School libraries are the so-called ‘wallflowers’ of the German library landscape. Their exact number is unknown and is currently being determined. Funding is precarious, especially for staff. However, awareness of their importance is growing. They are important for pupils’ educational biographies, for social inclusion and for the future of a society that depends on their talents. School libraries are like underestimated treasures. Can they also be pioneers of inclusion?
In the European project ‘BYBLIOS – Inclusion in Libraries’ (original title ‘BYBLIOS – Making school libraries an environment to boost up skills in people with disabilities’), six organisations in Italy, Portugal, Romania, Spain and Germany are working together to define inclusion more broadly than is usually the case. The focus is not so much on the physical accessibility of libraries and whether media are available in easy-to-read language. Rather, the project is investigating a) under what conditions it is possible for people with (mild) cognitive impairments to work in a library and b) what the library of the future should look like in order to be open to everyone.
In addition to analysing the situation of school libraries in the respective partner countries, educational materials on (school) libraries as places of learning and work are being developed. Weltgewandt e.V. is also producing five podcasts on the topic.
More information on the project website.
Partner organisations
BENE FUTURO SRL, Camerino, Italien (coordinator)
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI GABRIELE D’ANNUNZIO DI CHIETI-PESCARA, Chieti, Italy
Centrul Judetean de Resurse si Asistenta Educationala Vrancea, Focsani, Romania
DESINCOOP – DESENVOLVIMENTO ECONOMICO, SOCIAL E CULTURAL CRL, GUIMARAES, Portugal
QUALIFICALIA ANALYTICS, Valladolid, Spain
