Cultural Heritage for the Future: Discover, Share and Learn Erasmus Project

Project Title

Cultural Heritage for the Future: Discover, Share and Learn

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Creativity and culture; Open and distance learning; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning

Project Summary

In the field of adult education libraries play an important role: they are working directly with communities and formal education institutions, also libraries are using cultural heritage while trying to promote social cohesion, communality and cooperation between different members of community. Libraries are oriented towards users that are looking for safe, reliable environment and free services. While implementing non-formal learning activities libraries take into account the information exclusion of socially sensitive groups. Information exclusion leads to low-skills and fewer opportunities. Modern technologies have various impact: some social groups have expanded their possibilities of using technology, but other groups have become even more isolated. Libraries are trying to find new methods to work with social groups that are facing informational and technological isolation.
Usage of culture heritage in adult education offers a lot of benefits: improvement of local history knowledge, promotion of communal values and strengthened tolerance. Participation in libraries activities that are connected to cultural heritage induces pride in unique cultural and historical heritage, promotes respect for people and their lifestyle, cultural diversity. Sharing knowledge, memories, emotions not only enriches collective memory and stimulates more interest, but also has a positive impact on the emotional state of the communities. A better information environment is created, expanding the opportunities for high-quality work, study and leisure activities.
The project “Cultural Heritage for the Future: Discover, Share and Learn” was implemented by public libraries in Lithuania, Estonia, Denmark, Sweden and Slovenia. All these libraries have an expertise in working with cultural heritage and adult education, as well as they all maintain good professional relations with different adult education institutions in their countries.
The project was focused on using the social and educational value of European cultural heritage in order to motivate adults to become more involved into learning process and share their experiences. The project allowed librarians and other adult educators to apply innovative tools for involving adult learners into learning processes via cultural heritage. That invited participants to cooperate with each other, learn from one another. Librarians who participated in the project activities have strengthened their educational and andragogical competences, they were encouraged to share international experience and therefore created a strong and reliable international network of professionals. The project’s partnership had an impact on national, regional and international levels.
During this project three different intellectual outputs were created: the study “Libraries for Communities” and the guidelines “8 Steps to Unfold Followship and Onboarding for Community Engagement in Cultural Heritage”, which provide with concrete suggestions, methods and case studies of how to work with cultural heritage and adult education, as well as the web page “Honeycomb. Cultural Heritage for Communities”, which invites the adult learners to get actively involved in the learning process via using cultural heritage. Also three Short Term Joint Staff Learning Activities were organized in which participants upgraded their andragogical skills by exchanging and sharing new methods, good practices and ideas, testing the intellectual outputs and learning from other professionals. In order to ensure the quality of the project’s activities and effective communication between the project partners, three Transnational Project Meetings took place. For the dissemination of the project results, a special communication campaign was carried out as well as two Multiplier Events were organized.
The context and objectives of the project were directly related to the needs and interests of target groups: adult learners, librarians, partners and other stakeholders. Adult learners have developed their knowledge about local cultural heritage; were provided with useful tools that can help them to discover, share and learn about cultural heritage; engaged into new and innovative activities related to cultural heritage; increased motivation to share their stories (a feeling that ordinary people can do important things for their community); developed their ICT skills and etc. Librarians who participated in this project strengthened their competences in adult education field. These persons improved their skills and knowledge which are essential and usable in everyday work. This project made an impact on associated partners, stakeholders and other organizations as well. These institutions developed links with European libraries and adult education organizations; equipped their teams with materials and methods created during the project; developed a deeper understanding of the importance of non-formal adult education and the use of cultural heritage.

Project Website

https://bendruomeniukrastotyra.lt/en/about-the-project/

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 111329 Eur

Project Coordinator

Vilniaus apskrities Adomo Mickeviciaus viesoji biblioteka & Country: LT

Project Partners

• Vaggeryds bibliotek
• Kärdla Linnaraamatukogu
• Herning Bibliotekerne
• Mestna knjiznica Kranj