Public Libraries 2030

13/10/2026

🌏 On 15 October, the IFLA - International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions Management of Library Associations Section brings together library associations from different regions to share how they map their political landscape, engage decision-makers and find pathways to influence policy, legislation and funding.

Our Director, Ilona Kish, will be among the speakers, sharing the European perspective.

Register to the web event here: https://ifla-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/FXlhE4fXQqWqs6LFBZf1BA?ampDeviceId=6496c59b-a1a5-4da0-b59d-5d37b5d153b9&SessionId=1790775720247&_ics=1791385390104&irclickid=~ejimqjmsyDyvwljihi-g9017X3UVUJCroe656WXUKIAzqljc541R&_gl=1*1quavq6*_gcl_au*MTM4NjExMDI0Mi4xNzg4ODY1MTEz*_ga*MTUyNjEwMTg1Ny4xNzc3MzgzMzUy*_ga_L8TBF28DDX*czE3OTEzODUzNDIkbzIwJGcxJHQxNzkxMzg1Mzg3JGoxNSRsMCRoMA.. #/registration

02/10/2026

📚 Planning something for European Authors Day?

The European Authors Day team is hosting a free webinar, "Ready? Steady? Read!", on 8 October at 11:00 CET.

It's open to libraries, schools, educators, cultural organisations and anyone who wants to promote reading and contemporary European literature.

👉 Register here: https://fundacjapowszechnegoczytania.clickmeeting.com/ready-steady-read-join-the-european-authors-day-readforreal-2026-celebrations/register?utm_source=chatgpt.com

30/09/2026

🆕 | The September newsletter is out! Here's a sneak peek of the latest issue:

🎬 "The Librarians" screening in Brussels, with a panel on what Europe can learn from the US
📵 Screens off, fun on! Muntpunt's screen-free children's library
📑 Strengthening Europe through Public Libraries: the first EU report on the sector
🚌 MIL in Transit: source criticism on buses and trains across Skåne

→ Read more: https://mailchi.mp/pl2030/newsletter-september
→ Join the PL2030 mailing list: https://mailchi.mp/012d79fac0d2/join-the-pl2030-mailing-list

28/08/2026

🚐 ✨ The Matty Bus Tour #2 ended today in Tallinn, where it started thirteen days ago.

The second half took us along the Latvian coast and down through Lithuania: Ventspils, Liepāja, Klaipėda, Kaunas and Anykščiai, before the long drive back up to Estonia for the final stop.

What stayed with us isn't the numbers but the same thing happening in every town: someone sits down at a machine they haven't touched in years, or have never touched at all, and half an hour later they're holding something they made.

Thanks to the librarians who gave up their space, their staff and often their weekend to make room for all this. 💜

Matty is going home for a rest, and then heading south. Next stop this autumn: northern Spain and Portugal.

27/08/2026

How are libraries across Europe responding to today’s biggest challenges? 🤔

Join the Libraries at the Heart of Europe Webinars, a free four-part webinar series and hear directly from participants in The Europe Challenge 2025/26. From strengthening democracy and social inclusion to addressing climate challenges, libraries are working with their communities to create meaningful local change.

Think of it as a Europe-wide Marketplace of ideas: practical insights, fresh inspiration, and real stories from people making a difference in their communities.

Each session is built around one of the four metaphors for public libraries explored in the EU report Strengthening Europe through Public Libraries, highlighting the many ways libraries help build stronger, greener, more connected, and more democratic societies.

🎟️ Register for one, two, three, or all four webinars using this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fvIS9LsgSO6093Xlc5-v9g
We’d love to see you there! ✨

21/08/2026

🚐✨ News from the Matty Bus Tour #2!

Matty is halfway through its first week in the Baltics. We started in Estonia and crossed into Latvia on Thursday.

Every stop has a clothes swap and the community quilt, which people add a square to as they pass through. In Pärnu the local team ran beeswax wraps and heat press printing. In Viljandi one of the librarians brought out her own crochet stand, because crochet is what she does. In Valmiera, the library pulled out its historical dress collection, and a librarian taught Sashiko mending. 🧵✂️🧶

A lot of children have come, many of them sewing for the first time. Craft has largely disappeared from schools, but a library turns out to be a good place to pick it up.

