This document discusses library cooperation between Poland and Lithuania through sister library partnerships. It provides examples of projects undertaken by sister libraries, such as the "Following the Footsteps of the Insurgents 1863 in Lithuania" project led by the Kaunas County Public Library and Municipal Public Library in Piekary Śląskie. The document outlines the benefits of sister library partnerships, including opportunities for professional development, cultural exchange, and program sharing. User feedback on sister library initiatives has been very positive.

2. Activities brought by information
professionals for mutual understanding
between countries
presentation of best practices as an
inspiration for further actions
by Agata Kawalec

3. many forms, many
faces, many methods
of cooperation and exchange

4. personal vs./and institutional

5. naple sister libraries
concept and ideas
why?
forms of cooperation
Lithuanian and Polish Sister Libraries
joined project
other projects as models

6. Naple Sister Libraries

10. Why should we take part?

11. Why should we take part?
Participation in the programme, an active
participation of course, means development
for each of the cooperating libraries. We learn
from each other, exchange ideas and put them
into practice. At the same time we improve our
English. And besides, we are a group of really
friendly people!
(Aleksandra Zawalska-Hawel)

13. User reaction
The reactions of our users have been very
positive. There were congratulations, press
and radio interviews. But they also expect
something new to happen next. All initiatives
taken with Sister Libraries are being adopted
very well by our community. Our users
participate in shared cultural events. And I
hope we will have more and more common
proposals for them.
(Aleksandra Zawalska-Hawel)

16. What can you do?

17. Possible activities
Exchange Library Information
Exchange Library resources
Share library training programs
Share library programs and exhibits

18. Possible activities
Share cultural events
Assist in library development
Bring recognition of the partnership thorough
publicity
Develop personal contacts

19. Possible activities
Librarians can take on issues related to Children’s and
Youn Adult’s Reading suggested by IFLA
Librarians and readers form sister libraries can
develop joint programmes
(More detailed lists can be found on the projects’ website.)

20. Polish and Lithuanian Sister Libraries

21. Lithuanian Sister Libraries
• Public library of Panevezys
• Kaunas County Public Library (2 sister libraries!)
• Utena A. and M. Miskiniai Public Library
• Povilas Višinskis Šiauliai County Public Library

22. Polish Sister Libraries
• Regional Public Library in Krakow (2 sister
libraries!)
• Municipal Public Library in Lębork
• Public Library in Aleksandrow (1 sister library!)
• Municipal Public Library in Piekary Śląkie (7 sister
libraries!)
• Chrzanów Public Library

23. “Following the footsteps of the
insurgents 1863 in Lithuania”

24. Kaunas County Public Library
Kaunas County Public Library is one of the 4
Lithuanian Libraries that are currently participating
in the programme, and it already has two sister
libraries:
Ljubljana City Library in Slovenia
Municipal Public Library of Piekary Slaskie in
Poland.

25. Municipal Public Library in Piekary
Śląskie
The Municipal Public Library in Piekary Slaskie was
one of the fist libraries to join the programme
It has 7 sister libraries.

26. “Following the footsteps of the
insurgents 1863 in Lithuania”
“We are grateful to Director of Municipal Public
Library of Piekary Slaskie Aleksandra Zawalska-
Hawel for the opportunity to jointly develop a new
idea and prepare a new project. Aleksandra invited
us to develop a project about historical events of
January of 1863 Uprising in Lithuania and Kaunas
“Following the footsteps of the insurgents 1863 in
Lithuania”. So pleasant news has just reached us –
we received funding!”
(Valentina Grinevičienė)

27. “Following the footsteps of the
insurgents 1863 in Lithuania”
So they are going to Kaunas in July for 5 days. 20
young people aged 18-25 from Poland and
Lithuania will participate in the project. They have
planned a lot of activities that they will carry out
together with Kaunas County Public Library. And in
May Aleksandra and another librarian will make a
preparatory visit to Kaunas.
(post from NSL site)

28. “Following the footsteps of the
insurgents 1863 in Lithuania”
So they are going to Kaunas in July for 5 days. 20
young people aged 18-25 from Poland and
Lithuania will participate in the project. They have
planned a lot of activities that they will carry out
together with Kaunas County Public Library. And in
May Aleksandra and another librarian will make a
preparatory visit to Kaunas.
(post from NSL site)

29. “Following the footsteps of the
insurgents 1863 in Lithuania”
The project itself

30. Other projects as models

31. Other projects

32. Thank you very
much!

33. This project was co-financed from:
Orlen Lietuva
Polsko-Litewski Fundusz Wymiany Młodzieży
Fundacja Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
The sole responsibility for the content of this publication lies
with the authors and can in no way be taken to reflect the views
neither of the Fundacja Rozwoju Systemu Edukacji nor
Ministerstwo Edukacji Narodowej.