Purpose
This report highlights the extending role of libraries and other memory institutions due to the progress of Open Science and particularly Citizen Science. Citizen Science is a developing practice with various stakeholders, combining strengths and resources, engaging in research by addressing societal needs and global problems, and developing a knowledge society. Libraries play a relevant role here by promoting collaboration among various stakeholders and increasing information and scientific literacy.
Methodology
The international project LibOCS (Project Number: 2021-1-EE01-KA220-HED-000031125) was the framework for the chosen methodology and study. Two surveys were run in the Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The first survey was held from April to July 2022. The second survey was built based on the data obtained in the first survey, and it was held from June to September 2022. The feedback received from both semi-structured questionnaires was 127 filled and valid for analysis responses of the first survey and 60 of the second one.
Gathered data helped to list the opinions and experiences of researchers, librarians, and specialists of other memory institutions, citizen scientists, or volunteers engaged in Citizen Science projects. The research of available information highlighted only a few Citizen Science projects aired in the Baltics with the engagement of library specialists (Kaseorg, 2022; Dobreva, 2015; Bite, 2020), therefore, it was decided to widen the range of respondents, and to run the surveys also among other memory institutions.
The QuestionPro tool was exploited to design surveys and collect data, and content analysis was used as the method of data analysis.
Findings
Respondents in the Baltic States expressed the willingness to collaborate with memory institution specialists in Citizen Science projects. The answers of the respondents witness the expanding role of the memory institutions specialists in research with the ability to perform the tasks related to organizing training on information, digital, data, and scientific literacy, as well as to giving support for Citizen Science projects through community conventions and promotion of knowledge sharing culture.
References
- Bite, K., Daugavietis, J., Kampars, J., Kreicbergs, J., Kuchma, I., Locmele, E., Ostrovska, D., Vecpuise, E., Veisa, K., Zelve, M., & Latvijas Republikas Izglitibas un zinatnes ministrija. (2020). “Pētījuma par atvērto zinātni un rīcībpolitikas ceļa kartes izstrādi” noslēguma ziņojums 2020. gada 4 jūnijs. Retrieved September 9, 2022 from https://www.izm.gov.lv/sites/izm/files/petijums-atverta_zinatne_21_2.pdf
- Dobreva, M., & Devreni-Kutsuki, A. (2015). Citizen science and memory institutions: Opportunities and challenges. [Conference paper]. Im INFORUM 2015: 21st Annual Conference on Professional Information Resources 2015, Prague, Czech Republic. Retrieved September 27, 2022 from https://www.inforum.cz/pdf/2015/dobreva-milena.pdf
- Kaseorg, S., Neerut, L., Lembinen, L., & Arust, E. (2022). Drivers and barriers of citizen engagement in open science and the role of university libraries in the Baltics. Zenodo. Retrieved August 26, 2022 from https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6997820
Gita Rozenberga
University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
English 
French