The Europe Challenge is an annual programme that brings together teams from libraries and communities across Europe to address social isolation, inequality, disinformation, climate crises and other local challenges by developing, sharing and implementing creative solutions with support from the European Cultural Foundation and its partners. The initiative is a unique growing network of European libraries that work together to enhance democratic participation and social and environmental well-being through citizen-led local change.

If Librarians Ran Europe – Panel discussions now up on YouTube!

Libraries play a key role in our contemporary digital and social infrastructure. With 65,000 public libraries across Europe, imagine a continent run by librarians: equitable, green, collaborative, and rooted in access to knowledge for all. This vision was explored during If Librarians Ran Europe – The Amsterdam Summit of The Europe Challenge, organised in the autumn of 2024.
 
Watch all three inspiring panel discussions bringing together library workers, artists, library architects, and climate justice activists, now available on our YouTube channel.

How Libraries Thrive – A Guide for Librarians… and Everyone Else in Europe!

‘How Libraries Survive Thrive – A Guide for Librarians… and Everyone Else in Europe!’ showcases how libraries are transforming Europe, with contributions from library architect Francine Houben, climate justice activist Mikaela Loach, sociologist and Palaces for the People author Eric Klinenburg, #BookTok sensation Jack Edwards, media entrepreneur Esra Karakaya, and many more, including librarians themselves.

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Sense of Belonging

‘Sense of Belonging’ showcases the 39 initiatives created during the Europe Challenge between 2021 and 2023, and tells the back-story: why and how the programme  was conceived. Order a copy here. 

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