Digital technologies and online tools are a key driver to foster improved library services for visually impaired readers.Nevertheless, in most EU countries:- library staff is not fully aware about the scope and potential of ICT tools and services for the involvement of visually impaired users, and awareness is also poor on valuable experiences and best practices that could be reproduced at local and international level;- digital competencies of library staff are often insufficient to effectively integrate digital tools.TECH.LIBRARY focuses on 3 main objectives:1) favour the exchange of best practices among staffs of different libraries on services and ICT tools for the involvement of visually impaired users2) expand library staffs’ digital competencies through tailored training activities on ICT tools3) establish a network of libraries for cooperation in responding to visually impaired users’ needs.Following activities will be implemented in order to reach the foreseen objectives:1) Project coordination, which will guarantee a sound technical and financial management of the project,2) Exchange of best practices and study visits so as to give the possibility to each participant to learn and understand how other libraries and countries use ICT for the involvement of visually impaired users,3) Development of a web platform enabling users to get trained, share experiences and opinions, communicate, networking and disseminate project activities and initiatives,4) Short term joint staff training on latest ICT technologies to offer services to visually impaired users,5) Targeted dissemination and exploitation activities: 6 conferences (3 at transnational level and 3 at national level) to disseminate the project achievements and to engage stakeholders within the TECH.LIBRARY online platform.The partnership is composed by 6 public libraries from 6 different countries, supported by one technical partner. The project will involve 122 participants in the training and exchange of best practices activities, whereas 260 will participate in the multiplier events.Moreover, a significant number of external libraries will be engaged in networking and sharing of experiences through the web platform, which will also provide them with useful information, training videos and materials, demos and much more contents to improve their staffs’ digital competencies (it is estimated that more than 300 users will register and actively participate in the platform).Three intellectual outputs will be produced by project activities:1) TECH.LIBRARY online platform2) Training videos in 7 different languages3) Practical handbook and recommendations of best practices in 7 different languages.The expected impact of the project is to promote the professional development of libraries' staff in ICT methodologies all while upskilling their key competencies and fostering much greater inclusiveness in libraries by improving key services dedicated to blind and visually impaired users all around Europe.Becoming a genuinely inclusive library for visually impaired readers is not only about the capacity to adapt to ever changing digital technologies, but also about enabling library staff to play an all-inclusive role.

The THIRD READING AGE project aims to contribute to a measurable and visible:- increase of accessibility to new communication technologies for older adults and develop the reading culture among citizens aged 60+- development of competences for educators and library staff working with older adults so they can adapt their teaching to their local context and learner needs- development of new educational material and resources aimed at activating older adults in the digital spaceThe partners are proposing to develop the following intellectual outputs in order to accomplish the set project aims.IO1 Online Reading Curriculum for Older Adults: How to Become a Digital ReaderThe Online Reading Curriculum Is aimed at facilitating, encouraging and re-thinking reading for older adults using new technologies. The main output objective is to increase accessibility to new communication technologies for older adults and develop the reading culture among citizens aged 60+.The Curriculum will develop senior's competences in:- basics of using e-books and their possibilities (availability of titles in their national language as well as English, mode of use, user functionality, installation of applications, loaning and use of titles)- running and maintaining a creative online blog (design, content maintenance, creative writing)- designing an e-reader club (virtual discussions, online socialization)The piloting of the Curriculum will use the blended learning approach and comprise 60 hours, with 30 hours of instruction being carried out face-to-face and 30 hours in an online environment. A minimum of 12 senior learners (2 of which with special education needs or difficulties) per partner institution will complete the training.IO2 E-reading Community Portal: The Digital Reading AgeAn open-source online learning portal featuring activities and tools in English and partner languages will be created to support senior learners in piloting the Curriculum. The activities and tools on the portal will also be available for self-directed learning for any (senior) citizen that is not directly included in the training programme but needs to develop competences of using digital tools, participating in reading clubs, or using national e-reading resources. The portal will also provide a space for senior learners to connect at the national level and form their online (reading) communities.The partners agree that in this project the online learning portal will be used as a repository of online learning activities, tools, and materials for seniors attending the courses based on the IO1.IO3 Training Programme for Adult Educators and Library Staff: Senior Learner ManualA Training Programme For Adult Educators and Library Staff will be created in order to support the delivery of the developed outputs (IO1 and IO2) and ensure a quality training outcome is achieved. This training programme will be set as a package of learning manual and handbook. This training programme will place a significant emphasis on working with non-traditional learning approaches with the full consent of the digital media in its use. It will explore the different roles that educators are required to adopt when working in these environments. This training will also address some key considerations when working with older adults to ensure that both the educators and learners fully understand completely different teaching and learning process.The THIRD READING AGE project plans to increase the target groups' quality of interaction with senior learners/users due to increased didactic, communication, and motivation competences, better cooperation and communication through ICT tools, and better knowledge about digital reading tools. The desired result is to also have more competent and professional AE and library staff that can progress beyond their traditional approach to and culture of education and reading.Thanks to the online portal, senior learners will also improve their access and use of online collections of digital training material. The piloting of the IO1 will be based on a practical and interactive training approach and tools in order to ensure proper adaptation to the specific learning and communication needs of senior learners. The project will also have positive results for the participating organisations since project partners will improve their in-person and digital training approaches, strengthen their cooperation with the relevant lifelong learning institutions and libraries in their regions and countries as well as relevant stakeholders in other countries, contributing to their internationalisation.