Lobbying for Libraries in the EU: a Library Advocacy Event in Brussels

04 November 2014

Tuesday 4 November, Brussels.

Lobbying for libraries in the EU is the first workshop organised jointly by EBLIDA and Public Libraries 2020. The event took place in the Bibliothèque des Riches-Claires in Brussels City Centre.

The focus of the workshop, attended by librarians from 15 European countries, was on cooperation among librarians all over Europe, strenghtening the network, sharing experience and making the case for libraries both at European and National level.

The morning session focussed on general information about European institutions and basic lobbying and advocacy work. Ilona Kish (Program Director at Public Libraries 2020) and Vincent Bonnet (EBLIDA Director) advised participants regarding the best way to approach EU Institutions. Participants were given the opportunity to share their own experiences and knowledge through active working groups work.

 

The afternoon session focussed on copyright. Klaus-Peter Böttger, EBLIDA President, opened the session by highlighting libraries' core mission as public insitutions of giving access to information and knowledge and the current obstacles they are facing. Vincent Bonnet gave a brief overview of the  "Right to E-Read Campaign". The floor was then given to Kostas Rossoglou, Senior Legal Advisor at BEUC (see picture) who gave an inspiring presentation on the need for copyright reform and consumers rights to access digital content.

The workshop concluded with interactive working groups work on copyright reform and practical case studies.

 

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