This document summarizes innovative library practices from around the world, including programs focused on digital skills training, partnerships with local organizations, outreach services, and projects designed to expand access to information resources. Examples of notable programs are provided from countries such as Greece, Ukraine, Romania, Poland, Latvia, Chile, Vietnam, Mexico, Columbia, Nepal, and Serbia.

1. GLOB@L LIBRARIES PROGRAM
INNOVATIVE SERVICE PRACTICES
FROM OTHER COUNTRIES
Nikolay Markov
Dobrich, 26 April 2012

2. CONTENT
Good practices
 Services
 Partnerships
 Projects
 Promotion

3. CONTENT
 Countries from which practices have been selected
 Greece  Vietnam
 Ukraine  Mexico
 Romania  Columbia
 Poland  Nepal
 Latvia  Serbia
 Chile

4. GREECE – the city of Veria

5. Central Public Library of Veria, North Greece
 Wins the Access to Learning Award in the annual competition of Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation. The award recognizes the creative usage of information and
technological services that support the economic, education and culture needs of
more than 180,000 citizens. The library provides services to the city of Veria
(50,000 inhabitants) and its environs (with another 130,000 residents). It is the first
library in Greece to have offered free-of-charge access to the Internet to its users.
The award totals USD 1 million with which the library intends to expand its branch
network, renovate its equipment, replicate the “Magic Boxes” service for children
within the library and its branches and widely promote library services through its
websites and the social networks.
 The magic boxes created by the public library in Veria
http://entitlelll.eu/por/Meetings/Final-Conference/Presentations/The-Magic-Boxes-
Experience

6. UKRAINE – the city of Bar
Project Management Center
15 projects in 5 years

7. UKRAINE – the city of Mikolaev
The library and the
Dialogue NGO
conduct therapy for
people challenged
in their daily lives

8. UKRAINE – Kramatorsk
The library provides
access to e-
government services
and legal advice

9. UKRAINE – Sumi
The library, in partnership with an
NGO, creates an Information and
Resource center for people with
special needs

10. UKRAINE – KYRGYZSTAN
The Director of Mlada Gvardia
Library in Kiev shares
experience online with
colleagues from Kyrgyzstan

11. ROMANIA
Hargita county, a patient with
amputated legs is a regular The library in Costanza hosts
library computer user. and co-organizes a roundtable
Transport provided by the on women’s health.
hospital.
Frontline SMS is used to send texts and
messages to the library in Techirghiol

12. ROMANIA
Summer school for young
librarians (under 35 years)
under the Glob@l Libraries
Program
The library in Bihor County
coordinates the campaign for
cleaning settlements with the
participation of volunteers

13. ROMANIA
“I Love Mama” Project for Video advertisement of the
supporting children in library in the city of Iasi
Romania in their
communication with their
parents working in Italy
Call for project proposals
“Library without Walls”
with the involvement of the local
community. Project budgets: USD
100 – 2,000.

14. POLAND
“Active Library” Project
Project budgets: up to USD
1,500. Project proposals need to
comply with the program’s
overall plan in Poland and
provide some of the specified
services. Libraries may apply in
partnership with NGOs.
ПРЕДИЗВИКАТЕЛСТВА
ПРЕДИЗВИКАТЕЛСТВА

15. LATVIA
“Third Father’s Son” Project – Зtd
The biggest telecommunication company trains
librarians in transition from analogous to digital TV and
organizes PR events with the slogan:
“Librarians are prepared to help and provide accurate
information about latest IT.”

16. LATVIA
Let’s go to the library The library is accessible to
blind users

17. CHILE
Projects
 The National Bank pays libraries
to train clients in e-banking
Library in polyclinic grounds
 The National Revenue Agency
pays libraries to assist citizens 40
with online tax paying vehicles

18. VIETNAM
Internet festival in three pilot
provinces. Computer skills
competition with awards.

19. MEXICO
The Ministry of Education provides funds
for out-of-school training of adults and
children.

20. COLUMBIA
Initiatives
“Listen through Your
Eyes” – for hearing
impaired people
Groups of volunteers and
library representatives
Elderly corner read to children in
hospitals

21. NEPAL – the Kathmandu Valley
 The library trains painters
and craftsmen in new digital
skills through digital design
techniques. The locality is
famous for its beautiful
crafts whose masters
modernize their skills and
improve their means of
livelihood through the new
library service.

22. SERBIA – Jagodina
 The public library in the city of
Jagodina created a website of four
small libraries to exchange
agricultural
information, information about
funding opportunities and enable
online trade among farmers.