We are pleased to share the Creative Lab initiative from our colleagues at Vilnius County Adomas Mickevičius Public Library (Lithuania), which includes a Repair Café and other engaging activities.

The Repair Café operating within the library’s Creative Lab – an event where visitors can
bring their non-functioning small household appliances and learn how to carry out simple
repair tasks, such as rewiring a broken desk lamp cord or replacing the plug of an old device.
Library experts provide guidance, instruction, and the necessary materials. Participants also
enjoy engaging discussions on sustainability.


The first Repair Café workshop took place just before Black Friday – a time when the whole
world talks about consumption. We challenged that narrative by inviting people to the
library to talk about sustainability and repair certain items instead.


“We are increasingly encouraged to see ourselves as consumers,” notes Irina, an educator at
the library. “But here at the library, we’re creating an alternative: learning to share, create,
and repair.”


The Creative Lab has become not only the home of this initiative but also an incubator for
new ideas. Educator Irina shared that on May 23, the “Slow Fashion Club” was launched. During the event, visitors had the opportunity to refresh old T-shirts, create original designs, conceal signs of wear, and give their clothes a second life. The initiative helped promote sustainability and conscious consumption.