International programmes documenation OPIB - CDE

The Observatory for International Libraries Programmes (Osservatorio dei Programmi Internazionali per le Biblioteche - OPIB) provides a European documentation and information service to supply users with the necessary tools for getting knowledge about the main European and international programmes.

Particular attention is paid to certain specific users, including Italian cultural institutions (archives, libraries, museums, universities, public administrations, etc).
In carrying out its mission, the Service has a number of priority goals:

  1. improving knowledge on the main programmes in the culture and research fields by providing detailed information on each single European Commission funding programme and call for proposals;
  2. improving knowledge on the political and institutional framework of the European Union, helping bring citizens closer to the EU’s policies and institutions;
  3. reporting relevant news and events (conferences, seminars) regarding international programmes and promotional activities, in addition to activities of general interest;
  4. coordinating, rationalizingand complete documentation, research, and study activities through a series of agreements with other information, study and documentation centres both in Italy and elsewhere in Europe;
  5. Promoting initiatives to encourage the participation of Italian libraries, archivesand cultural institutes in international programmes, such as: the publication and regular updating of information on the new generation of European and international programmes in the major Italian professional journals; sending of documentation and information; dissemination of information through presentations at conferences and conventions.
The OPIB website, online since 2001, documents all the activities carried out over the years. The URL has been the same since 2001: http://www.opib.librari.beniculturali.it.

The new OPIB European Documentation Centre (CDE) is part of the Europe Direct information network and the Italian network of European Documentation Centres.
The CDE was established in December 2011 as part of the ICCU OPIB Office responsibilities in order to provide an integrated documentation and information service on EU activities and to improve knowledge on the main international and Community programmes and activities.
The OPIB CDE is part of a network comprising 600 centres worldwide, 400 of which in the EU member states and 52 in Italy.
The services provided by the European Documentation Centre include:
  • information on European and international programmes;
  • access to documentation produced by Community institutions;
  • links with Community databases;
  • steering users in their searches for Community materials;
  • raising awareness on Community issues through the promotion and organization of events and printing of brochures and information packets;
  • improving knowledge on employment, traineeship and education opportunities in the field of international relations.
For more information: ic-cu@cultura.gov.it