Main achieved objectives: 1) Mapping Civic Engagement in CS and OS (PR1): Identify drivers and barriers of civic engagement in Open Science (OS) and explore the role of academic libraries in Citizen Science (CS) activities. Result: The OA report was based on round tables with staff from Baltic university libraries, teaching/research staff, and students. This report is a strategic resource for knowledge exchange in the Baltic region. 2) Dialogue and Action Plan (PR2): Facilitate dialogue and action planning among HE teaching/research staff and librarians in the Baltic states, focusing on volunteer CS projects. Purpose: Strategically position libraries in contemporary information societies. 3) LibOCS Training (PR3): Enhance CS and OS skills of HE academic and library personnel in the Baltics. Outcome: Creation of OA training materials for broader dissemination beyond project participants. 4) Institutional Change through CS Point of Contact (PR5): Implement CS single point of contact in LibOCS universities. Goal: Prepare and enhance partners’ CS participation through tailored consultations. 5) OA toolkit (PR6): Develop an OA toolkit with educational resources (OER) for librarians for knowledge sharing among libraries.
Open Science (OS) and Citizen Science (CS) are essential for the European Union (EU), and Baltic universities recognize their strategic importance. The LibOCS project aimed to integrate CS and OS fully. While the CS community believes Citizen Science is at the adoption stage across Europe, other stakeholders are still discussing, planning, and implementing. CS, as part of OS, ranges from awareness about scientific research to active participation. The pan-European OS initiative aims to solve social issues through open, exchangeable, and reusable research, which CS can contribute to significantly. However, CS adoption disparities exist in the Baltic area. Academic libraries in Baltic states have engaged in OS activities for a decade, but CS involvement is still developing. Streamlining open and citizen research can enhance understanding and make science more accessible to society. The initiative focused on promoting citizen science in Baltic nations (EE, LV, LT) and involved documenting best practices, tracking implementation progress, and engaging non-expert public groups. A Greek SME and German partner contributed to improving citizen science knowledge sharing.