On 2-9 May 2013, the library organised the European Week during which it informed the Prienai district community about the thematic year, i.e. the European Year of Citizens, and explained the meaning of it to each and every one of us. The library brought together Prienai district schoolchildren aged 16-18 who had recently received the first Lithuanian personal identity document of the European Union to carry out shared activities, distributed information on the citizens’ right to freedom within the European Union. The library aimed at increasing the residents’, especially the youth’s, understanding of the European citizen’s rights, introduced them to the sources of information on the European citizen’s rights and created conditions to employ them practically. The library also promoted sharing of experience related to the European citizen’s rights.
During the European Week, Justinas Marcinkevicius Prienai Public Library created conditions for all the residents of the district to get to know the information collected on the European Union and its citizens’ rights – the European shelf displayed literary exhibition “2013 – the Year of European Citizens”.
The Department of Children’s Literature organised 5 educational seminars on the European citizens’ rights.
The online reading room in the Department of Information enabled visitors to visit the following online websites: the representative of the European Commission “Your Europe”, “Europe for Citizens, “European Union”, “Get to Know Europe”, etc. that focus on the European Union.
During the European Week, schoolchildren from Silavotas lower secondary school, Islauzas lower secondary school, Tomas Zilinskas Veiveriai gymnasium, Prienai Ziburys gymnasium chose a European Union country – partner of the school that they cooperated with when participating in various international projects – created situations when a European citizen must have certain knowledge on the citizens’ rights. These situations were acted out. The situations were filmed and were later on compiled into a short 11-minute film. The film was published on the Justinas Marcinkevicius Prienai Public Library’s webpage www.prienubiblioteka.lt.
On 9 May, the European Day was commemorated in Prienai Freedom Square. During the celebration, schoolchildren from primary grades made a “European Puzzle”. Schoolchildren from primary grades and pre-schoolers celebrated the European Day by releasing 150 blue and yellow balloons into the sky. Prienai cultural and leisure centre organised a concert to celebrate the European Day. Martynas (X Factor Lithuania) and Roxy5 (X Factor Lithuania) carried out performances.