Baranko Dávid Mgr. – Center for Scientific and Technical Information of the Slovak Republic
In 2025, users of public libraries can look forward to new innovative services and activities. SmartLabs will be created in 50 public libraries across Slovakia - innovative spaces supporting creativity, digital literacy and manual skills. What exactly is SmartLab and why will it be part of libraries? You will learn this and much more at the lecture, where we will also present experiential STEAM education, bring closer the connection of art with science and technology, and show how great potential libraries have to support science, research and innovation.
Fázik Jakub, PhDr., PhD. – Center for scientific and technical information of the Slovak Republic
The paper presents a wide range of currently implemented or accredited educational courses of the scientific library of the CVTI SR and provides an overview of plans for the content focus of the new courses being prepared, intended for the librarian profession of all types of libraries in Slovakia.
Gábrišová Henrieta Mgr., PhD. – Freelance researcher / external cooperation with the University of Agder
Libraries, as well as other cultural institutions in Slovakia, face the challenges of digital transformation, which requires constant improvement of the digital competences of their employees. Research in this area points to the need for critical reflection of the European Digital Competence Framework (DigComp) and its adaptation to the specific needs of the cultural sector.
The presented contribution focuses on the examination of the level of digital competences of the workers of Slovak cultural institutions and on the reflection of the DigComp framework. The research draws inspiration from the work of RNDr. Michal Černý, who researched the reflection of the DigComp framework together with the students of the Faculty of Arts of Masaryk University, as well as from other researches. The contribution presents information about ongoing research and research on the given topic abroad.
The aim of the contribution is to point out the importance of continuous education and development of digital competences of library workers and other cultural institutions and the need to re-evaluate existing frameworks in order to better adapt to the changing requirements of the digital age.
Ján Grman, M.Sc., PhD. – SVOP spol. s.r.o
In the post, we will present the news in the INFOGATE, DAWINCI and BIBLIB platforms, but we will think about how the technology and platform of using software as a service allows even the smallest libraries to achieve artificial intelligence technologies or mobile applications. We will introduce the reader's digital mobile card and bring an absolute novelty in the form of the integration of artificial intelligence into INFOGATE and BIBLIB.
Katusčák Dušan Prof., PhDr., PhD., – ŠVK Banská Bystrica; University of Silesia Opava
The proposed solution at a new qualitative level follows on from the successful KIS3G project (2004-2023). The twenty-year experience of centralized library services has proven itself, and the presented project proposes a similar cooperative approach between several institutions. The project is not about the transformation and migration of outdated services, but about the implementation model of a new open source platform of library services based on the architecture of microservices and the open source Discovery system. The new solution will replace the functionality of outdated ILS and provide a new approach to agendas and processes of library and information services. The goal is to deploy, configure and operate the Library Services Platform (LSP) and Discovery system in the government cloud.
Manninen Juha – Finnish Library Association
Finland has long been the first country in the world in reading literacy and in the use of library services. Nevertheless, even in Finland, the situation in the field of education with a view to the future is worrying. In recent decades, there has also been a downward trend from the joy of reading and a decline in reading literacy. Although the use of libraries is still at a high level, they also face many challenges in terms of competition and leisure opportunities. We must realize that one of the duties of public libraries is to promote cultural and social dialogue. The polarization of society is also increasing in Finland. How could we increase interaction between people through library services? This post will answer that too.
Maja Maricevic, Dr. – The British Library
The impact of digital technologies on libraries is a continuous process. We expect libraries to provide a range of digital services – from access to digital content to various tools for finding digital information. The possibilities provided by artificial intelligence are expected to further improve library services. But it also means that libraries are adopting technologies that can be challenging given their core commitments to privacy, transparency, and the legal use of content. For example, many libraries have already faced the dilemma of whether to allow the use of their digital content as data tokens for generative AI training.
This paper will explore how libraries might be able to balance ethics and innovation when deploying AI, by reflecting on the British Library's journey towards an organizational AI strategy.
Martinická Alžbeta, Ing. – The Turkish library in Martin
The Turkish library in Martin wants to be an open library for all users, which fulfills not only a cultural function, but is gradually transformed into an educational center. By modernizing and debarriering its premises, it becomes more attractive for its users and visitors, but it also opens its doors to students of special schools, clients of social facilities, pupils and students of regular primary and secondary schools, parents of preschool children, associations and foundations and, of course, seniors. The goal is to create a multifunctional space where conditions will be created for education, study, meeting both individuals and communities. "Bad libraries build funds, good libraries build services, great libraries build communities" (David R. Lankes). The Turkish Library in Martin wants to be a great library.
