YouLab, an American corner in Pistoia’s library

FLORENCE, ITALY – YouLab Pistoia: An American Corner, located at the Biblioteca San Giorgio in Pistoia (May 2014, 19 – Nay 2014, 21) hosted a group of 40 American Spaces coordinators from southern, eastern and central Europe at a workshop entitled “21st Century American Spaces: Innovation, Learning and Entrepreneurship.” Participants from a total of 16 European countries from Azerbaijan to Portugal was together to learn new ways to reach their communities.

American Spaces, funded and supported by the U.S. State Department, are designed to provide foreign citizens with a window into American culture and values, through five core programs (English language learning, EducationUSA, Alumni, Cultural Programming, and Information about the U.S.) that help further US public diplomacy goals. Usually hosted at libraries or cultural centers, these spaces are spurring innovation by implementing makerspaces, digital learning labs, STEM programs, and MOOCS.

American Spaces are becoming informal learning environments that promote knowledge creation, critical and entrepreneurial thinking, and important technological skills. The aim of the workshop at YouLab Pistoia, was to encourage mentors and volunteers in American Spaces, to carry out creative programs that foster this new model of digital, experiential and participatory culture.