Ljubljana City Library, within the framework of Erasmus+ accreditation for adult education, enables group mobilities that open doors for users and staff to the European space of learning, culture, and intercultural connection.
Group mobility for adult learners is a unique opportunity for a group of participants to travel abroad for a short-term international exchange and, through cultural, linguistic, and educational content, strengthen key competences of the European framework for lifelong learning. These include literacy, multilingualism, digital skills, cultural awareness and expression, entrepreneurship, mathematical and scientific literacy, as well as personal and social skills and active citizenship.
At LCL (Ljubljana City Library), we particularly develop multilingualism, literacy, and cultural awareness and expression – competences that are of central importance to librarians, educational program facilitators, and adult users. For us, mobility is not just travel, but a carefully planned process: group preparation, implementation of mobility abroad, participant monitoring, and in-depth evaluation.
How Do We Implement Mobility at Ljubljana City Library?
At LCL, we approach mobility strategically, responsibly, and inclusively. Our goal is to enable adult participants – including those who have fewer opportunities in life – to experience an international environment, learn through experience, and develop a sense of being part of the wider European space.
The mobility program is prepared in detail by the host institution together with the Centre for International Cooperation and accompanying staff. In doing so, the host institution always listens to the needs and wishes of participants and carefully designs a unique, thoughtful schedule.
Mobility is always teamwork – not only of staff but also of participants. They actively contribute to the preparation of content, presentations, meetings, and cultural programs, which means mobilities are not a one-way “guided trip” but a co-creation of an intercultural experience. They often prepare in-depth presentations on the history, literature, art, nature, and culture of the host country, which they then present at meetings abroad or within the group. This strengthens their knowledge, communication skills, and confidence in their own abilities.
Why Are Mobilities Crucial for People with Fewer Opportunities?
An important part of LCL’s mission and one of the priorities of the Erasmus+ program is the inclusion of people with fewer opportunities – older adults, individuals with lower socio-economic status, people with less experience in international settings, or those who, due to life circumstances, need additional support in participating in educational and cultural programs.
For many participants, mobility is precisely the breakthrough experience that allows them to:
- overcome fear of traveling or foreign languages,
- gain new social contacts,
- feel greater independence and self-confidence,
- experience that their life experiences are valuable,
- learn throughout life, regardless of age or circumstances.
Mobilities prove that adult education can be accessible, friendly, and inclusive. LCL helps participants overcome practical obstacles – from coordinating transport to assistance with preparations, explaining procedures, and adapting programs. In cases where an individual does not have the means for basic equipment, such as a suitcase, we can provide it from Erasmus+ funds, so that the experience is truly accessible to everyone.
This type of support is important not only for the success of mobility but for the broader goal – preventing social exclusion, promoting active aging, and strengthening a sense of belonging to society.
Mobilities Also Strengthen LCL
By implementing group mobilities for adult learners, LCL has offered its users a completely new form of informal education with a strong international dimension for the first time. Mobilities are attended by adult participants from our reading groups and educational and creative workshops. They are designed so that our users, together with host participants in a foreign country, learn content that strengthens their key competences. LCL staff participate in these mobilities as group leaders and also as program facilitators for our participants and participants from host organizations.
With this, we have offered adults a new form of international cooperation, while at the same time bringing a strong European dimension to existing informal education programs – more content about other countries and cultures, European values, and more reading of foreign authors. As part of the exchange, we have also hosted two groups of adult learners from abroad who joined our educational programs. Thus, participants in our educational programs have had the opportunity to meet learning peers from abroad in Slovenia as well.
For the library, experiences related to organising mobility are also important in the long term, such as establishing partnerships, organising logistics, managing costs, conducting administration, communicating with participants and hosts, and disseminating results. For staff who accompany groups, organising such mobility and participating in program implementation is also a valuable enhancement of andragogical skills.
Mobilities have brought LCL greater motivation for international cooperation and new knowledge for planning future mobilities. We also see a significant benefit in our improved recognition both in the European space – where we have established new partnerships and present our model as good practice – and at the national level, where this is reflected in professional publications and presentations of our practice.
