Discussion of the ways in which two libraries – Utena A. and M. Miskiniai Public Library (Lithuania) and Public Library Radislav Nikčević (Serbia) – engaged partners to support implementation of innovative services. The paper discusses choosing, managing and maintaining partnerships; the advantages and disadvantages of partnerships, and the benefits of successful partnerships for libraries, their partners and communities.

The two libraries were implementing services initiated with support from the EIFL Public Library Innovtion Programme (EIFL-PLIP). The paper concludes that the EIFL-PLIP experience demonstrates that public libraries are able and valued partners; however, there is a lot to learn about partnership management.

Presented at the IFLA World Library and Information Congress 2012 (satellite meeting, Klaipeda, Lithuania).