The content of the post will be focused on the variety of events organized in the Turčianska library and pointing out what can be done in the library. (e.g. practicing, tutoring, meeting, learning, playing, having discussions, knitting, crocheting, painting, exhibiting, just lying down and relaxing, .... )
Mazáčová Pavlína Mgr. Ph.D. – Masaryk University Brno, Faculty of Arts, Department of Information Studies and Librarianship
The rapid development of technologies and the digitization of society brings new impulses to the field of education and learning, even in the library environment. What kind of productive actor is the teaching librarian in this context? Can it listen to the diverse learning needs of its users? Does it have the competence, but also the support, to fulfill the library's educational role? This contribution is based on research and professional practice of its author.
Mrázová Michaela, Mgr. – National Library of the Czech Republic / Czech Republic
The paper presents the newly introduced system of training employees of the National Library of the Czech Republic, which includes internal lecture programs in which the employees themselves pass on their knowledge to their colleagues. This approach strengthens team cooperation, increases competences and enables effective sharing of professional skills. At the same time, the contribution focuses on specific training for executives, which is adapted to their needs in the field of management and team leadership. In the article, the author reflects on the benefits of such a change and the possibilities of further development of this education system.
Prachárová Zuzana, Mgr. – Slovak National Library
Education in the field of librarianship in Slovakia offers various options, from secondary school to university studies. Students can study librarianship directly or related fields such as library science, library and information studies, or library and information science. In addition to formal education, there are also options for further and lifelong learning, which may include retraining courses and specialized training programs. For example, accredited programs of the Slovak National Library focused on library and information services and work with children and youth. Both programs provide basic theoretical and practical knowledge necessary for work in libraries. Skills such as communicating with people, understanding user needs, and working with the community are also important for professional growth and development. Educational programs are regularly updated to meet current needs and trends in library practice.
Stasselová Silvia, Ing. – member of the IFLA Governing Board, general director of the University Library in Bratislava / Slovakia
Šilha Jiří, Ing. – Tritius Solutions as
We will present the key features of the KIS Tritius system, its main modules and operation options. We will explain how the implementation takes place, including the transfer of data from existing systems. In the second part, we will introduce new functions such as digital cards, accepting non-cash payments and supporting vending machines. Finally, we want to inform about the future of the Tritius system, its other functions, including the use of artificial intelligence technology.
Tóth Szász Enikő – Clarivate
In the current era of rapid technological progress, artificial intelligence (AI) plays a vital role in automating and streamlining processes even in libraries and academic institutions. Artificial intelligence enables libraries to provide better services through accurate and efficient search, analysis and data management tools. This presentation will focus on the key improvements that artificial intelligence brings and show examples of AI applications in library practice, for example in personalizing content, facilitating access to relevant information or predicting research trends. The presentation will offer insight into the innovative opportunities that AI brings to library services and how these technologies support digital transformation in education and research.
Tverdokhlebova Ekaterina Mgr. – Comenius University in Bratislava
Despite the relatively long history of using benchmarking as a comparative study, there is still no unified approach to defining and categorizing benchmarking. Different approaches to definitions point to inconsistencies in terminology and application. There are two main lines of categorization - the first divides benchmarking into product, process, functional, strategic and other types, while the second divides it into internal and external benchmarking and does not allow the possibility of further categorization. In addition to the commercial sphere, benchmarking as a process of comparison and learning from the best is also applied in the library sphere. In contrast to public libraries, benchmarking in the environment of academic libraries has not yet taken place in Slovakia, although foreign experience shows the importance of applying benchmarking in this type of library as well. Benchmarking projects in academic libraries in the Netherlands and Belgium can serve as examples of good practice, which can be one of the starting points for designing benchmarking for Slovak academic libraries as well.
Végh Norbert, Mgr. – Slovak Library for the Blind Matej Hrebenda in Levoča
SKN will provide readers with a million audiobooks thanks to cooperation with DIKDA The Slovak Library for the Blind Matej Hrebenda in Levoča has been working with the Slovak National Library in Martin to make digitized documents available to disabled users for several years. Since 2023, SKN has been making documents available in PDF format in manual mode. In 2024, the process of downloading, text recognition, editing and watermarking was fully automated. From 2025, SKN will also make available their audio version from PDF documents, which will be generated using synthetic speech.
Natália Urblíková, Mgr. – Creative Europe Desk
The Creative Europe program is a flagship initiative of the European Commission aimed at supporting the cultural and audiovisual sector. With a budget of 2.44 billion euros, it will focus on strengthening cultural diversity, digitization, sustainability and supporting the mobility of artists. The conference contribution will focus on the opportunities that the program offers for international cooperation and development of cultural organizations in the EU and beyond. We will present the latest challenges, opportunities for cooperation within European cooperation projects, dissemination of literary works or mobility programs such as Culture Moves Europe. Examples from practice and a presentation of projects involved in the Creative Europe program will also be part of the presentation.