On May 12–13, representatives from the CIVICA Library Steering Committee gathered at the Hertie School in Berlin to shape the strategic direction of library collaboration for the next phase of the CIVICA Alliance, known as CIVICA2+.

Hosted at Hertie’s Alexanderstraße campus, the two-day meeting brought together key stakeholders to align priorities across open science, AI, digital resources, shared services, and mobility programmes. The goal: to produce a unified, strategic response for the upcoming CIVICA2+ funding call.

The meeting opened with a welcome from Christopher Landes (Hertie School), Marc Mézard, and Sophie Forcadell, followed by a presentation of the proposed vision for CIVICA2+. Afternoon sessions focused on governance models for shared digital resources and explored how libraries can better serve students and faculty.

Day two began discussions turned to open science, OER, and open education, followed by deep dives into librarian networks. Topics included mobility initiatives, AI working groups, communities of practice, and communication strategies. The meeting wrapped up with a round table summarizing outcomes and next steps. Participants left with a shared sense of purpose and a clear roadmap for strengthening library collaboration across the CIVICA Alliance.