The Library Bridges (LiBri) project is making steady progress in its mission to support the inclusion and integration of third-country nationals across Europe by harnessing the power of libraries and local partnerships. At a time when migration challenges continue to reshape communities, LiBri demonstrates how libraries can serve as trusted, welcoming spaces where newcomers and host communities meet, learn, and grow together.

Co-funded by the EU’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the LiBri project is coordinated by Libraries Without Borders and implemented by a consortium of partners across five countries: Communities of the Future in Romania, the National Association of Welcoming Cities and Territories in France; Libraries Without Borders Italy, the Culture Information Systems Centre of the Ministry of Culture in Latvia, and the Information Society Development Foundation in Poland. EBLIDA leads on European-level communication and dissemination. Key to the success of the project is the creation of strong local partnerships, which bring together local authorities, NGOs, and libraries to co-design integration strategies tailored to the needs of their communities.

Another fundamental goal of the project is the creation of practical resources that build on both the consortium’s research and existing best practices. These include toolkits, guides, and other hands-on materials designed to support libraries in their inclusion efforts, as well as a new checklist based on IFLA Guidelines for Libraries Supporting Displaced Persons. This work is strengthened through collaboration with IFLA’s Equitable & Accessible Library Services (EALS) Section, which helps amplify the project’s reach and disseminate its outputs widely across the global library community.

With 50 libraries engaged and new resources being shared via EBLIDA’s displaced persons webpage, LiBri is building a sustainable and replicable model for inclusion – one that empowers libraries to act as hubs of culture, lifelong learning, and dialogue. In doing so, the project is helping to build bridges that connect people and strengthen communities across Europe.

LiBri was presented during the IFLA World Library and Information Congress 2025, in Astana, Kazakhstan, with the presentation now available through IFLA’s repository.