School libraries were once, in the 19th century, the cradle of public libraries in Berlin. In the course of the Berlin’ Senate’s cost-cutting measures, their numbers declined significantly after 2005. In the last decade they have increased again and school libraries have gained greater attention from the authorities. Of the 349 school libraries in Berlin, only 44 have specialised staff, 2% of whom are qualified librarians ( https://www.agsbb.de/zahlen-fakten/ ). Whether inclusion is practised, i.e. whether people with disabilities are encouraged to work in these libraries, is still an open question.
The BYBLIOS project aims to promote inclusion in (school) libraries and to view them as places where people with disabilities can work and develop themselves. The consortium asks what an inclusive library of the future could look like and which resources and opportunities already exist. How can a (school) library become a place of learning and a community centre for everyone, including people with disabilities? What learning and qualification requirements are still needed for this – for library staff, for people with disabilities? What are the needs, what ideas already exist and how can they be sensibly implemented?
The colleagues from the project group develop a needs analysis as well as educational materials on (school) libraries as inclusive places of learning and work.
Partner organisations
BENE FUTURO SRL, Camerino, Italy (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
ASOCIACION MAR VIOLETA, GIJON, Spain
