- Convenors:
-
Thomas Kaarsted
(University of Southern Denmark)
Anne Kathrine Overgaard (University of Southern Denmark)
Darlene Cavalier (SciStarter and Arizona State University)
Marcel LaFlamme (Association of Research Libraries)
Heidi Enwald (University of Oulu)
Riitta Koikkalainen (National Library of Finland)
Elena Svahn (Åbo Akademi University)
Send message to Convenors
- Format:
- Roundtable
Short Abstract
Libraries represent a vast global network. Citizen Science is prevalent in public libraries while research libraries are embracing this area. With perspectives from Europe and the US this panel discuss how both research and public libraries can grow institutional capacity through onboarding researchers and communities.
Description
How can we grow Citizen Science even further? With perspectives from Europe and North America this panel will discuss how libraries can grow institutional capacity through onboarding researchers and communities.
Libraries represent a vast global network. In the United States there are more than 17.000 public libraries while in Europe the number is estimated at 65.000. Similarly, universities and research institutions have libraries dedicated to their researchers and students, which work to advance engaged scholarship and societal impact of research.
In connection, libraries are moving into Citizen Science. In the United States SciStarter works with more than 1.200 public libraries, while in Europe several EU-projects have focused on establishing research libraries as hubs for Citizen Science.
Libraries also report the competences to facilitate and grow citizen science. While public and research libraries have quite different skillsets, they complement each other with a strong knowledge of their communities on one hand and researchers and scientific communication on the other.
This roundtable will be divided in two parts
Part 1 (15 min) will present four quick European library cases from Austria, France, the Netherlands, and Slovenia.
Part 2 (60 min) will discuss the following perspectives on libraries and Citizen Science with participants:
● How public and research libraries can become hubs for Citizen Science
● How researchers can benefit from working with libraries
● How libraries can support partnerships with communities, NGOs, and other societal actors
● How libraries can grow institutional capacity and infrastructure around Citizen Science
The roundtable will include of four brief pitches followed by a moderated discussion with Q&A with the audience.
Accepted contributions
Short Abstract
The planing and development of the Slovenian Citizen Science Network. Building a network of more than 60 partners, from universities, institutes, libraries, museums, societies, to individuals which contributed to the catalogue of more than 70 citizen science projects.
Abstract
Over the past year, citizen science in Slovenia has seen notable progress, particularly with the establishment of the national portal https://citizenscience.si/ and the Slovenian Citizen Science Network. These developments reflect a broader movement that includes not only research institutes and universities but also public libraries, museums, associations, and individual contributors.
Although public participation in research has a long history in Slovenia, it was only in recent years that the term "občanska znanost" (citizen science) gained general acceptance as the most suitable translation. Since 2017, the Central Technical Library of the University of Ljubljana (CTK) has been a key actor in shaping the citizen science landscape in Slovenia. Initially by organizing presentations and expert meetings and later by providing direct support to citizen science projects, CTK has played a bridging role between researchers and the general public. It has also fostered partnerships across institutional and disciplinary boundaries and engaged actively with international networks.
This presentation outlines CTKs efforts to promote citizen science in Slovenia and offers an in-depth look at the content and structure of the citizenscience.si portal. A review and analysis of the citizen science projects published on the platform will be presented, offering insight into current trends, themes, and forms of participation in Slovenian citizen science initiatives.
Abstract
The Vienna University Library has offered research support services for many years. It is currently setting up a coordination office for science communication and citizen science. The aim is to support researchers carrying out participatory projects throughout the entire project period. I am interested in finding out what such support might look like, what experiences have been gained so far, and what should be taken into account. In my new role, I can contribute initial experiences and many years of experience in repository management.
Short Abstract
In ECODOC, two public libraries, true research partners, are co-piloting the research project and opening their doors to citizens to participate in the co-design of a science communication device.
Abstract
The ECODOC research project is a citizen science project on the circulation of scientific information in areas undergoing climate transition. We aim to work with citizens to co-design a device that facilitates access to scientific knowledge, particularly about forests, which have suffered severe fires in our region. This participative work allows us to study the mechanisms of science communication, and more specifically from the perspective of metadata construction
In this project, we are working with two public libraries, Floirac and Arès (France), and we would like to share this experience of involving libraries in a research project, both to show our gratitude and to highlight the importance of working with such partners.
These two libraries are actively involved in the governance of the project, within a steering committee, from the definition of survey methodologies to co-publication. As such, the librarians are true citizen scientists committed to the project throughout its duration, contributing their expertise in information and as places that welcome and facilitate the circulation of people, ideas, and knowledge. In addition, these two libraries have opened their doors to us and given us access to a diverse range of citizens who are not affiliated with the university, enabling us to carry out our co-design project with citizens in a variety of forms, including conferences, science poetry workshops, workshops for co-designing games based on scientific data, and finally, workshops for co-designing our device about forests. In other words, our project would not be what it is without them!
Short Abstract
Libraries are becoming hubs for Citizen Science. Using examples from the Netherlands (i.e. Curious, the Meet-o-theek, and the Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health) this session explores how libraries connect citizens, researchers, and tools to foster engagement and societal impact.
Abstract
Citizen Science offers powerful opportunities to connect research and society. Public as well as research libraries are increasingly becoming infrastructures that enable such engagement. In Europe, collaborations between libraries, universities, and community organizations demonstrate how institutional capacity for Citizen Science can grow through shared expertise, facilities, and networks.
This roundtable highlights examples from the Netherlands, where initiatives such as Curious, the Meet-o-theek, and the Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health (AJSPH) illustrate new forms of cooperation between libraries, researchers, and citizens. The Meet-o-theek provides open access to scientific instruments and workshops, enabling community-led data collection. Curious connects researchers and citizen scientists across sectors, while AJSPH contributes health research expertise and frameworks for evaluating societal impact. Together, they showcase how libraries can move beyond traditional roles to become active facilitators of participatory research and public knowledge creation.
The discussion will explore:
How libraries can build institutional capacity and infrastructure for Citizen Science.
How collaborations with research institutions and community platforms can strengthen engagement and data quality.
How public and research libraries complement each other’s strengths in supporting researchers, citizens, and NGOs.
This roundtable aims to identify sustainable models for libraries to advance Citizen Science as part of their mission to connect knowledge, communities, and impact.