On June 9–11, the closing conference of the project “Network of Inclusive Libraries for people of Disadvantaged social groups,” INCLUSIVE, No. LL-00143, titled “New Pilot Multicomplex Sensory Reading Rooms with PIP,” took place in Raubonys, Pasvalys District. The conference served as a grand finale to the entire project. It was attended by delegations from the municipalities of Pasvalys, Aukšdaugava, and Jelgava: municipal and library specialists, members of rural communities, and representatives of various organizations and institutions.
The meeting traditionally began with opening remarks by Danguolė Abazoriuvienė, director of Pasvalys M. Katiliškis Public Library, the project’s Lead Partner. Over the two years of the project’s implementation, a great deal has been accomplished, numerous challenges have been overcome, and at the same time, countless like-minded people have been met, and cooperation between libraries in the two countries has been strengthened. The conference continued with a presentation by Janina Sabaitė, a psychotherapist, certified specialist in individual and organizational coaching, and mindfulness instructor, who spoke about stress management and its harmful effects on the body, as well as how to recognize and cope with stress. Participants also had the opportunity to try various therapeutic activities in nature that help clear the mind and relax.
The second day of the conference began with presentations by the project partners, which covered the project’s background, the activities that had taken place, and achieved results. At the start, conference participants were welcomed by Viktoras Doda, Deputy Mayor of Pasvalys District Municipality, who thanked everyone for their hard work in implementing the project and wished continued success in bilateral cooperation. The presentation session was opened by Pasvalys M. Katiliškis Public Library Director D. Abazoriuvienė, who provided a detailed overview of the history of the Pasvalys mobile library, explaining how systematically, the project idea was developed step by step, and what problems the project aimed to solve, while Edita Jareckaitė, the library’s senior project manager, provided event participants with a detailed overview of the project’s completed activities and their success stories. The presentations continued with Kristine Kūlite, International Projects Coordinator at the Project Department of the Jelgava District Municipality Administration, who explained how a sensory reading room was established at the Zalienieki town library, how various sensory activities were conducted, and how training sessions were held for seniors, people with disabilities, and children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Jelena Žukova, Project Coordinator at the Aukšdaugava Municipality Administration, presented the activities that took place in the Aukšdaugava region, spoke about the process of creating sensory reading rooms in the libraries of the villages of Subate and Viški, and discussed how different communities became involved in the project. Following the presentations, a discussion took place on the positive changes observed in all three municipalities, on bilateral cooperation, and on future prospects. Participants also had the opportunity to visit the new Pasvalys Library BIBLIOBUS and try out new sensory reading room services.
The conference continued with a presentation by psychotherapy consultant, interdisciplinary artist, lecturer, and author Tomas Lagūnavičius. His lecture addressed changing traditions and the fast-paced consumption of culture; the need to present oneself, seek new ideas and approaches; and the desperate struggle for the attention of cultural consumers in today’s globalized world. Participants had the opportunity not only to learn about the potential applications of artificial intelligence tools for attracting visitors but also to test them in practice by developing new ideas for cultural activities or event scenarios. The day concluded with a session led by music therapist Vaida Laurikietė, who not only explained music therapy but also gave participants the opportunity to experience it for themselves.
The third and final day of the conference was dedicated to emotions and creating meaning. The conference was opened by Ugnė Norvaišienė, founder of the “Self-Awareness Academy” and a specialist in business administration and psychology, who advised conference participants on how to find peace and embark on a journey toward deep, authentic self-awareness. The discussion focused on libraries and their staff: on different spaces tailored to the diverse needs of visitors, and on the librarian’s role in understanding, empathizing with, and sincerely caring for their users while creating positive experiences for them at the library. The importance of a diverse sensory environment for regulating emotional and spiritual balance was discussed. Various discussions took place, along with exercises in emotional support and empathy, and participants shared their experiences. The conference concluded with a joint discussion among project partners on how sensory reading rooms have become an important anchor for users seeking to find inner peace in these challenging times, and how a calm environment has become an excellent element for organizing digital and media training as well as employment counselling. The possibility of expanding the network of sensory reading rooms in the future and strengthening international partnerships was also discussed.
The conference, organized by the INCLUSIVE project partner, NGO “Mokymų Sinergija,” marked the culmination of two years of collaboration and joint efforts to create a network of sensory reading rooms with career/profession information points. During the conference, the importance of cooperation between Latvia and Lithuania was strongly emphasized and further steps were discussed to continue the project’s activities. It was a pleasure to meet, share our experiences with social partners and conference guests, learn from one another, and discuss next steps to promote inclusion and remain open—precisely what the acronym of this concluding project, “INCLUSIVE,” embodies.
