Libraries in Networks: Creating, Participating, Co-operating Kaunas County Public Library: the Strategies of Networking and Practical Solutions Edita Urbonavičienė Kaunas County Public Library, Kaunas, Lithuania The network may be defined as one of the most important factors which let the organizations get the upper hand in various areas. The process of networking allows attracting new financing sources and potential customers as well as expanding the range of activities and services. Moreover, it also plays an important role while sharing the knowledge and improving the competence. Kaunas County Public Library has a significant experience while implementing the main principles of networking amongst various business, community and government organizations: carrying out mutual projects, sharing the experience and gaining a beneficial support. Due to the globalization as well the progress of present state political, social, cultural, technological, scientific and economic development, there have been an occurrence of new partnership forms. Although these forms are called differently depending on the author, the most common terms are networking or network structure. In a general sense, a networking organization can be described as cooperative arrangements between independent organizations that vary from contractual joint ventures to informal exchanges of information 1. In other words, the network structure functions within three levels: organization, network and other element which is in contact. This element may be another organization, an individual or a group, which belongs to the same or the other organization, area of activity or a sector. As the figure shows, an organization may have connections with various market participants, which may be for different purposes and also take place at the same time 2. Network Other elements, which are in contact Organization Scheme of Network Structure 1 Lynch, N., Lenihan, H., Hart, M. (2009). Developing a Framework to Evaluate Business Networks: the Case of Ireland s Industry-Led Network Initiative. Policy studies, 30 (2), 163-180. From EBSCO data baze. 2 Hakansson, H., Snehota, I. (1995). Developing Relationships in Business Networks. London: Routledge. 1
Networking enforces the development and effectiveness of organizations by a larger scale and speed. The organizations which are within a network have few general features. They are 3 : Competitive; Innovative and changing over time; Effective in generation of knowledge; Quick processing and sharing the information ; Minimization of both the organizational expenses as well as business risk factors; Maximization of profitability; Developed feedback; And economies of scale. Successful functioning of a network structure depends on the distribution of participants and power positions. However, it proves to be difficult not only to root the trust and mutual obligations but also to control them. As a result, there are two types of networking 4 : The networking, which are based on the management connections; or where the aims and strategies of the participants are established by the hierarchical position. The networking, which are based on the cooperation connections; or where participants are structurally independent on each other but are united by the same aim. Taking into consideration of what was written before, it might be claimed that there are two indicators regarding the networking 5 : The compliance or the ability to synchronize the aims between a networking and its participants. And the links or the ability to ensure an effective communication between the participants of a network structure. Kaunas County Public Library networking The networking of Kaunas County Public Library (KCPL) is based on the cooperation connections with various partners: business companies, government and media representatives, governmental and non-governmental organizations, the local community, foreign countries and other. 3 Heck, E. V., Vervest, P. (2007). Smart Business Networks: how the Network Wins. Communications of the ACM, 50 (6), 29-37. From EBSCO data baze. Lynch, N., Lenihan, H., Hart, M. (2009). Developing a Framework to Evaluate Business Networks: the Case of Ireland s Industry-Led Network Initiative. Policy studies, 30 (2), 163-180. From EBSCO data baze. 4 Sacchetti, S., Sugden., R. (2003). The governance of networks and economic power: the nature and impact of subcontracting relationships. Journal of Economic Surveys, 17 (5), 669-91. 5 Castells, M. (2005). Tinklaveikos visuomenės raida. Informacijos amžius: ekonomika, visuomenė ir kultūra. Pirmas tomas. Kaunas: Poligrafija ir informatika. 2
The growth of KCPL partnerships in 2008-2011 It might be claimed that the networking process at the Library was started in 2008 when there were more and more partnerships established. However, the earlier partnerships were short-term and did not result in long-lasting links. In contrary, through the last 4 years the number of partnerships jumped by 90% and most of them became long-term partnerships. The growth of KCPL activities based on partnerships in 2008-2011 For the last few years a great attention was paid for the expansion of the services as well as the imagebuilding and the promotion of the Library. As a result there was a noticeable growth of the activities based on partnerships, which jumped by 74%. 3
