Libraries Are Libraries.digital

Libraries Are Libraries.digital, or Digital Services Have Found Their Place in Libraries  

The event, whose major partner was the OSF Czechia foundation, marked the formal conclusion of the nationwide communication theme of digital literacy in libraries for 2024–2025. It not only looked back at the previous two years but also presented examples of good practice in Czech libraries and opportunities to connect with interesting organisations for future cooperation.  

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Libraries Are Libraries.digital, illustrative photo

In addition to OSF Czechia, the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic was a major partner in the initiative, supporting interactive training for librarians across the Czech Republic through a VISK 1 grant. A total of 22 seminars focused on government digital services were delivered in 2025, providing training for more than 400 librarians. Special thanks also go to Kamila Plisková, who coordinated the activities and became the initiative’s champion and main driving force. Ultimately, it was her dedication that made the conference possible.  

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Libraries Are Libraries.digital, illustrative photo

Opening addresses by representatives of major institutions – including the Czech Republic Libraries Association, the Association of Library and Information Professionals of the Czech Republic and OSF Czechia – highlighted the changing role of libraries. While libraries in the 1990s were places where people were only beginning to learn how to use computers and getting to grips with the basics of the internet, today they should serve as safe spaces and take on the role of guides to the digital world, including access to digital services.  

The Digital Compass session showcased upcoming developments, such as the eAcademy platform with its mock Citizen Portal, as well as training offered by the Library Institute, supplemented by seminars on eGovernment. The following session, Digital Practice, clearly demonstrated that innovation concerns libraries of every size. The examples of good practice ranged from Minecraft clubs held at the Doubravčice Municipal Library, through self-service lockers and the Digital Gym offered to members by the Masaryk Public Library in Vsetín, to a presentation of the comprehensive online services provided by the František Bartoš Regional Library in Zlín. 

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Libraries Are Libraries.digital, illustrative photo

The concluding Digital Signpost session summarised the many outputs of the two-year project and outlined further opportunities for support. OSF Czechia announced a new grant call for small libraries focusing on educational activities, and confirmed that it would continue to support the theme of digitalisation. The conference was also enriched by expert insights from academia into children’s digital wellbeing, the pitfalls of social media, and cybercrime prevention as part of the E-Safety project.  

What can we say in conclusion? The initiative will not be ending after passing the two-year mark. On the contrary, the past two years have served as a springboard for deeper exploration of this constantly evolving field…