Libraries of Tomorrow: Skills and Competencies for Adult and Community Education

Description

There is no doubt that, compared to the past, libraries are increasingly becoming central learning spaces within local communities. Beyond granting easy access to books and information, they are now asked to fully support adult education, digital inclusion, media literacy, and lifelong learning.

This shifts calls for new, evolving skills and a renewed professional role for librarians.

This course is designed for librarians working in public, community, and higher education libraries who want to acquire knowledge and strengthen their role as facilitators of learning and community engagement.

Participants will be introduced to the current state of librarianship, exploring how the field is evolving in response to digital transformation, artificial intelligence, open science, and the changing learning needs of adult users.

In order to focus on the key skills of the modern librarian, the course will draw on IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) standards, recent and updated research on digital competencies within the library work environment, and pinpoint all the necessary soft skills.

Thanks to reflective activities and workshops, participants will have the chance to analyze their current profile and identify key priorities for professional growth.

They will be guided in exploring digital and technological skills for everyday library work. From demo presentations on recent and useful software programs that focus on data management, analysis, and visualization to experimentation with open source data and the creation of simple visualizations (e.g., in Tableau) to support decision-making and communication.

Also, participants will learn how to evaluate sources, bias, and misinformation through media, gain an overview of responsible AI use in libraries, and test fact-checking platforms and AI tools.

In addition, the course will further explore user-centred and inclusive library services, accessibility, community-oriented programming, and opportunities linked to European cooperation and Erasmus+ projects.

A study visit to the city library will also be included, as it will provide direct insight into innovative practices and professional exchange.

By the end of the course, participants will return with practical knowledge and tools, new professional perspectives, and concrete ideas to strengthen their library as an active learning hub for adults and the wider community.

Concept by Maja Stazić

Learning outcomes

The course will help participants to:

• Understand current trends in librarianship, including global trends, the shift towards the digital, increasing use of AI, the state of open science, and the need for lifelong learning;
• Identify and reflect on the key competencies of the modern librarian, combining digital skills and essential soft skills;
• Use basic tools and strategies for data management, analysis, and simple data visualization in library contexts;
• Explore the role of AI in library services and information management;
• Design more user-centred, inclusive, and accessible library services for adult learners and the wider community;
• Understand how Erasmus+ projects can support libraries as learning hubs and spaces for community development;
• Develop a “Library of the Future” service idea, adapted to their own professional context.

Tentative schedule

Day 1 – Introduction to the course and current state of librarianship

• Introduction to the course, the school, and the external week activities;
• Icebreaker activities;
• Presentations of the participants’ schools.

Current state of librarianship

• Global trends in librarianship: digital transformation, AI, open science, lifelong learning;
• Key competences of the modern librarian:
  • IFLA standards;
  • Recent and updated research on digital competences within the library work environment;
  • Pinpointing and assessing all the necessary soft skills.

• Workshop – group task: Librarian of the past vs. present vs. future;
• Reflection/discussion: discussing individual skills that are needed for professional development;
• Small task: guided self-assessment using a competence framework.

Day 2 – Digital and tech skills for librarians

• Digital skills needed in public, academic, and school libraries;
• Common competences and skills for modern librarians working with adult learners and communities.

Tools for everyday library work

• Introduction to software for data management, analysis, and visualization;
• Practical examples of how these tools support decision-making and user services;
• Workshop: making a basic data visualization in Tableau using simple open-source data;
• Reflection/discussion: discussing the level of technological knowledge needed for the working librarian of the present.

Day 3 – Supporting users in the new information age

• Evaluating information sources, bias, and misinformation;
• Media literacy as a core library service for communities.

AI in libraries

• Opportunities and risks of AI in library services;
• Overview of current AI use and practices in public libraries (e.g., creative and practical public programs);
• Workshop: fact-checking platforms and testing of AI tools;
• Reflection/discussion: discussing the level of knowledge needed for effectively evaluating media sources and AI tools in general.

Day 4 – Community engagement and innovation

• Libraries as spaces for lifelong learning and adult education;
• Inclusive and accessible services for diverse communities.

Erasmus+ and Innovation

• Project presentation: the Erasmus+ project “Improving Digital Competences in Adult Education Within the Work of Public Libraries” and the recent and current projects from the Erasmus+ Accreditation period;
• Workshop: designing a “Library of the Future” service idea that could be applied as an Erasmus+ project (presenting it to the class);
• Reflection/discussion: commenting on the feasibility and usefulness of the presented ideas.

Day 5 – Study visit and transfer to practice

• Pre-visit briefing: focus points and observation guidelines;
• Guided tour of the library and its services;
• Workshop: identifying 5 strengths witnessed on the study visit + 3 transferable ideas the participants can implement into their working environments;
• Reflection/discussion: choosing one of the presented ideas and discussing how it can be implemented in different work environments.

Day 6 – Course closure and cultural activities

• Course evaluation: round-up of acquired competencies, feedback, and discussion;
• Awarding of the course Certificate of Attendance;
• Excursion and other external cultural activities.

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