The partnerships forms of KCPL It should be noted that for each project we look for different partnership opportunities. However, the most important aspect of these partnerships is for them to be beneficial for both of the parties. As seen in the graph, half of our projects are based on bartering while one fourth of the projects are based on the social activities. As for the rest, it is based on mutual activities and financial support. Kaunas County Public Library and business The most important aspect is the partnerships between the Library and business organizations. The partnerships provide new services for the customers as well as new activities, which neither were common nor practices at the Library earlier. One of the most significant projects is Pecha Kucha which was started in 2010 together with Lithuanian Telecommunication Company. The aim of the project is to encourage the communities to generate innovative ideas and share them with each other. The methodology for the project is borrowed from Japan. No less significant are continuous projects for educative purposes, which are being implemented in cooperation with the beer brewery. The aim of the projects is to promote Kaunas the second largest city in Lithuania and the temporary capital of the interwar period. First of all we organized movable and virtual exhibitions which presented inspirational personalities of historic Kaunas as well as their most prominent works. At the moment, during the ongoing project we aim to highlight the achievements and ideas of Today in the Kaunas city. In cooperation with the media, the Kaunas community also showed an enthusiastic participation during the projects. A year ago, in cooperation with the board game company we began organizing Board Game Afternoons. This is a completely new and extremely popular activity which gives an opportunity for the youth to get entertainment at the Library. The Library prepares the representational publications and electronic directories about Kaunas city history and cultural heritage which also are very popular regarding the sponsorship. The newest our publications were funded by the state and by other private sponsors. For example, the postcard 4
collection Kaunas: the Metamorphosis of an Image was appreciated by both, Kaunas City Municipality and the organizers of the international Hansa Days. Last December the President initiated a nation-wide event, which has the purpose to encourage people to donate new books for the Lithuanian libraries. In order to get the best results, we organized a charity concert, which was attended by famous Lithuanian musicians. Instead of purchasing the ticket for the concert we encouraged the audience to donate the books. During the campaign we collected over three thousand new books, which were added to the Library s book fund. The concert was sponsored by the data communication company. In addition, quite a lot of books were donated by Lithuanian publishing houses. During the national project Libraries for Innovation, which had been going on for four years, we had gained extremely valuable andragogic knowledge. We used it for the staff and community trainings and also sharing practical knowledge with our partners. In order to ensure the continuity of the trainings and achieve a wider range of the taught subjects, we began looking for partnerships in this area as well. At the moment we have two cooperation agreements. The first one is the bank, which organizes the trainings about e-mail banking system and personal information security requirements. The second one is foreign language centre, which provides English language courses for our staff. There are other partnerships with business companies, which are worth mentioning. To be more precise those are annual promotions and competitions, which offers valuable prizes, provided by the sponsors. For example, last year we organized a competition Create a style for a contemporary librarian. It was extremely popular and there were over 200 sketches sent by the competitors, who won prizes from a vintage clothing shop. Kaunas County Public Library, government and business One of the newest and most exclusive Library s projects is the renovation of the benches at the Small Oak Grove Park, which is located near our building. Together with Kaunas City Municipality and Telecommunications Company we seek to contribute to both, the life of Kaunas community and the environment. The old park benches, which are not in the best condition, will be changed to newly designed works. In addition, various companies will be able to establish benches with the promotion signs for their company. The renovated benches will be used to organize various gaming competitions and to reduce the digital separation. Kaunas County Public Library and governmental organizations Regarding the cooperation with the governmental organizations, one of the noted partnerships is the one with Lithuanian Air Forces. Together we implement a variety of reading promotions as well as citizenship and national identity building projects. We are also prepared movable and virtual exhibitions to commemorate the anniversary of historic flight across the Atlantic of famous Lithuanian pilots. In collaboration with other military structures we are actively engaged in Kaunas city cleaning campaign. Kaunas County Public Library and non-governmental organizations In the list of KCPL partnerships there also are quite a big number of non-governmental organizations. To be more precise, those are city museums, theaters, educational institutions and so on. Based on 5
