RE:THINK Libraries “Bibliobum”
Overview
SmartUp designed and delivered RE:THINK Libraries – #BiblioBum for the U.S. Embassy Skopje, applying its human-centered design and strategic planning methodology to help seven public libraries across North Macedonia transform into active community hubs beyond traditional book lending. SmartUp built libraries' capacity in service design, strategic planning, and community engagement, connecting library staff with national experts and international library professionals to exchange best practices in modern library development.
SmartUp guided each of the seven libraries through a Strategic Development Plan (2019–2021) and helped them launch new community-driven services — including makerspaces, board game clubs, youth art programmes, and children's learning areas — while establishing new partnerships between libraries, municipalities, businesses, and civil society organisations. The project applied the same participatory design thinking approach SmartUp has since used across its education and youth innovation programmes in North Macedonia.
The challenge
Strengthen libraries' capacity to design and deliver services that respond to the evolving needs of their communities.
Help libraries develop long-term strategies that position them as active contributors to local social and educational development.
Build stronger partnerships between libraries, local governments, businesses, civil society organisations, and community members.
Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement among library staff.
Activities and methods
1. Supported seven public libraries across North Macedonia in designing community-driven services based on local needs and priorities.
2. Strengthened the capacities of library employees, directors, and volunteers through a practical programme on service design, strategic planning, community engagement, and innovation.
3. Connected participants with national experts and international library professionals, enabling the exchange of best practices in modern library development and community engagement.
4. Helped each participating library develop a Strategic Development Plan (2019–2021) with clear priorities, objectives, and implementation actions.
5. Introduced a diverse range of new community services, including makerspaces, board game clubs, youth art programmes, creative workshops, critical thinking spaces, children's learning areas, and cultural events.
6. Established new partnerships between libraries, municipalities, businesses, and civil society organisations, expanding opportunities for collaboration and community support.
Impact and learning
RE:THINK Libraries demonstrated that public libraries can play a much broader role in community development by becoming accessible spaces for learning, creativity, innovation, and civic participation. Rather than offering standardized services, participating libraries designed initiatives that reflected the specific interests and needs of their local communities.
The programme strengthened the strategic planning and innovation capacities of library staff while encouraging a shift toward evidence-based decision-making, partnership building, and user-centered service design. Many of the services created during the programme continued beyond the project, helping libraries attract new audiences and strengthen their role as inclusive community spaces.
By introducing design thinking into the public library sector and empowering local teams to co-create solutions with citizens, #BiblioBum established a replicable model for modernizing public libraries and demonstrated how cultural institutions can become important drivers of community engagement, lifelong learning, and local innovation.
Gallery
Outputs
Project website
View resourcePlanning similar work?
SmartUp can support research, co-creation, facilitation, digital tools, implementation, or learning documentation for related programmes.