The goal of public libraries in Lithuania is to create and provide free opportunities to gain knowledge, access information, discover culture, and build experiences. UNESCO Public Library Manifesto (http://archive.ifla.org/VII/s8/unesco/manif.htm) defines objectives that can be solved through the practice of public libraries. It‘s an excellent environment for expanding the understanding of cultural heritage and art, discovering scientific achievements and innovations, using various forms of expressing art and culture, nourishing cultural dialogue, supporting oral tradition, and developing individual creativity. A variety of cultural activities within regional public libraries demonstrate how cultural and educational practice of public libraries provides citizens with an opportunity to explore the world of art and culture.

Educational program “Antanas Miskinis – for Utena and for the world”

Activities of theatrical improvisations and musical synthesis, that have been carried out during an educational program held in Utena A. and M. Miskiniai public library (www.uvb.lt), allowed to learn more about the tragedy of poet‘s Antanas Miskinis life, understand the importance of his works, feel the profoundness of his poetry and patriotic spirit. An educational and memory evening “Reverence for Antanas Miskinis” has been organized, theatrical literature lessons “Elegance of Poetry” and “Following Lithuanian Exile” has been created, and poet’s aspiration to connect modern lyrics with folk songs has been highlighted during an event “It’s Snowing so Elegantly”.

Books and reading events in Zarasai

Zarasai public library (http://www.zarasubiblioteka.lt) organizes a variety of book events with a goal to promote Lithanian and foreign literature in Zarasai region, to create opportunities for locals and guests to meet famous people, and to encourage collaboration between libraries, book clubs, culture and education institutions. Professional artists, poets, writers, actors, singers, painters, and other cultural activists are involved in literature and music event “Readings of the night” where through theatrical representation participants’ works are being displayed. 

Meeting Lithuanian cinema at the library

Movie reviews, talks with filmmakers allow provincial residents to get to know better professional cinema art. During the event “Meeting Lithuanian Cinema at the Library”, organized in Utena library, film directors, producers, and actors encouraged the community to watch Lithuanians films, taught to analyze and assess them, and invested in developing intellectual and critical future audiences. Various meetings with filmmakers and actors, movie reviews and discussions have been organized.  

Cultural program “Library – gates to culture”

The new Utena public library’s cultural educational program “Library – gates to culture” is designed to propagate professional art: the public will get to know famous theatre professionals, writers, translators, artists. Theatrical improvisations workshop, educational singing poetry activities, literature lessons, literature and art events, readings to the elderly will be organized and held in the library.

Virtual poetry tour in Zarasai

The goal of Zarasai public library’s project “The world according to romantic poets” is to employ interactive tools in order to reveal the current and historic literary face of Zarasai region, and to expand information resources about the literary heritage. Virtual tour consists of 11 panoramic excursions through birthplaces of poets who left a footprint in Zarasai region’s history and culture. Visitors are met with informative and interesting facts about nature, architecture, and history relevant to Zarasai region. Link to the virtual tour: http://www.virtualusgidas.lt/zarasu_krastas.

The other side of a personality: talks with locals in Ignalina

“Time will take our lives to the past. There will be others, but already different: other values, other goals, other conflicts. We, 21^st century’s inhabitants of Ignalina, will be changed with new generations. Perhaps they will not care about our times, but maybe there will be a few, who will. There always have been…” - claim idea authors, members of a book club in Ignalina public library (http://www.ignalinosvb.lt/lt/). Scripts of talks with respectable and known locals (artists, writers, activists) are kept in the library and publicized in Ignalina public library’s website under the section “Talks with locals in Ignalina. The other side of a personality” (http://www.ignalinosvb.lt/lt/?option=com_content&view=article&layout=edit&id=843). In this way, it is aimed to preserve them for the future as an intellectual, emotional, and psychological portrait of a local in Ingalina at the beginning of the century.

Internet inspire to create

For already couple of years the elderly are rushing to Moletai public library (http://www.moletai.rvb.lt/lt/) where they have established a club called “Hours of Happiness”. The elderly are not only participating in events held by the library, but are also actively suggesting new activities: they use online lessons to learn to paint, create dolls, or do decoupage.

The Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania announced 2016 as a year of libraries. In this way it is aimed to draw attention to how important, strong, and creative each library is and can be. It is being expected that such attention will encourage society to use libraries’ services more actively and participate in a variety of organized projects and events.