We also use learner mobilities to establish more permanent partnerships with European libraries. Namely, partnerships that we establish through staff mobilities in the form of job shadowing are often upgraded with the organization of group mobilities for learners. This enables us to develop longer-term cooperation with our European partners.
Mobilities in 2024–2025
In the last two years, we have realised a series of diverse, rich, and intercultural mobilities at LCL:
Oslo, Norway, Host: Deichman Libraries Oslo – May 2024
The online reading group “Brati inu obstati” (Reading and Persisting) has been operating at LCL since 2021, with members meeting once a month via Zoom to discuss a selected book. Since all reading group participants had not yet met in person, mobility was an excellent opportunity for them to get to know each other better and socialise, while as lovers of good literature, they got to know Norwegian culture not only through reading but also first-hand.
In Oslo, they visited several libraries, met with local reading groups, and explored the city’s literary and cultural offerings. The program included the Ibsen Trail, historical tours, museums, and a visit to a climate exhibition.
Montélimar, France, Host: Médiathèque Intercommunale – September 2024
Members of the reading club “Razpletanja zgodb” (Unravelling Stories) at Šentvid Library focused on a clear goal during preparations: to deepen their knowledge of French, especially Provençal culture and literature, which they supported by reading works by French authors and holding group discussions. An important part of the program was intercultural socialising – they collaborated with a local reading club, presented Slovenian culture, and participated in joint literary, creative, and culinary activities. Mobility thus connected language learning, literature, and environmental discovery, and enabled participants to develop communication skills, broaden cultural horizons, and strengthen a sense of community.
Valencia, Spain, Host: Biblioteca Valenciana Nicolau Primitiu – March 2025
Participants in the mobility to Valencia were members of the reading group “Literarna srečanja v španščini” (Literary Meetings in Spanish), who come from different age, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds. They prepared for mobility with several preparatory meetings at the library, where they created presentations in Spanish in pairs, learned about selected literary works, and received learning booklets with all necessary information. In Valencia, they met with local readers, participated in a literary event with a local author, visited museums, libraries, and other cultural institutions, and attended a professional program at the national library.
Dubrovnik, Croatia, Host: Dubrovačke knjižnice – April 2025
A group of participants from creative workshops learned about Croatian culture, history, and traditions of Dubrovnik through informal learning in Dubrovnik in April, and also encountered traditional crafts. An important part of the program was dedicated to sustainable practices – from an eco-workshop with natural products to learning about environmentally friendly materials in museum heritage – which strengthened understanding of the importance of responsible use of natural resources. In the local environment, they developed communication skills, confidence in public speaking, and intercultural and intergenerational cooperation, while also presenting Slovenian culture and good sustainable practices to the local community.
Donja Stubica, Croatia, Host: Kajkaviana – društvo za prikupljanje, čuvanje i promicanje hrvatske kajkavske baštine – May 2025
At the group mobility in Donja Stubica, two long-standing LCL reading groups, “Srečanje s knjigo za starejše” (Meeting with a Book for Seniors) and “Pogovor ob knjigi” (Conversation about a Book), met together for the first time. Their members are on average 76 years old, making this mobility one of the oldest in the Erasmus+ program. The mobility was designed as an inclusive learning experience for people with fewer opportunities, so preparations were carefully tailored to the participants’ age group – from personal learning booklets and clear communication to removing logistical obstacles, which enabled their full and equal participation. In the two-day program hosted by a cultural association, participants learned about Kajkavian cultural heritage, the history of peasant uprisings, the work of local cultural institutions, and met with a reading group with whom they discussed local history. Through guided tours, conversations, and experiential activities, they learned how libraries and museums strengthen community, intercultural dialogue, and heritage preservation.
Alicante and Madrid, Spain, Host: CEPA Ramón y Cajal – July 2025
Participants in the “Modra leta” (Blue Years) project explored Alicante and Madrid in July. In Alicante, participants developed language, digital, and social skills in a safe environment and learned about the Mediterranean lifestyle, sustainability, and the importance of healthy aging. In Madrid, they enhanced the experience by participating in workshops, presentations, and intercultural exchange at an educational centre. The entire program connected learning, intercultural understanding, inclusion, and personal and community growth, and complemented programs for seniors at Ljubljana City Library. Their hosts visited us at LCL in November and were delighted with our branches and hospitality.
