|
|
Lifelong Learning, the role of archives and libraries |
A
European area of Lifelong Learning
Why is Lifelong Learning important for archives and libraries?
EBLIDA Statements in
response to European Commission Memorandum
Lifelong Learning, 2001
Links to other resources
During the 20th century, education for all has become recognised as an individual right. Education and learning are seen as providing opportunities for personal fulfilment and development, as well as being essential elements in a socially inclusive and democratic society. Education is also a building block for economic growth and employment. Life long learning involves many forms of education and training, formal and informal. These include the school system from primary to tertiary level, adult education, informal training and the recognition of non-formal learning. Lifelong learning can be individual with individual learning accounts, in a group setting or within the context of social movements.
1996 was designated European year of lifelong learning. Since then, lifelong learning has been the subject of policy discussion and debate. Lifelong learning has become part of a high level integrated strategy across a range of European institutions and includes Community action and research programmes, task forces and initiatives. Today the need for European citizens to acquire the skills and competences necessary to benefit from the knowledge society is greater than ever. The European Social Fund, the European Union's main financial tool supporting the European Employment Strategy, includes at least €12 billion for lifelong learning, representing between 8% and 40% of each Member State's allocation for the period 2000-06. In March 2000, the Lisbon European Council confirmed lifelong learning as a basic component of the European social model. This led to the European Commission Communication to establish a European area of lifelong learning by developing comprehensive and coherent strategies on lifelong learning and by identifying priorities for action.
Within all the different forms of education and training, the ability to search for information and to develop knowledge actively and independently is essential. Implicit within the lifelong learning agenda is the breaking down of the traditional definitions of where learning takes place. The classroom and the traditional textbook must therefore be supplemented by archives, libraries and other institutions offering a broad choice of different media and professional guidance in acquiring information. Libraries and archives therefore have a key role to play in underpinning learning in its broadest sense, both as a formal activity within an institution and informally within the community.
Libraries and archives in the knowledge society are much more than book repositories. They provide a wide range of services to millions of students, researchers and members of the public, as well as access to a huge range of high quality, current content. Libraries and archives are active partners offering access, professional guidance and training to global resources in a local setting.
EBLIDA
Letter to Ministers of Education and Culture,
Barcelona European Council,
March 2002 (English)
EBLIDA
Letter to Ministers of Education and Culture,
Barcelona European Council,
March 2002 (French version)
Press Release. EBLIDA urges Ministers of Education and Culture to include
libraries in lifelong learning debate, Barcelona European Council, March 2002
EBLIDA Statement to the
European Commission
Memorandum on Lifelong Learning, June 2001
Lifelong Learning
Policy Area, European Commission
DG Education and Culture
Eurydice
database on Lifelong
Learning
European Report on
Quality Indicators of Lifelong Learning, June 2002
European Training Village, Europe's virtual community for vocational education and training professionals
elearningeuropa.info, key
issues on new learning processes and educational use of technology
The Learning Citizen initiative sponsored by the
European Commission, a portal to lifelong learning initiatives taking place across the world
European
Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) policy statement on
lifelong learning in Europe, 2001
The role of
public libraries in lifelong learning, IFLA project under the section of
Public Libraries
Sources of knowledge, spaces for learning, Britt-Marie Häggström,
Project coordinator
IFLA Role of Public Libraries in lifelong
learning, February 2002
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) - Lifelong
Learning and sectors of education
UNESCO Institute for
education
Created: 2 April 2002
Last updated: 17 December 2003