Europe’s Libraries Look Beyond Books: Reimaging Their Role

• Libraries across Europe are evolving into "third spaces" that serve as community hubs beyond home and work, moving past the traditional model of book storage.
• Research initiatives like "make-a-thek" and "LibrarIN" are supporting this transition through makerspaces, digital innovation, and collaborative community programming.
• Libraries are increasingly adopting "living lab" models to co-create services with citizens, shifting their core value from "collections" to "connections."

Rethinking the Library Model

• Libraries face pressure to remain relevant in a digital age; they are positioning themselves as "community living rooms" that provide trusted, inclusive, and accessible spaces.
• The "make-a-thek" initiative (2025–2028) aims to transform libraries into collaborative spaces where people can learn practical skills, such as sustainable fashion and crafts, through peer learning.
• The LibrarIN project (2021–2025) synthesized data from over 1,200 libraries, identifying three primary innovation pillars: digital transformation, community experimentation, and social entrepreneurship.

Implementation and Case Studies

• Implementation varies by location:
  • Helsinki’s Central Library Oodi hosts an extensive, dedicated creative floor.
  • The municipal library in Opole, Poland, has begun hosting targeted makerspace workshops to encourage hands-on creation.
• Some libraries are utilizing AI for automated indexing or partnering with local groups to host repair cafés and grassroots initiatives.

Scaling Impact and Challenges

• Project teams are creating tools to help libraries adapt:
  • LibrarIN provides an online toolkit for benchmarking and inspiration.
  • "make-a-thek" is deploying a mobile unit bus to bring tools and workshops to rural and underserved regions, with a digital toolkit planned for July 2026.
• Stakeholders, particularly funders, occasionally resist these changes, often clinging to the traditional view of libraries solely as book repositories despite shifting social requirements.