Helsinki, Finland, Host: Helsinki City Library – October 2025
The visit of participants from the reading group “Knjižna čajanka” (Book Tea Party) to Helsinki combined visits to famous Finnish libraries, literary gatherings, readings in different languages, presentations about Slovenia, and creative workshops related to Finnish and Slovenian tradition. Preparations included reading books by Finnish authors, a lecture by a translator, a mask-making workshop, and watching a film. In Finland, participants explored different libraries, participated in creative workshops using natural materials, met with local reading clubs, and exchanged literary experiences, including through simultaneous translation. A visit to an ancient town gave participants insight into Finnish literary and cultural heritage, intercultural connection, and deepening of social and literary bonds within the group.
An Invaluable Experience
Library staff who participated in mobilities as group leaders say that user mobility strengthens group cohesion and creates lasting friendships, as joint activities deepen interpersonal relationships. Preparation is demanding, as all details must be planned, health and individual needs must be considered, and one must be prepared for unpredictable situations, especially with older participants. Despite the effort, the experience is invaluable, participants are grateful, and the atmosphere in reading groups noticeably improves after returning.
“I can only speak about mobility with users in superlatives. Visiting foreign libraries, meeting participants in their reading groups, and jointly implementing events and workshops are a wonderful way to form new friendships. All of this was also beneficial for our group dynamics, which, at least in my experience, improved even more upon returning home.”
“The implementation of user mobility proved to be an invaluable experience for the reading group. Although planning was indeed a very exhausting and extensive process full of uncertainties, after the completed mobility, the dynamics at reading meetings are better and the atmosphere more relaxed. I recommend participation and implementation to anyone who is prepared to sacrifice a lot of time for preparation, knows how to improvise, and is not intimidated by new challenges.”
“Mobility with older participants is a unique challenge, as numerous factors must be checked at the location and one must be prepared for almost impossible situations. Many older people are not used to traveling – some have never had the opportunity to fly, while for others, considerable time has passed since their last adventure. When planning, health problems, fatigue, special dietary requirements, and other individual needs must also be taken into account. Nevertheless, older people are ultimately extremely grateful for every moment we dedicate to them. My advice? Think about those aspects of travel that seem self-evident to you; break them down to the smallest detail, prepare possible solutions, and solve challenges with a great deal of patience and positivity. And of course – always take someone you trust and can rely on to mobility!”
“The preparations for mobility with the group were already interesting, as we prepared for this experience for a year – reading books and discussing them, hosting a translator, watching a film, socializing at a creative workshop, and thus connecting beforehand. The mobility proceeded without major problems, both regarding accommodation, food, logistics, and program, and connected and befriended us even more; even though we were together most of the time, it was not burdensome, as each participant had some time and space for herself. A lot of time and energy was invested in preparing and carrying out the mobility, but in the end, everything was ‘repaid’ with great satisfaction and gratitude from the participants, both to ‘Uncle Erasmus,’ as the participants named the program, and to all of us who participated in this project.”
Experiences That Change Lives
Mobility participants describe their experiences as inspiring, brave, and important. Many highlight a sense of self-worth, greater self-confidence, new friendships, joy of learning, and connection with the group. Mobility often opens doors for them to a world that previously seemed unattainable.
We often hear:
“I didn’t think I would still be traveling at this age.”
“It was the first time I flew on a plane – and survived!”
“Now I believe I can do more than I imagined.”
“This was a dream trip. I know that with the knowledge I gained, I live better and dare more. Thank you for a great experience!”
“Thank you for this experience. It was interesting, cheerful, and unexpected. I haven’t been so excited about a trip in a long time.”
“I experienced the entire mobility as a wonderful experience for which I am immensely grateful. I learned a lot, experienced a lot.”
“It was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. I am certainly more aware of my identity, nationality, and artistic expression.”
“We learned a lot, experienced a lot, gained experience, and above all realized how important cooperation is.”
“I learned that we learn all our lives and that it is never too late for anything.”
This is the essence of lifelong learning in practice.
