From October 10 to 13, 2023, a meeting of two international project partners took place in the Valmiera library. 22 participants from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, and Latvia gathered at the "International Library Week in Valmiera" organized by Valmiera Library.
In 2023 and 2024, the Valmiera library is implementing two international cooperation projects. The first project is the ERASMUS+ partnership for adult education "FORWARD TOGETHER, 2023-2024", which aims to acquire and improve knowledge, skills and activities on how to work with vulnerable groups. The second is the "DEMOCRATIC LIBRARY" project supported by the Nordplus program (Democratic Library 2023-2024). Its purpose is to expand participants' competences and knowledge about equal access in libraries, to create and maintain an international cooperation network, to expand and emphasize the role of libraries in democracy.
In four days, various meetings, classes and readings in Valmiera library, Valmiera museum, Skaņkalnes Jēru club, Mazsalac library and museum, Zilākalns cultural history and tourism center, Latvian National Library. Project participants studied the aspects that make up the foundations of a democratic library, looked at examples of various public involvement and service development, discussed diversity and inclusion, and participated in Dialogue Circles organized by the DOTS Open Society Foundation.
An intensive program, a lot of valuable experience and inspiration, but the main thing is that there is a feeling of support and community in the path we have chosen for ourselves - a democratic and inclusive library - these are the insights from the project participants at the end of the meeting.
Cooperation partners: Valmiera Zonta club, Mazsalac city library, Active residents fund, fund for open society DOTS.