ONGOING: Erasmus+ Consortium Accreditation of the Association of Libraries of the Czech Republic
From 1 February 2025 to 31 December 2027, The Czech Republic Libraries Association is the coordinator of the Erasmus+ consortium accreditation in adult education.
Second Round (1 June 2026 – 31 August 2027)
The consortium has 32 members, including the following libraries:
- Library of the Czech Academy of Sciences
- Matěj Josef Sychra Library
- Hradec Králové City Library
- Ostrava City Library
- Třinec Library
- Ústí nad Labem Regional Library
- Václav Čtvrtek Library in Jičín
- František Bartoš Regional Library in Zlín
- Pardubice Regional Library
- Vysočina Regional Library
- Liberec Regional Scientific Library
- Masaryk Public Library Vsetín
- Beroun Municipal Library
- Blansko Municipal Library
- Chodov Municipal Library
- Jihlava Municipal Library
- Krnov Municipal Library
- Litomyšl Municipal Library
- Lysá nad Labem Municipal Library
- Milovice Municipal Library
- Písek Municipal Library
- Polička Municipal Library
- Tábor Municipal Library
- Valašské Meziříčí Municipal Library
- Svitavy Municipal Library
- Znojmo Municipal Library
- Moravian Land Library in Brno
- Moravian-Silesian Scientific Library in Ostrava
- Karviná Regional Library
- Central Bohemian Scientific Library in Kladno
- Plzeň Regional Scientific Library
- Hradec Králové Regional Scientific Library
First Round (1 June 2025 – 31 August 2026)
The consortium had 20 members, including the following libraries:
- Tábor Municipal Library
- Polička Municipal Library
- Svitavy Municipal Library
- Central Bohemian Scientific Library in Kladno
- František Bartoš Regional Library in Zlín
- Jihlava Municipal Library
- Matěj Josef Sychra Library, Žďár nad Sázavou
- Plzeň Regional Scientific Library
- Moravian Land Library
- Hradec Králové City Library
- Milovice Municipal Library
- Chodov Municipal Library
- Blansko Municipal Library
- Pardubice Regional Library
- Masaryk Public Library Vsetín
- Valašské Meziříčí Municipal Library
- Krnov Municipal Library
- Třinec Library
- Liberec Regional Scientific Library
- Beroun Municipal Library
COMPLETED: 2023-1-CZ01-KA122-ADU-000136160
Implementation: 1 June 2023 – 31 May 2024
In 2023, the Association of Libraries of the Czech Republic succeeded in its application for an Erasmus+ grant, intended for managers in member libraries. The goal was to map and bring examples and principles of sustainability applied in the construction, reconstruction, and operation of libraries, as well as experiences and formats for engaging residents and communities in fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals.
As part of individual mobilities, library managers traveled to the Netherlands, Germany, and Spain.
- Dorota Papoušek from the Masaryk Public Library in Vsetín drew inspiration from the Stadtbibliothek Köln, particularly in its three branches: the main city library, the Kalk branch, and the Chorweiler branch. Among others she observed Sprachraum initiative, which brings together locals and foreigners to promote inclusion in German society, and the traveling project „Floating Green“, which includes a seed library, sustainability workshops, and a stand with publications on the topic.
- Irena Šťastná from the Ostrava City Library developed existing cooperation at the Städtische Bibliotheken Dresden. She focused on sustainability in services, corporate culture in practice, and the offer and methods of engaging teenagers.
- Barbora Horáková from the Pardubice Regional Library visited the Miguel González Garcés Library in A Coruña, where, despite fewer events than in Czech libraries, the library is always busy, even on weekday mornings.
- Hana Šandová, from the „Půda“ section of the Polička Municipal Library, explored libraries in the Biblioteques de Barcelona network. Ten days—ten different libraries (including the World’s Best Library of 2023). Each library in Barcelona has its own specialization, theme, and corresponding book collection and event focus.
- Jan Červinka from the Nymburk Municipal Library mapped out possibilities for converting buildings into libraries and revitalizing brownfields into community spaces in the Netherlands. From a library in a former post office, wool factory, feed mill, or chocolate factory to the majestic LocHal in Tilburg, a former locomotive repair hall awarded numerous architectural prizes.
- Zdena Haplová and Irma Zajíčková from the Masaryk Public Library in Vsetín took advantage of a last-minute opportunity to see how the Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam (OBA) engages seniors in social and community life and the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals.
In the spring of 2024, a group trip to Denmark took place.
A group of 12 managers traveled to Denmark from 20–28 April 2024 to experience UGE17/Week17—a thematic week supporting the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals. As a national library campaign, UGE17 was created in Denmark to unite activities organized by individual libraries in collaboration with local partners and civil society.
From these international trips, we brought back a wealth of ideas, examples of new services, activities, and formats. In Czech they can be found here on the Sustainable Libraries website.
