LIBER and library organisations take over the European Parliament

Posted: 27-01-2025 Topics: PL2030 European Parliament Lobbying

On 5th and 6th November, Giannis Tsakonas, Alex Fenlon, Sara Lammens, and Frederick Lemmers attended a PL2030 event called “Building Bridges Libraries for a Sustainable Future” at the European Parliament in Brussels.

The two-day event featured a networking session with members of the European Parliament talking eloquently about the role libraries play in society followed by presentations and workshops.

From left to right: Frederick Lemmers (National Library of Belgium), Giannis Tsakonas (University of Patras), Sara Lammens (National Library of Belgium), Alex Fenlon (University of Birmingham)

It has never been more important for LIBER to be engaged at the European Parliament and European Commission.  Engaging directly with Parliamentarians, their research advisors, speak to committees, and communicate in a language that aligns with the agenda of the fora available will help our communities. Issues such as AI, climate emergency, and research security are at the forefront of the debate and the voice of European research institutions and research libraries is critical in supporting these discussions.

Research libraries are a part of the community MEP Library Lovers are passionate about and leveraging this could help achieve our goals. Working with our peer organisations we can ensure that the voice of our communities is heard by MEPs and commissioners so that the legislative landscape is shaped to enable and foster a world-class research environment.

In conversation with MEPs

Making a change requires being in the right place to advocate for your goals and to advance your cause, but also to understand what key stakeholders, such as policymakers, think. MEPs were particularly interested in learning about the role of research libraries in Research Data Management and the regulatory changes that need to happen to advance Open Access as tools for social cohesion and growth across Europe. In these discussions, the LIBER delegation also had the chance to communicate what research and public libraries do together to facilitate social engagement and citizen science. The discussions were deemed useful as LIBER made the necessary links to take the next steps ahead.

Insights from European library organisations

Representatives from IFLA, EBLIDA, KR21, NAPLE, and LIBER presented their strategies to the attendees. Alex Fenlon, co-chair of the Copyright and Legal Matters Working Group delivered a presentation on LIBER’s behalf.

EBLIDA referred to the ELAN project – a 4-year project to form a network of networks representing the voice of the library sector.  MEPs, Commissioners, and their advisors frequently want to be able to speak to single points of contact that can then leverage their groups to provide expert input and commentary- rather than speaking with many individuals.  This coordination and reaching out to library associations across the sector are among the aims of the ELAN project.

IFLA followed this with their message that collectively we can do more if we work together. The message of partnership, alignment, and building support across the globe was clear. IFLA wants to ensure that the link between policy, recommendations, action, and impact is clearly communicated, with information being more adaptable and capable of adoption across more library sectors and countries.

NAPLE spoke to reaffirm their desire to inspire national policy development by sharing and promoting policy and regulations.  Identifying topics of mutual interest and sharing best practices to support policy development remain mission-critical.  NAPLE holds a repository of national library policy and legislation.  NAPLE’s Sister Libraries scheme is a core part of their activity connecting libraries and staff together at the formal and informal levels to enable knowledge exchange and the sharing of practice.

The event hosts PL2030 continue their mission to build a collaboration across European public libraries.  They want to be a convenor of library activity at the EU enabling access to and discussion with MEPs, Commissioners, and policy advisors via The Library Lovers group for example.  Lighthouse Libraries continue to offer exemplars of best practice acting as beacons of excellence for the sector.  PL2030 will focus on citizen engagement, sustainability, digital skills & AI, and wellness and health for staff and library users as a safe and welcoming third space for all.

KR21 introduced their project and activities to this group.  With renewed funding for the next 5 years, KR21 has the remit to advocate for legislative and regulatory change to strengthen the rights of access to knowledge for the benefit of research, science, and society. Engagement in strategic and policy remains a key theme along with funding national projects.

EU projects as resources for libraries

The second day was held at the Muntpunt Library for a policy and knowledge exchange with presentations and workshops from several EU-funded projects. Sessions included projects from Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Latvia, and Lithuania funded by the Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe funding programmes. There was a poster session on EU projects focusing on the topics of mental well-being, democracy, sustainability, and digital & information literacy and concluded with a presentation of the Resourcing Libraries (RL:EU) project.  These projects highlighted how libraries can access and use EU funds to support activity, foster international collaborations and support users.

Collaboration, cooperation, and coordination were very much key themes in the presentations.  Different library sectors have differing needs but many of them are related and can be linked.  For example, Citizen Science emerged as a common theme – engaging members of the public in research/ experimental activities to develop and share knowledge.  To echo IFLA’s sentiments, we can do more if we work together.

 

[Photos by Public Libraries 2030]