The Goethe-Institut Programme with IFLA
Emerging International Voices

The Portuguese National Library was the pioneer of digital libraries in Portugal. In less than two decades, its digital library evolved from a small digital collection to a large network and content aggregator - setting the standard for other libraries in the country.

Libraries in Turkey have an image problem. Nilay Cevher reflects on the current situation of literacy, reading and libaries in her country - and looks at what needs to be improved.

German libraries offer a great variaty of digital services, but there is still potential to reach out to broader communities.

Rachael Culley gives a behind-the-scenes tour of the social media strategy of the British Library and tells what the most important learnings from the content production during the lockdown were.

Libraries have always been extremely important for every community because they are centres of information, culture, and education, and in them we always have access to relevant, recent and verified data. The most important person in all of this is the librarian.

In the pandemic the digital services has proven as the library’s lifeline, the principal way to reach out to the community and help them with their needs.

Much improvisation was needed when her library shot its doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Rana Haj Yahia on difficult programmes, grateful vistitors and the importance of listening to customers' needs.

In the political discourse of Mexico, it is constantly said that there is interest in creating a digital offer in various areas. However, it has been difficult for projects to endure, either due to lack of budget, vision or follow-up. The cultural issue is no exception

For years digital services took a very humble place among other types of library services. During the COVID-19 crisis the role of digital offerings has become significantly more important. Nowadays most of the libraries in Russia, no matter how small they are, use technology to improve services for customers.

When we speak of digital services for libraries, we cannot expect everyone working in a public library to know what is meant. There are so many ways for libraries to develop their individual digital portfolios that it is all too easy to lose sight of the needs of the communities they serve.

In India, where top 10% of the population holds 77% of the wealth and close to 80% of the population live in extreme poverty due to lack of access to educational and employment opportunities, the digital divide is only increasing this gap. Access to digital libraries is vital in bridging this divide.

The digital library landscape in Spain varies widely, reports Pau Bañó Magraner. In recent years, he observed an opening of libraries to the platforms already used by the users – leading to  new opportunities but also challenges for librarians.

Damilare Oyedele tells a personal story of libraries transforming the human mind and shows how digital ressources can reach more users.

Bolivia has been in a state of crisis for a long time before the COVID-19 pandemic. Sadly, it could be said that Bolivia has been in crisis since the beginning of its existence. Libraries have fought this crisis and worked to make a better society, but if librarians are unable to go to their workplaces to organise and share information (in relation to both the pandemic and the social crisis), what can they do? 

Russian libraries were very creative in the lockdown period. What can other libraries learn from the best practice examples?

Closed colleges, closed schools, closed libraries. In times of Corona digital libraries are needed more than ever. Not only do they provide food for the minds of the young, they also help libraries stay connected with their members. But there are not only advantages.

In the course of the pandemic, newly created and existing offers were made accessible to the library customers. But one of the biggest challenges remains making these offers known.

The accesibility of digital services is a question of budget and priorities. What strategies do academic and public libraries in the UK adopt?

How can specialist libraries transform themselves in order to serve the communities better? On the importance of open data and making information available.

The lockdown in Brussels has been an accelerator of change towards digital services for libraries. But how to bring that typical library experience into people's homes through a screen?

Katona József Library offers a wide range of digital services: knowledge repositories, portals with digital collections, maps and walks. How can these help to retain readers?

Digital transformation, besides being a phenomenon of prime importance in the reconfiguration of social dynamics in the twenty-first century, has had a significant impact on the field of cultural heritage. Digital technologies have enabled the expansion of access to cultural collections, as well as bringing challenges related to the excess of content and the transience of some of this content.