Thanks to the librarians in Pärnu, Rakvere, Viljandi and Valmiera for making room for all of this. 💜

More next week on how the weekend went and what comes after. 👀

19/08/2026

Now open: EIFL's 20th Public Library Innovation Award - Innovative public and community library AI literacy training programmes! 🏆

EIFL is seeking submissions from library services that help people to advance their technical skills, think critically about AI outputs, and enable responsible and safe use of emerging AI technology and tools.💡

The prize is $1,500, a trophy and wide publicity through EIFL’s global networks.

Applications close 26 October, in English, French, Russian or Spanish, and are open to libraries in developing and transition economy countries.

For full details of the award and who can apply, see https://eifl.net/ia20

📣 Now Open: Applications for the 20th EIFL Public Library Innovation Award! Are you a public or community library running an impactful Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy programme? If you are based in a developing or transition economy country, this is your opportunity to be recognized for your incredible work!
The EIFL Public Library Innovation Award is seeking submissions from libraries that are actively helping their communities navigate, understand, and safely use AI technologies. Apply now! We want to hear from you!
🗓️ Submission Deadline: Monday, 26 October 2026
🔗 Learn more, view eligibility criteria, and apply here: https://zurl.co/jXdfF
📣 Help us reach innovative libraries worldwide! Please share this call across your library networks, Facebook groups, and professional channels to ensure these vital programmes get the spotlight they deserve.

17/08/2026

The make-a-thek open call is live ✨
If you're a maker, craftsperson, librarian or educator with skills to share, or curious to learn new ones, take a look and apply 👇
🔗 https://www.makeathek.eu/opencall

10/08/2026

✨ Big news from make-a-thek!

If you haven't heard of it yet, Make-a-thek is an EU-funded project reimagining public libraries as hands-on hubs for circular fashion and crafts. The idea is to bring repair, upcycling, and creative digital tools like 3D printing and laser cutting into libraries across Europe, connecting heritage crafts with digital innovation, and making it all accessible to everyone.

🚐 One of the coolest parts of the project is Matty, the make-a-thek bus: a mobile makerspace on wheels, packed with tools, machines, and workshop kits, bringing hands-on circular fashion & crafts activities directly to communities, especially in smaller towns and rural areas that don't always get these opportunities.

Matty already completed its first tour through Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic, and in just a few weeks, it's getting back on the road, this time through the Baltic States!

And here's the part we're especially excited about: this second tour will be driven by none other than Ilona Kish, founder of Public Libraries 2030! 🙌

Stay tuned! Over the coming weeks we'll be sharing more content from the road. 🧵✂️🧶

30/07/2026

👀 Save the date: Wednesday 9 September, 7:00 PM

Join us for a screening of The Librarians (2025), a documentary by Kim A. Snyder.

The film follows librarians in the United States standing up for free access to information, amid growing debates on censorship, book bans, and the role of libraries in society.

📍 Théâtre Mercelis, Rue Mercelis 13, Ixelles
🎬 Screened in English, with English subtitles
🎟️ Free of charge, registration required

👉 Register here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=5VYrkWCavke4UrG501iDNGzbH1vsZu5Gqjp2qr_Ir0NUN01RVk41OFg0RzFWVEZTRFg4T05GWE9CRC4u

This event is organised by the Dutch- and French-speaking libraries of Ixelles and the Dutch-speaking library of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, in collaboration with the VGC, the Bibliothèque Centrale pour la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale, Muntpunt, Dogwoof, and us.

We'd also like to hear from library professionals across Europe: have you faced censorship or pressure around your collections, programming, or activities? If you'd like to share your experience, anonymously, you can do so here: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=uDxqvbjEpkqZji-tVzcALHE8KyCq_7ZArLjRP7JHZpZUQ1c5SlhIOU5ROFhVRENXRUk1TTBISzNVSS4u

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion on the themes raised in the film, and some testimonies may be referenced there (all fully anonymised).

See you there! 👋