Equal chances for access to knowledge are key in our times. Libraries within a network can be powerful access points, because they can provide better service. Furthermore, libraries can be focal points for cultural activities in small towns.
Together with representatives of public libraries, a networking - concept will be developed during workshops. Best practice examples will be collected and used as professional input. It is important to choose this bottom up approach, so people identify fully with their project.
The importance of public libraries and their services should be increased. The libraries will attract more people and offer new chances of access to knowledge. For example it will be more easy for students to stay in the small towns where they grew up and still have the opportunity to get all the information they need. It is important for the development of regions to keep young people with good education from moving to big cities.
During and after AlpCity we still have our Urban Regeneration Program in Lower Austria, where projects can be supported during the Intensive Phase of the Program. The virtual platform and network meetings should be kept up. The activities of libraries will be a long term focal point of the Urban Regeneration Program in Lower Austria.
The multimedia library network tackles the topics of knowledge, culture, learning and communication. All over Europe, equal chances should be provided. Alpine regions can learn in this respect from other thinly populated regions like Scandinavia.
These towns have been asked to take part. A final decision will be made after the first workshop in May.
Other possible participants:
All these towns have about 3.000 to 10.000 inhabitants and some of them are demographically shrinking. The centres of towns loose both businesses and inhabitants. On the edge of the towns, shopping centres are built - sometimes even on the territory of a neighbouring village, so the town does not have any influence on the development (the council of the neighbouring village can decide about the permit for the construction of the shopping centre).
The towns also loose young, well educated people to the bigger cities like Vienna, Graz or Linz (capitals of the neighbouring federal states Styria and Upper Austria).
The mountainous regions are generally interesting for recreational activities. Tourism has a long tradition especially in the southern part of Lower Austria. Skiing and mountaineering was partly developed in Lower Austria.
There is no "Mass-Tourism" but many guests from Vienna and also the new members of the European Union Czech Rep., Slovakia and Hungary. Stays are short from only one day to mostly long weekends.
Small towns provide important infrastructure especially in the cultural field.
The economical development in the first and second sector has slowed down over the last few decades.
The development of the project will be carried out by the "Verband für Dorf- und Stadterneuerung NÖ", (Association of "village and city regeneration") a non-profit organisation of towns and villages, that is working in the Urban Regeneration Program for almost ten years and in the Village Regeneration Program for over 15 years.
The organisation and the development of the network with the heads of the participating libraries will be carried out by one subcontractor (Association of "village and city regeneration").
They are highly experienced in implementing programs and developing networks on a local and regional basis.
The main partners will be the municipalities that take part in the network. In most cases, they are the owners of the libraries and will make also a small financial contribution to the project. The towns also will be the partners, who hopefully will support further projects, which are developed in the network. Besides that, the Austrian Association of Libraries will be involved in the role of an expert later.
The communication to other departments will be established in the course of the project. Information about objectives and planned activities will be the first step, closer contact will be useful when local projects are carried out.
The main local actors will be the people working in the libraries. They will be the ones who communicate and try out the strategies and projects that will be developed in the network.
The case is integrated in the Urban Regeneration Program in Lower Austria. Most of the participating towns are either in the intensive phase of the Program or have been in this phase before. They all work on increasing the quality of life for their citizens.
The program is financed by the Province of Lower Austria
Start-up phase and preparation of the project
January to March 2004
Selection of local authorities during the project preparation phase
Participating local authorities and their public libraries are selected according to their declared will to contribute, to their service level and equipment state.
Research of best practice examples
February 2004 through the project
Best practice European examples and their network methods, structure of organisation, services and experiences will be researched and prepared for presentation to participants.
Conception and program for realisation
May 2004 to May 2005
Based on results of an inception workshop with beneficiaries, experiences, stated needs and frame work criteria the conception and program for realisation will be worked out.
Set up of infrastructure for networking and know how transfer
May 2004 through the project
The frame work to stimulate the creative potential of the network partners (library staff, consultants, authorities...) for finding solutions will be set up. Two workshops and one symposium are planned as personnel meeting. A virtual platform will enhance the continuous process by providing an information- and communication cannel.
Dissemination activities - public relations
May 2004 through the project
Set up of a co-operation in public relation to promote the institutions multimedia stock, services and its role in society.
A communication plan will be set up and carried out in accordance with the lead partner.
Implement structure of organisation
May 2005 to October 2006
A virtual network and a network structure for personal meetings between local authorities and their public libraries, associations and appropriate authorities will be found and implemented.
Carry out of projects using efficient financial and personnel resources
May 2005 through the project
Public institutions like libraries have to face the challenge of efficiency and user demands. Concrete measures within the "network multimedia libraries" will preferably touch the realms: development of an unique content focus for each library, co-operative procurement and rational sequence of operations. To meet modern user expectations, structures to implement new forms of services (interlending, information research service) will be worked out. Facing the importance of libraries in adult education, user oriented education offers shall be created within the multimedia library network. Furthermore the cultural heritage shall be presented and contemporary cultural life structures shall be promoted that enable the working together in organising cultural events for library users.
€ 38.246,--
The experts will moderate and develop the network. During the workshops, they will provide some theoretical input. Lower Austria has agreed in financing a stageaire to find out good practice examples in order to learn from experiences already made in Lower Austria and abroad. We would also appreciate input of the SSC in the field of networks for libraries or other public services.