Role and Opportunity of Library in the context of Open Science

The role of libraries on Open Science has been recognised and discussed at multiple fora and have been accepted publicly by international organisations and stakeholders. It is natural, as academic libraries are already supporting a knowledge sharing and build a common good. In Slovakia, the National Research Library plays a key role in open science movement as we work as the national body strategically coordinating open science issues accross Slovakia. We participated very actively in the bottom-up project, which is Slovak National strategy for Open Science adopted by the Slovak Government in 2021. The Strategy for years 2021 – 2028 sets commitments in the following areas: Open Access to Scientific Publications, Research Data Management and Sharing, Reinforcing Academic Community with the necessary skills and competences, Support to Research IT Infrastructure and Citizen Science (CS). Besides the national support researchers also need support at an individual practical level. In January 2022 the National Research Library introduced online Citizen Science course based on Moodle Platform. Users gain an insight into how to design CS project, how to find partners or information on data and ethics issues. We are committed to promoting not „only“ research information but overall scientific culture based on project-oriented action and networking. In cooperation with the Slovak University of Technology we opened a fablab, a digital manufacturing center and a space for design and production of physical objects via 3D printers or laser cutters, used by professionals (researchers), expert amateurs and general public. We change in nature and structure to meet our user needs through innovative services and practices. As a result, we increase the visibility and strengthen our role in the academic environment while keeping our users – researchers, academics and students – at the heart of all operations

Citizen Science education in Slovak research library: case study from Central Europe

Citizen science (CS) as the tool engaging people in scientific projects has a great potential for strengthening valuable relationships between academic community and public, democratization of science, building new specific competencies on both sides and supporting the values of civil society. Just now Slovakia, Central European country, is starting to discover its potential. Academic libraries have a unique position to promote CS. All over the world, many academic libraries take on the role of citizen science centers. The benefits include adding an attractive reason to visit the library, opportunities to gain new skills, networking library staff with scholarly community, increasing visibility and impact of library activities. The Slovak Centre of Scientific and Technical Information as a national research library opens the gate to promoting and developing CS in our country. To accelerate CS evolution in Slovakia, we developed the first MOOC course to enable everyone to learn cornerstones of citizen science. The course, hosted on the EU-Citizen.Science moodle platform, consists of five sections: the concept of CS, how to design CS project, how to find partners, data and ethics issues and CS projects impact. All information is available in Slovak. We find the language issue important due to high diversity of knowledge and English proficiency in different groups taking part in CS projects. The course is supplemented by videos where CS projects representatives share their experience and good practice. We aim to address research librariansin Slovakia to increase awareness on CS, discuss its potential within theirinstitutions and prepare the background for a national platform to offer more information on CS and enable participation in CS projects running in Slovakia. Our CS skills training brings opportunity to encourage collaboration, create bridges among groups across society and make research libraries active centers of CS development in Slovakia