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The Biblio.for.mEDA Project was funded under the European Commission’s Leonardo da Vinci programme. The project was coordinated by IAL Nazionale, Italy and was carried out in collaboration with partners from Cyprus, Italy, Hungary, Romania and Latvia.
Background
European Union strategies have highlighted the need for education and training activities to promote improvement in the knowledge, qualifications and skills necessary for the building of the knowledge society. Public libraries, as important community focal points, are increasingly recognised as key agents in the lifelong learning agenda. This project compared and analysed best practices in the library systems of the participating countries to develop an organisational and training model with the aim of promoting the librarian’s role in the facilitation of lifelong learning.
Products of the Biblio.For.Meda project
The project partners:
- Gathered documentary evidence of the role of public libraries in lifelong learning;
- Undertook a survey of libraries showing best practices in the development of lifelong learning services;
- Identified different organisational approaches, training methods, strategies and practices in the participating countries;
- Analysed the organisational and training needs that need to be addressed if libraries are to play a key role in lifelong learning;
- Developed training and organizational models, which could transform public libraries into key agents of the lifelong learning agenda.
Research in Cyprus
In the context of the Biblio.ForMeda project a Questionnaire has been developed to assess the level to which (a) Libraries in Cyprus are aware and apply life long learning concepts and (b) capitalize on modern IT in their daily operations. The following libraries have responded to the assessment:
- Library of the University of Cyprus
Kallipoleos 75
Aglantzia, Lefkosia
- Severeios Library
Archbiship Kyprianou Square
Lefkosia
- Public Library of Limassol
Limassol
- Public Library of Larnaca
Leoforos Grigori Afxentiou
Larnaca
- Public Library of Pafos
28th Octber Square
Pafos
Dissemination seminar
The Dissemination seminar took place at the Cyprus Neuroscience and Technology Institute premises on Nov. 24, 2005. The invitation was send to more than 40 NGOs, 200 active individuals through mailing lists, four Colleges/Universities, several Governmental Organizations and posted on line at www.tech4peace.org. Participants included representatives from five NGOs, five Colleges/Universities, three people of the media, one Government representative and one member of the parliament.
| Organization | Type | Representative | Role | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peace Centre Cyprus | NGO | Dr. Maria Hadjipavlou | President | |
| CITI: Cyprus Intercultural Training Initiative | NGO | Elia Petridou | CITI Coordinator | |
| The Management Centre | NGO | Selen Mesutoglu | Project Manager | |
| Youth Center | NGO | Xenia Constantinou | Vice President | |
| Cardet | NGO | Charalambos Vrasidas | President | |
| SIT Cyprus: The Accredited Institution of Higher Education World Learning |
University | Selhan Zeki | Academic co-director for Cyprus | |
| Intercollege | University | Pambos Vrasidas | Vice-Head of Education | |
| P.A. College | University | Nikleia Eteokleous | Assistant Professor | |
| University of Cyprus - Language Centre | University | Yiola Papadopoullou | Lecturer | |
| University of Cyprus – Department of Political Science | University | Joseph Joseph | Head of Depertment | |
| Radio Epistrofi | Radio | Kyriakos Pierides | Journalist | |
| Radio Mayis | Radio | Hasan Kahvecioğlu | Journalist | |
| Media Industry | Media | Panikos Michael | CEO | |
| Cyprus Parliament | Parliament | Takis Hadjigeorgiou | Committee for Education | |
| Cyprus Academy for Public Administration | Government | Marios Michaelides | Officer |