Minister of Culture Vaida Aleknavičienė: strong libraries contribute to resilient society
Minister of Culture Vaida Aleknavičienė, welcoming participants to the Congress of Baltic Librarians (CoBaL) in Kaunas, emphasized that modern libraries have become centres of culture, information security and social resilience.
"Today, libraries are more than just cultural spaces – they are the foundation of literacy, information security, and social inclusion in society. They provide opportunities for everyone to learn, improve and critically evaluate the information that surrounds us. This is especially important today, when democratic values face new challenges – from disinformation to social fragmentation," said Minister Vaida Aleknavičienė.
Since 2022, the Lithuania’s public libraries have been successfully implementing Media and Information Literacy Training (MIRKT), during which a methodology has been developed and a strong network of educators has been established in the regions.
"In order to maintain the importance and relevance of libraries, we must continue to invest in infrastructure and professional competencies, modernize and strengthen international partnerships. This is truly a long-term investment in our intellectual capital," said the Minister of Culture.
During the congress, librarianship experts from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are sharing their experiences and discussing literacy education, social inclusion, democracy, and the role of libraries in a changing society. The event is organized by the Lithuanian Librarians' Association together with partners from Latvia and Estonia.
Last updated: 05-12-2025