On 24 November, BECID hosted the first webinar in our new seminar series dedicated to strengthening media literacy in the GLAM sector across Estonia and the wider Baltic region. This introductory session opened the programme and laid the groundwork for the thematic webinar taking place on 8 December.
The meeting also provided an overview of the ongoing study carried out by University of Tartu students, who conducted interviews with professionals from libraries, museums, archives and galleries across Estonia. Their interviews explore how memory institutions currently support media, information and digital competences, which audiences they reach, which resources they rely on, and where significant gaps remain.
During the webinar, we discussed why media literacy is essential in today’s information environment and what roles memory institutions play in supporting it. Participants were also introduced to early insights emerging from the students’ research, along with key questions that will receive a more in-depth treatment during the December seminar.
A little over 50 invited participants and GLAM professionals attended the session.
What Do Memory Institutions Need Most?
As part of the webinar, we carried out the first group discussion, asking participants to reflect on the question:
“Which knowledge, materials, training or solutions do you currently lack the most in your work?”
We asked them to focus specifically on media, information and digital competences. In other words: how can we as organisers be most helpful to them in the future, and where should we focus our efforts?
Several clear themes emerged:
- Support in AI literacy: how to teach it, how to recognise safe tools, how to recommend platforms responsibly, and how to understand the limits and risks.
- Better understanding of AI reliability, copyright implications, data protection and responsible prompting.
- Increased digital security know-how.
- Clear guidance on how to recognise misinformation, scams and manipulations, and how to help visitors do the same.
- Shift from teaching mainly information retrieval to also teaching media awareness.
- Need for media-literate staff in institutions, not only resources.
- Demand for learning materials:
- short instructional videos;
- step-by-step written guides;
- regularly updated materials on new fraud schemes;
- ready-to-use educational clips for trainings (5-minute videos suitable for learners of different ages).
- A need for clearer support structures, especially when other institutions (banks, authorities, service providers) direct people to libraries for help with e-services. Participants emphasised that these institutions should contribute as well with technological support, updated equipment, or occasional on-site assistance.
- Need for advice on how to reach audiences and motivate them to attend media literacy sessions in the library.
- Recognition that individual support is often most effective for users, even though some topics could be addressed in small groups (up to five people).
- Demand for training for staff working with older adults and low-digital-skills learners.
A Strong Start to the Series
The seminar offered an encouraging start with a clear sense of shared purpose across the GLAM community. Participants provided valuable insight into the everyday challenges memory institutions face, helping us shape the upcoming sessions to better meet their needs.
We look forward to continuing the conversation on 8 December, when University of Tartu students will present the results of their interviews with memory institution professionals across Estonia. They will share their observations on how media literacy is currently supported, which audiences are prioritised, what resources are used, and where institutions feel the greatest need for further support.
The December seminar will highlight Estonia’s GLAM approaches to developing media literacy and aims to further strengthen cooperation and kick-start a new regional network.
Register for the 8 December seminar here.