Implementing Citizen Science Activities in Baltic University Libraries: On the Road to a Citizen Science Hub

Kaarin Birk; Tuuliki Tõiste; Tiberius Ignat; Svea Kaseorg; Lilian Neerut; Liisi Lembinen; Gita Rozenberga; Gintarė Tautkevičienė; Aistė Pranckutė; Giedrė Sabaitytė; Laima Bucevičiūtė; Katerina Zourou; Stefania Oikonomou; Mārīte Saviča

doi:10.53377/lq.19068

Authors

Kaarin Birk Tallinn University of Technology Library, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8358-8736
Tuuliki Tõiste Tallinn University of Technology Library, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7647-8459
Tiberius Ignat Immer Besser and SKS Knowledge Services, Munich, Germany https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4839-2344
Svea Kaseorg University of Tartu Library, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia https://orcid.org/0009-0003-4471-1680
Lilian Neerut University of Tartu Library, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8473-041X
Liisi Lembinen University of Tartu Library, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5176-2641
Gita Rozenberga Library of the University of Latvia, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
Gintarė Tautkevičienė Library of Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas, Lithuania https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5002-8824
Aistė Pranckutė Library of Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas, Lithuania
Giedrė Sabaitytė Vytautas Magnus University Library, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3405-2207
Laima Bucevičiūtė Vytautas Magnus University Library, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8775-3990
Katerina Zourou Web2Learn, Thessaloniki, Greece https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3679-3503
Stefania Oikonomou Web2Learn, Thessaloniki, Greece https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7711-2033
Mārīte Saviča Library of the University of Latvia, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53377/lq.19068

Keywords:

Citizen Science, academic libraries, citizen science hub

Abstract

The current article brings to the fore key results of the implementation of citizen science (CS) practices at universities and their libraries by focusing on five Baltic universities. It observes the improvement of skills and knowledge in the participating organisations. It examines the need and readiness for the institutional change necessary for implementing CS practices in the Baltics and the ways the participating organisations have improved in the field of CS during the LibOCS project (University libraries strengthening the academia-society connection through citizen science in the Baltics, 2022–2024). The study aims to determine to what extent the framework of the current project and the implementation of the BESPOC model (Broad Engagement in Science, Point of Contact) included in the project could act as a blueprint for other organisations wanting to implement institutional and policy changes to advance in the field of CS. These kinds of hubs or knowledge centres have already been established in some Central and Western European countries and it is necessary to create that kind of support system in the Baltic universities.

The article is based on the interviews, surveys, and workshops held on the topics of CS advocacy and implementation of the BESPOC model at Baltic universities led by five university libraries (referred to here as LibOCS HEIs): Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech), University of Tartu (UT), University of Latvia (UL), Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), and Vytautas Magnus University (VMU). The article introduces the core aspects of the LibOCS project, describes the starting point of the participating organisations, and librarians, their level of knowledge about CS and its practices, and proceeds with the changes that took place during the five major project stages and their outputs. The article presents the knowledge growth of the participants, the tools and training materials created for librarians, the practical consultations and workshops that led to the implementation process of the BESPOC model. The more knowledgeable the librarians are, the easier it is to implement CS-related services and establish a central hub. As a result of the project, a positive shift towards the openness to CS activities and its support systems has been identified within participating libraries, and some elements of a single point of contact model are already in development. However, to fully adopt that approach, universities have to include CS in their strategies and allocate resources, entrusting the leader of the process with the work of creating a CS hub.

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Author Biographies

Tiberius Ignat, Immer Besser and SKS Knowledge Services, Munich, Germany

Dr
Gintarė Tautkevičienė, Library of Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas, Lithuania

Dr
Giedrė Sabaitytė, Vytautas Magnus University Library, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania

Dr
Laima Bucevičiūtė, Vytautas Magnus University Library, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania

Dr
Katerina Zourou, Web2Learn, Thessaloniki, Greece

Dr

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