organizing project activities;
creation of game platform “HOME” with information about partner municipalities, their institutions, natural and tourist objects – freely available in partner libraries.
Project duration: 01.07.2020 – 31.10.2022
The project is financed by Interreg Latvia – Lithuania Programme 2014-2020
