A first meeting of “Library creative laboratory” for young librarians of Kaliningrad region was held on 16.06.2011 in Kaliningrad Central city library named after A.P.Chekhov within the Library component/ Municipal project organized by Nordic Council of Ministers Information office in Kaliningrad. The main theme of “Laboratory” was “Work with young people”. This topic is very important both for Russian and Nordic libraries (it is also the main subject of the first module of Library component in 2011).

“Library creative laboratory” is an International platform for the sharing of information, experience, ideas and elaborating innovative projects. Besides, online meetings of Russian and Nordic librarians used at the “Laboratory” make the communication easier. One of the main aims of “Library creative laboratory” is also to strengthen young librarians’ society of Kaliningrad region, raise their professional interest and encourage them to create and launch innovative projects.

Participants.
16 young librarians from Helsinki (online), Kaliningrad, Gurievsk, Gusev, Neman, Svetly and Chernyahovsk (municipalities-participants of Library component 2009-2011) took part in the “Laboratory”. On average there were 2 representatives from each municipal library. It was made in order to involve more libraries’ staff into the project and acquaint them with Nordic experience. It will also help to strengthen the working project-team in these libraries.

The trainers and coordinators of the “Laboratory” were 5 librarians of Central city library named after A.P.Chekhov (Kaliningrad) who participated in several modules of Library component in 2009-2011. Here they used their knowledge about Nordic libraries’ experience which they got during the study trips and seminars.

Main topics.
The main topic of the first “Laboratory” meeting was library events for young adults. Trying to find the right formula of the ideal event the participants discussed all steps of creating and conducting the event (both successful and failed examples):
- defining the aims, purposes and target groups of the event,
- choosing the theme, time and place most interesting for young people,
- elaborating the methods and forms of the event,
- organizing the working group, sharing the responsibilities,
- promoting the event, using social networking, blogging and other digital reference services,
- conducting the event: carrying out the plans, controlling the whole process,
- making the summaries and analyses, correcting the strategy of the further work.

An online meeting with the representative of the Vuosaari library (Helsinki, Finland) Jori Hellstedt was organized during the “Laboratory”, who made a presentation of Finnish youth project KuMuKi, a new method of the book presentation (a combination of video, music and reading).

Results.
- The participants shared their experience and knowledge in working with youngsters.
-Several mini-projects were elaborated for young library patrons for the period June-November 2011. The second meeting of the “Library creative laboratory” will be organized in November 2011 where all participants will evaluate the results of their projects, discuss most successful and problematic parts of them and approve the plan of further activities.
- The participants defined some problematic parts in their professional skills and knowledge (for example, project planning and IT competence). That’s why a decision to involve different specialists into the following “Laboratory” meetings was made (specialists in project management, Information Technology etc.).
- The participants made an agreement to inform each other regularly via emails about library home- and world news, innovative projects, library grants etc.

Photo: Presentation of results

It is planned to hold “Library creative laboratory” twice a year. Nordic librarians will take part in all meetings of the “Laboratory” via Internet connection – online.

Contact information:

Natalya Yakovchuk

Tags: municipal cooperation, libraries