The Europe Challenge & libraries driving local change
Libraries are evolving fast — stepping beyond traditional roles to become centres of civic engagement, creativity, inclusion, and sustainability. One great example of this evolution is The Europe Challenge — a programme that aligns closely with BYBLIOS goals and offers strong inspiration for our work.
The Europe Challenge is an annual programme launched by the European Cultural Foundation (and partners) that brings together libraries and communities across Europe to address pressing social, digital, and climate challenges.
Key features include:
Funding of up to €10,000 to support creative local library-community projects. The Europe Challenge 2025/26: Libraries, Communities, and Democracy | Digital Skills and Jobs Platform
Workshops (online and in-person), mentoring, and peer-exchange opportunities.
A growing network of libraries working across borders to strengthen democratic participation, inclusion, environmental awareness, digital citizenship, and community wellbeing. The Europe Challenge – European Cultural Foundation
Several aspects of The Europe Challenge align very well with the mission and ongoing work of BYBLIOS:
Inclusion & Community-Led solutions: Both programmes emphasise giving voice and agency to underserved or marginalised groups, ensuring library services are responsive to real needs.
Skills & capacity building: They invest in developing abilities — for library staff and community members — to design, deliver, and sustain inclusive and innovative initiatives.
Sustainability & shared resources: Whether through green projects, digital literacy, or collaborative models, both promote resource-sharing, reducing waste, and creating value beyond ownership.
Cross-cultural & peer learning: Learning from what others have done, exchanging ideas, mentoring — all essential in The Europe Challenge, and central for BYBLIOS.
In BYBLIOS, as we develop our Good Practices Handbook(WP5), The Europe Challenge provides concrete examples of how libraries can:
Secure small grants to pilot inclusive programmes.
Engage communities in co-creation of services (especially for people with mild-moderate cognitive disabilities).
Use digital and green transitions to bring people together.
Structure mentoring, peer exchanges, and workshops to build capacity.
For more information about the next challenges: Home — The Europe Challenge