Based on the commitment of the network group members the KB National Library of the Netherlands and five CENL EEDI members developed a collaborative proposal as a response to the Erasmus+ KA220 call of 2025 under the adult education stream. On behalf of the CENL Equity, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EEDI) Network group the KB National Library of the Netherlands submitted the proposal successfully.
The Opportunities for People through Equity and Networking (OPEN) project has been awarded a grant for the period from October 2025 to October 2028. The OPEN project aims to promote equity, equality, diversity and inclusion (EEDI) in European national libraries. OPEN will do this by developing inclusive collections, increasing cultural awareness and strengthening community involvement. By fostering collaboration among national libraries, it creates sustainable strategies to ensure that marginalized communities have better access to library resources. OPEN’s ambition is to inspire library staff, improve metadata inclusivity, and secure EEDI practices in the library sector for the long term.
Expected deliverables include:
In addition to the KB National Library of the Netherlands, the consortium includes the national libraries of Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Ireland and Sweden. The British Library and National Library of Scotland are associated partners. The CENL EEDI members such as Serbia, Vatican and North Macedonia will participate in the activities from their role in the CENL Network Group.
The kick-off meeting will take place at the KB in the afternoon on 26 November 2025, following an annual in person meeting of the CENL EEDI Network Group.
If you would like to learn more about the project, please send a message to Dr James Louis Smith, KB Research Project Coordinator, at jameslouis.smith@kb.nl.