Strengthening Europe through public libraries: How sustained investment in public libraries and their multiple roles delivers social, cultural and democratic returns
Luxemburgo: OPOCE, 2026
With an estimated 67 000 public libraries serving 757 million visitors public libraries represent a significant asset for Europe and Europeans in addressing social, cultural and educational challenges. Yet this potential remains underused. In 2023, the Council of the European Union approved a mandate for an Open Method of Coordination (OMC) Group to examine how to strengthen and promote the multiple roles of public libraries. The OMC Group brought together 36 experts from 33 EU and non-EU European countries. This report and its separate annex 3 are the results of their work and includes key findings, best practices, and policy recommendations at local, national and European level. In the report the OMC Group have identified key societal challenges – with numerous examples – where libraries across Europe are taking local responsibility to address the needs of their communities and fulfil multiple roles across education, culture, community and democratic life. • They combat declining literacy and support lifelong learning through national reading strategies and programmes for children and youth.