IRRT (International Relations Round Table)

We'd be happy to see you there!

Time: 11:00am Eastern/10:00 am Central (US/Canada)

Date: November 11, 2025

Webinar Title: A European Library Policy: which telephone number?

Webinar Description:

In 1973, Henry Kissinger, then the US Secretary of State, supposedly asked "Who do I call if I want to call Europe?". This anecdote is often used to describe the complexity and the intricacy of a cohesive European foreign policy. In a similar vein, we might ask ourselves if libraries truly exist at the EU level.

While libraries are primarily within the purview of individual Member States, the European Union plays a vital supporting role. Two European projects with significant policy ambitions, LibrarIN and TELL, will be featured during the upcoming webinar. LibrarIN focuses on developing new library functions and services through public value co-creation and demand-driven design. TELL aims to promote the Council of Europe Recommendation on Library Legislation and Policy and raise awareness about European funding opportunities.

The latter part of the webinar will engage the audience through a game-based approach. By comparing the European library landscape with those in the US and other parts of the world, we can highlight the wide range of opportunities, as well as the inherent complexities, involved in establishing and understanding a universal library policy.

Speakers:Giuseppe Vitiello (g.vitiello@retedellereti.org), Marieke Willems (marieke.willems@lisboncouncil.net), and Ioana Crihana (ioanacrihana@yahoo.com). 

Registration link: https://ala-events.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hki4TXnNQganyWoqRJH1fg

If you can't make it but are interested, you are welcome to register so a recording will be sent to you later.