Povilas Višinskis Šiauliai County Public Library
Country: Lithuania
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Contact: Eglė Kazimieraitienė. Email: e.kazimieraitiene@savb.lt
Description: Šiauliai county Povilas Višinskis public library (SCPL) is the largest library in Northern Lithuania, providing cultural, information, lifelong learning and leisure services. One of the most important directions in the development of SCPL services is to create a friendly and safe environment for people with various disabilities, to promote public awareness and develop tolerance towards them. SCPL is the first autism-friendly library in Lithuania. In 2020, the library initiated the project “Library for All” to increase the services accessibility of Lithuanian libraries for people with various disabilities. In order to become a more comfortable place for visitors with special needs, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, a social story and sensory map of the library has been prepared. The premises of the library are marked with special signs for a better orientation. Moreover, a special educational space with sensory measures has been set up for the activities of people with ASD. Sensory Readings, developed according to a special methodology, is one of the activities that promotes the reading, learning to be in a public space and following the rules of such children. The library also offers special animated e-books (stories) that while reading them children with special needs learn social skills, become acquainted with phenomena that are more difficult for them to understand (death, birth of a child, hugging, etc.). Library staff is constantly improving their competencies related to cognition of disability, servicing special visitors, developing new methodologies, which are later shared with all Lithuanian libraries. The library pays a lot of attention to the search for new methods and forms of working with young people and the integration of library educational services into formal education processes, creates virtual and board games and quizzes that complement formal education with playful elements. The library constantly initiates various activities that promote the development of competencies that are important for a young person, such as creativity, self-expression, critical thinking, the ability to work in a team, being a leader. SCPL is a regional center for library methodology, bibliography and information, ensuring the professional development of library staff and inter-institutional cooperation. Here people can find about 480 thousand various documents, participate in over 700 various cultural events, exhibitions, educational activities and trainings which are organized during the year. The library receives about 240 thousand visitors a year.
See all descriptionType of library: Metropolitan
Population served: More than 100.000
- Activities for children and young adults
- Activities for seniors
- Library services for people with needs
- Activities in cooperation with other organizations
- Lifelong Learning programs
- Book presentations (also meeting with authors)
- Digitalization and Preservation `
- Activities for children and young adults
- Library services for people with special needs
- Exchange of ideas and expertise
- Exchange of information
- Staff interchange
- Staff training
- Socialmedia
Languages spoken by staff: Lithuanian, English, German, Russian
Languages spoken by patrons: Lithuanian, English, Russian, German
Preferred countries for cooperation: No preferences
Searching partners for European program: Yes
Participating in any European Union program: No