Promoting Smart Use of Upgraded Public Internet Access Infrastructure Among Residents

Source of project funding, value (EUR)

The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund. Project value: EUR 10.7 million

Project goal

To develop and upgrade the public access computer and internet infrastructure in public libraries enabling residents to participate in the digital information initiatives for improving digital competences or for creating local digital content as well as other types of digital information initiatives.

Project tasks:

1. to upgrade and develop the public internet access infrastructure in libraries;
2. to modernise the User Registration and Statistical System (VRSS).

Project duration

January 2018 – January 2022

Implementing organization

Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania

Project partners

The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania

Project description

The following activities will be implemented as part of the project:

1. The computer software and hardware are expected to be upgraded in 1,200 public internet access points in public libraries.
2. The libraries operating in the regional centres will be able to offer technologies that residents or households do not possess yet: new workstations for working with video, audio and/or graphic material, construction sets designed for the development of engineering skills, robotics kits as well as virtual reality and other devices will be set up.
3. It is expected to provide training on the use of computer software and hardware to around 3,000 employees of public libraries and to modernise the registration and statistical system for the visitors who use the newly installed public workstations in the libraries.
4. It is expected that this project will contribute to solving the issue of the digital divide. Residents will be provided with access to the Internet at speeds greater than 30 Mb/s in public libraries.
5. The goal of all these services is to enable e-transformation, i. e. to promote the emergence of new products and services in different locations regardless of the level of the existing infrastructure or economy.

Project outcomes

1. Upgrading 1,200 public internet access points in libraries.
2. This will lead to a 20 percent increase in the number of library visitors.
3. The average internet speed in public libraries will increase to 30 Mb/s.
4. The public internet access service will be positively rated by more than 50 percent of library visitors.

The activities aimed at attracting users and enhancing publicity will be implemented as part of a different project titled Connected Lithuania (Prisijungusi Lietuva) initiated by the Information Society Development Committee. Project partners: Association “Langas į Ateitį”, the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania, the Communications Regulatory Authority of the Republic of Lithuania, and the National Library.

These two projects are expected to contribute to achieving the targets under Priority Axis 2 “Promoting Information Society” of the Operational Programme for the EU Structural Funds Investments for 2014–2020. The following targets are to be achieved by 2023:

1. to ensure that regular internet users account for 87 percent of the Lithuanian population;
2. to ensure that those who have never used the Internet make up just 10 percent of the population;
3. to ensure that the proportion of those who use public or administrative services provided via electronic means reaches 60 percent of the country’s population;
4. to ensure that the residents with high or average internet skills make up 70 percent of the country’s population.

Responsible contact

Aidas Sinkevičius, Project Manager, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.