From September 23–26, the innovation team from Panevėžys County Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė Public Library — Greta Kėvelaitienė, Jurga Žilytė, Toma Apynytė-Kirslienė, Jūratė Kirtiklytė, and Raimonda Gvozdienė — participated in a partner meeting for the project “”Promoting Environmental Sustainability in Libraries through Cultural Exchange: A Partnership between Sweden and Lithuania” in Malmö, Sweden.
During the visit, the team toured the Malmö City Library (Malmö Stadsbibliotek) and one of its branches, “Garaget” (translated as “The Garage”). Creative workshops were held with the project partner, the non-governmental organization “Växtvärket.”
Malmö City Library
On the first day of the visit, the team met with Malmö City Library representative Mimmi Winder.
Upon entering the Malmö City Library, the impression created by the light immediately catches the eye. The library consists of three separate buildings: the old building, the new cylindrical central entrance building, and another new one connected by glass corridors. The main library space offers stunning views of the idyllic park surroundings, and the transparent facade allows visitors to observe the flow of nature throughout the year.
As Mimmi Winder noted, since 1995, sustainability has been a cornerstone of Malmö’s city strategy, with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals incorporated into the city’s objectives. The Malmö City Library, along with its 12 neighborhood branches, operates based on these goals. The libraries actively ensure they have the latest books and other resources related to sustainability, such as urban sustainable development, climate-friendly food, farming, and self-sufficiency. Visitors can discover the latest books, series, and films on these topics.
“The library is a place with a long tradition of social and economic sustainability. It is free, shares resources, and is accessible to everyone. The library is an excellent place for anyone to engage with sustainability,” said the representative.
In addition to traditional sustainability activities, such as waste sorting and item lending libraries, the library organizes “Do It Yourself” workshops twice a month for residents. In these workshops, specialists from various fields volunteer to teach participants how to fix different items, including bicycles, clocks, refrigerators, and more. Even the librarians actively participate by exchanging items. In the shared staff lounge, there is a clothing rack where they can bring clothes they no longer want or use. Additionally, meetings are organized for the librarian community with various scientists and public figures who work in the field of sustainability.
Garaget Library
During a visit to Garaget Library, a branch of the Malmö City Library, the team found that it adheres to traditional library principles while creating a welcoming atmosphere for visitors of all ages and backgrounds. This is evident in their slogan displayed at the entrance, which translates to “Your Living Room.” This emphasizes the library as a comfortable and inviting space that offers more personal freedoms than a typical library, noted R. Gvozdienė.
Garaget organizes activities tailored to the needs and interests of the local community, shaped through ongoing dialogue. These include workshops, lectures, and events held both during regular library hours and after hours, making the space available for a variety of purposes.
The library is spacious, covering 580 square meters, making it a versatile venue for a variety of events. However, all events must align with one or more aspects of sustainability: ecological, social, or economic. There is also a strong emphasis on supporting and including underrepresented groups in society. The library includes specialized areas equipped with tools and materials for various activities. For instance, creative workshops utilize recycled materials. Visitors also have access to modern equipment, such as sewing machines and other contemporary tools, which promote creativity and innovation.
Green Library
The Panevėžys County Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė Public Library’s partner, the non-governmental organization Växtvärket, along with the Garaget Library, implemented the “Green Library” project from 2020 to 2021. The primary goal of this project was to make sustainability more accessible to the public, aiming to inspire, engage, and connect library visitors. As part of the project, Garaget’s interior was furnished with recycled or second-hand furniture. The library operates on a sharing economy model, allowing visitors to borrow not only books but also various everyday items, as well as plant seeds and seedlings.
Outdoor workshops are organized to provide opportunities for reusing materials that would otherwise be discarded, such as waste from construction companies. These workshops create a welcoming environment for conversations, help participants learn new things, and attract the attention of passersby.
The library also features a café that uses second-hand dishes. Residents can bring their food to the library, warm it up on-site, and borrow tableware or plates.
Creative Workshops
On the final day of their visit, the innovation team collaborated with their project partner, the NGO Växtvärket, in a creative workshop focused on further developing the green library concept in Lithuania.
The group examined the Green Pyramid model for libraries, created by the Swedish NGO, and brainstormed ideas on how the Panevėžys County Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė Public Library could inspire, engage, and educate visitors and librarians about sustainability. The goal was to enhance knowledge and spark curiosity. During the workshop, participants learned how the library could shift its focus from promoting individual consumption changes to encouraging community activities, such as advocating for the sharing economy, reusing materials, and fostering co-creation.
Additionally, they visited a neighborhood garden called Naturmolnet (meaning “Nature Cloud”), developed by Växtvärket in collaboration with the local community. This garden serves as a popular meeting spot in the area. They discussed strategies for promoting collaboration with local communities, artists, associations, schools, preschools, and businesses.
The project “Promoting Environmental Sustainability in Libraries through Cultural Exchange: A Partnership between Sweden and Lithuania” aims to enhance the relationship between Sweden and Lithuania by fostering bilateral knowledge exchange and collaboration in the field of green libraries. The primary objective of the project is to develop and test a green library model at the Panevėžys County Public Library, based on the practical guide provided by Växtvärket.
The project is funded by the Sweden-Lithuania Cooperation Fund: https://swelitfund.org/
