As community hubs, public libraries are uniquely positioned to raise awareness about and foster participation in citizen science (CS). As part of the European Citizen Science (ECS) project, SciStarter, the European Citizen Science Academy and PL2030 developed an online training for public libraries to learn and integrate CS into their activities and programmes.

This session proposes a mini version of the training and practical workshop. Participants will gain an understanding of what CS is, explore case studies of citizen science library initiatives in both Europe and North America, and discover tools and resources to support implementation. The session will include a workshop where participants will collaborate to design their own CS action plan tailored to their community.

Libraries, as third spaces in this evolving digital age, are uniquely positioned to connect and empower communities with emerging technologies and meaningful information. This session highlights how libraries can embrace CS as a new public engagement tool that can promote science literacy, environmental awareness, data literacy, social inclusion, and collaboration.

To make use of the conference’s setting, the session plans to incorporate a live data collection activity, demonstrating how libraries can partner up with local institutions - such as zoos, parks, and gardens - to engage library patrons in CS. Tailored to all interested information professionals, new or experienced with CS, participants will leave the session with actionable ideas, practical resources, and a clear understanding of how to bring CS to life in their libraries, no matter their size or focus.