From 9-13 June 2025, a delegation of specialists from the National Library of Moldova visited the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania.
The purpose of the visit was to learn and exchange knowledge regarding the development of new services, the use of information resources and innovations, project management, and other professional topics.
The Moldovan delegation met with Aušrinė Žilinskienė, General Director of the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania, as well as with department heads and subject matter experts. On Wednesday, 11 June 2025, the delegation also visited the Kaunas County Public Library and the Valdas Adamkus Library-Museum. The programme included additional visits to the Vilnius University Library, the Lithuanian Library for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and the European Parliament Information Office in Vilnius.
Delegations of specialists from various departments of the National Library of Moldova have visited the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania before. The most recent study visit took place from 10–14 September 2018, involving a group of ten professionals. Moldovan librarians studied best practices and integrated relevant approaches into their institutional work wherever applicable.
These professional exchanges are part of a continuous and fruitful collaboration between the two national libraries. Between 2018 and 2023, several return visits by Lithuanian colleagues to Moldova took place, including participation in international conferences, as well as joint training activities—both online and in person. These ongoing interactions have strengthened institutional ties, encouraged the exchange of best practices, and contributed to the modernization of library services in both countries.
These exchanges highlight the importance of international cooperation among national libraries. They offer a valuable opportunity to share expertise, adopt new strategies, and build sustainable professional networks. The financial support provided by CENL (Conference of European National Librarians) through the EKN Grant plays a vital role in enabling such initiatives, fostering innovation and institutional growth across member libraries.
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Author: Mariana Kiriakov, main specialist, Managerial Support and International Relations Section