Promoting healthy living for the over 60s

Kaunas County Public Library, Lithuania

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Submitted by Edvaldas_B on Tue, 2014-10-07 16:56
Senior citizens queue up to have their books signed by the famous author.
Over 300 senior citizens attended the launch of the BiblioHealth service in 2011. The star attraction was the popular health specialist and author of many books about alternative medicines, Ms Filomena Taunytė, who signed copies of her books.

Community need


Health services in Lithuania are struggling to keep up with the country’s aging population. Many pensioners cannot afford a healthy living standard, and suffer as a result of poor nutrition, stress and unhealthy lifestyles. Lithuanian public libraries traditionally serve seniors, and the introduction of ICT in libraries across the country means they can offer new services to seniors. However, according to government statistics (2012), 83% of Lithuanians aged over 65 have never used computers. Older people are therefore missing out on online information about care, healthier lifestyles and opportunities for social networking.


The innovative service


The Kaunas County Public Library (KCPL)  BiblioHealth service was initiated with support from the EIFL Public Library Innovation Programme (EIFL-PLIP) in 2014. The service works through KCPL and three municipal libraries, in Vilkaviškis, Birštonas and Jonava districts. It offers free access to the internet, and computer and e-literacy training for the over 60s. The service provides reliable information about healthy lifestyles and organizes lectures and demonstrations on healthy activities like exercise, yoga, meditation and relaxation.


EIFL-PLIP Project timeline


November 2011 - October 2012.


Achievements and Impact


  • In less than a year (2011/2012), KCPL attracted 1,430 people aged over 60 to healthy lifestyle events, and increased the number of over-60s using the library by over 200.

  • Librarians created a BiblioHealth website with links to more than 100 health resources, and with ideas and advice for the over-60s.

  • In partnership with psychologists from Kaunas Vytautas Magnus University, KCPL hosted a conference on Aging and Mental Health, attended by over 170 doctors, nurses, psychologists and social workers, students of elderly care and senior citizens. The conference raised visibility of the problems facing the elderly and led to a formal agreement with Kaunas Vytautas Magnus University to work together in future.

  • The service won recognition, and is now profiled on the European Union Active Aging 2012 website as a commendable initiative.

Additional resources


Read a two-page case study about the BiblioHealth project.


more libraries contributing to community health


Read about more innovative public library services that are helping to build healthy communities. PLIP-HEALTH

Not so long ago I was diagnosed with osteoporosis and now I have learned where on the internet I could read more about this disease. This is very important to me
Mr Vytautas, new computer user, aged 68
Public Library Innovation Programme
Lithuania