With the project, we aimed to increase the employees' competencies at the Library Šmarje pri Jelšah and introduce them to new tools and approaches for working with adult learners. Additionally, we wanted to develop the necessary skills to promote cultural heritage and interpret it in a creative manner, as well as to improve and more fully incorporate local history content into current programmes. Moreover, we wished to broaden the Šmarje pri Jelšah Library's scope, incorporate a European component into its strategy, and lay the groundwork for long-lasting international collaborations.
We came to the conclusion that we had used all of our andragogic-didactic skills, and knowledge regarding how to retain the current adult learners and how to attract new ones after statistical analyses revealed that the number of library users had not increased in the previous few years. Since the Šmarje pri Jelšah Library has served as a hub of culture in the Obsotelje and Kozjansko for many decades, and since we want to maintain our role in this border region, we collectively decided to empower our employees with all necessary new skills and resources. The project's goal was also for the employees to step outside of their comfort zones, broaden their horizons, learn about different techniques, develop new skills, or get a breath of fresh air. When interacting with readers, users of the library's other services and facilities, guests at the Baroque Museum, as well as members of the local community, it is important to keep this in mind. In particular, the documentation from the Styrian Provincial Archives will be featured in the new permanent exhibition as part of the local history section of our library. We also wanted to use the project to broaden our network of organisations and acquaintances for future collaborations.