them, we organize various mutual events, concerts, art workshops, overviews of film festival movies and other. For example, quite a lot of attention has received a spectacle, which was shown in the Library. This non-traditional event was organized in partnership with the theatre organization. This year we are implementing the EIFL s Public Library Innovation Programme project BiblioHealth. The aim of the project is to encourage the older people to promote healthy lifestyle as well as the access to reliable sources for health information. In collaboration with doctors, psychologists, media and yoga specialists, we organize meetings with the promoters of a healthy lifestyle, relaxation and yoga classes, various workshops and seminars. We also have purchased new books on health topics and have established several computer work stations for readers. Kaunas County Public Library and foreign partners For several years we had been participating in the implementation of the project Rebel: Reading between the Lines which is a part of an international Life Long Learning Programme Grundtvig. During the project we aimed to present reading as a tool for building the European awareness. We shared the gained experience with the partners from Germany, Italy, Malta, Turkey and Norway. In addition, we also got to know the culture and traditions from other countries as well as find common values. Kaunas County Public Library and community The most significant partnership, which reflects the collaboration with the community, is our Volunteer s Club, which has been active since 2008. The members of the club are young people and professionals of various fields, who not only participate in mutual activities initiated by the Library, but also organizes its own events, lectures and so on. One of the examples is a performance and dance act flashmob event, which was held in the Kaunas City Centre and was intended for the promotion the event by the library in order to attract more visitors. No less innovative activity was a quiz the battle of minds, which was held during the international campaign Museum Night 2012. It was a great opportunity to introduce the Library in a completely different environment and also attract new volunteers. The aims and benefits from the partnerships To sum up, there are few mutual aims and key criteria for benefits, which frames the partnership between the Library and other organizations: To develop culture of the society as well as promote creativity; Create innovative services for the community; Contribute to the dissemination of the history of Kaunas and name promotion. Finally, the partnerships have become the guarantee of our success this year Kaunas County Public Library has received two awards: For the successful advocacy and The most collaborative Library 2012. It is an extremely important achievement among the Lithuanian libraries, which highlights the importance of partnership and its role while reaching for the same goal. 6
Illustrations 1. KCPL and business The moments of the event Pecha Kucha 2. KCPL and business The virtual and movable exhibitions, which present inspirational personalities and their most prominent works of historic Kaunas 3. KCPL and business The Board Game Afternoons 7
4. KCPL and business a. The representational publications about Kaunas city history and cultural heritage: Kaunas: the Metamorphosis of an Image and The Signs of Kaunas Identity b. The electronic directory Kaunas Dates and Factes http://datos.kvb.lt/en/ 5. KCPL and business The charity concert, which has the purpose to encourage people to donate new books for the Library 8
6. KCPL and business a. b. Trainings for the librarians Trainings for the community 7. KCPL and business The sketches sent by the participants of a competition Create a style for a contemporary librarian 8. KCPL, government and business a. b. The old park benches near the Library building The newly designed bench, which will replace the old one 9
9. KCPL and governmental organizations a. b. The concert of the Lithuanian Air Forces The participants of Kaunas city cleaning campaign c. The movable and virtual exhibitions to commemorate the anniversary of historic flight across the Atlantic of famous Lithuanian pilots 10. KCPL and non-governmental organizations a. b. The spectacle shown in the Library The overview of film festival movies in the Library 10
11. KCPL and non-governmental organizations The moments from the events of the project BiblioHealth 12. KCPL and foreign partners The reading activities with the foreign partners 13. KCPL and community a. b. The performance and dance act flashmob in the Kaunas City Centre A quiz the battle of minds 11