The network of family digital activity hubs is created in four Latvian and Lithuanian libraries implementing the project. These centres in Utena, Zarasai, Daugavpils and Preili libraries were opened on February of 2019.

 

 

Following activities are implemented to create the network of DigiHubs:

1. Experience exchanged between Latvian and Lithuanian Libraries. The task was to identify best practices and use them as a basis for the new DigiHub service. Two experience exchange seminars were organized, 50 professionals attended these events getting and sharing experience on Lego Mindstorms robots, Kinect, educational computer games, 3D programing and printing, Open Badges use and innovative services. Experts from Association of Lithuania’s Regions Libraries helped librarians to summarize the experience and plan its transferability to the new service.
2. 80 librarians from Lithuanian and Latvian libraries participated in study trips to partners’ institutions. They visited libraries in Utena, Zarasai, Daugavpils and Preili with purpose to get acquaintance with innovative practices on digital competencies development, to establish relations and contacts for professional collaboration.
3. Advanced equipment was purchased and mounted in all project libraries: computers, TV screens, interactive boards, 3D printers and scanners, photo cameras, Lego Mindstorms robots, interactive bikes, virtual reality sets, Kinect and needful furniture.
4. Interactive educational content was developed and installed:

• Interactive Kinect Latgalia – Aukstaitija quiz. It is based on local lore information on Latgale – Aukštaitija region. Learners are able to answer quizzes by moving their hands and bodies.
• Virtual reality tour Utena-Zarasai-Daugavpils-Preili. This tour artificially creates sensory experience and presents all four-partner towns arranging photo – video tours.
• Interactive bike trip „What can you discover when cycling in Eastern Lithuania and Southern Latvia?“. Real bikes are installed in DigiHubs and connected to the screens. People are able to ride the bike through specially created virtual Eastern Aukštaitija and Southern Latgale routs.
• Ibeacon library and Latvian-Lithuanian literature guide. People can install mobile applications of all four libraries and get needful information about books, events and news. Applications can be downloaded from Google Play and App Store.

5. DigiHubs’ mentors are trained. The task was to enable them to assist DigiHubs’ visitors, to help them and to train. To support mentors work unified methodological tools for all DigiHubs’ services are developed:

• Methodology for Xbox with Kinect sensor and virtual reality;
• Methodology for 3D programing;
• Methodology for Lego Mindstorms robotic constructors;
• Methodology Open badges platfor use for learning results evaluation in DigiHubs.

These materials are provided in Lithuanian and Latvian languages and used to help librarians in running activities to develop users’ digital skills. All descriptions and methodological tools in both languages are available online via the internet address https://joom.ag/kqua