The Europe Challenge 2024: Libraries and Communities Commence Projects

On 24 January 2024, over 100 librarians and representatives of local communities from all over Europe convened for the online Kick-off Summit of The Europe Challenge 2024: Libraries, Communities and Democracy. The event marked the initiation of an ambitious 2024 program addressing pressing local challenges across Europe, such as social isolation, inequality, disinformation, and the climate crisis. Spearheaded by the European Cultural Foundation and supported by Fondazione Cariplo, the Scottish Library and Information Council, and Arts Council England, The Europe Challenge announced the selection of 55 libraries and communities from 24 countries for its 2024 edition.

These selected initiatives represent a diverse array of projects aimed at redefining the roles of libraries as beacons of European democracy. The initiative is a unique growing network of European libraries that work together to enhance democratic participation and social and environmental well-being through citizen-led local change. The 2024 edition, spanning January to September, includes a series of online and offline skills development and mentoring sessions, as well as peer-to-peer exchanges facilitated by the programme delivery partners: Including Society, Changency, DOKK1 Aarhus Public Libraries, Public Libraries 2030 and OBA Public Libraries Amsterdam.