The main aim of the event was to give opportunities to exchange experience and establish connections among librarians of Europe. The main topics of the event were "Motivation of staff" and "Motivation for reading".

Its participants were more than 20 librarians from 11 countries. Besides, the event was attended by a large number of librarians from Kaliningrad and its regions. The library community of Belarus was represented by Anastasia Zharskaya, chief bibliographer of the Electronic Library Development Division of the National Library of Belarus.

The program of the first day included a conference where were viewed the work of the Library Creative Laboratory for New Professionals and the IFLA New Professionals Special Interest Group, as well as plans of the Kaliningrad Library Association and the section "New Professionals" of the Library Association of Latvia. The participants liked reports about establishment and using of social networks to share knowledge, ideas between young people; self-motivation of library staff (on the results of the survey made by Swedish social networks); a pilot project of the Stockholm City Library "Get out of the bubble!" on establishing contacts with users in social networks; motivation of librarians in the world of technological development, as well as a variety of social and cultural projects aimed at promoting reading. There was a wonderful report about the experience of library a bike ride in Sweden, as well as the presentation of an international project "Cycling for libraries". At the conference the participants got to know about ABBYY technologies.

The second day of the forum passed as a real creative laboratory. At first there were selected the main topics for consideration and then all the attendees were divided into groups to discuss chosen themes. The main issues were professional mobility, promotion of reading through socio-cultural projects, motivation in the world of technological development (use of different media for libraries), peculiarities in the motivation of staff and volunteers, social networks and partnerships between new professionals, self-motivation of librarians. Everyone had the opportunity to participate in the discussion of the issues, but after all the teams summed up results, expressed ideas and shared thoughts. In the evening, new library professionals attended the concert of local band Ladushki and participated in a master class on Russian folk dances.

The third day included a bike ride "Librarians in motion" timed to the celebration of the day of the All-Russian Library Day. The purpose of the action was to draw attention not only to the profession of a librarian, but also to the development of interest in bicycles in regions. During the route the librarians visited the History Museum in the castle Waldo (the village of Nizovye), the Constantine Village Library and the Children’s Library in the city of Guryevsk. After the participants had rode 60 kilometers for that day, they finished at the city library № 20 in Kaliningrad.

When the forum was over, some of its members joined the action “Human library” that was held in the Kaliningrad Central City Library named after A. Chekhov. This international social project is first of all aimed at overcoming the stereotypes which are so widespread in society now. At that time the librarians acted the role of "books". They told "readers" the peculiarities of their profession and answered various questions.

Thus, the Library Creative Laboratory was like a "fair of ideas" that promote library activities, exchange of knowledge and experience in a dynamic mode. Participation in the conference gave an opportunity for all librarians to talk about the results of their work, make new contacts with colleagues and find support for their ideas and partners for the implementation of various projects. Laboratory creates the environment for creative self-expression and discoveries.

Library Creative Laboratory for New Professionals

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