Guides and Toolkits

In this section, we have selected the most substantial guides, manuals and toolkits that will help you gain further knowledge and specific instructions for various citizen science topics.

The full list with over 100 useful resources collected during the LibOCS project can be found here.

LIBER Citizen Science Working Group is responsible for publishing a Citizen Science Guide for research libraries that comprises four sections: skills, infrastructures, good open scientific practice, and guidelines. Citizen Science Skilling for Library Staff, Researchers and the Public and Library Infrastructures and Citizen Science are currently available, the final two guides will be published in 2024.

Rough Guide to Citizen Engagement in Public Libraries is by the European Commission is an output of 2021 project “Experiments of citizen science engagement in public libraries”. It explores the role of public libraries in facilitating citizen engagement processes. The toolkit presents case-studies, supports civic experimentations in public spaces, and tries to address policymakers to get involved with those spaces that are already engaging with citizens.
SciStarter has published The Librarian’s Guide to Citizen Science, a comprehensive guide to understanding, planning, and sustaining ongoing engagement in citizen science at libraries.
A practical guide “Citizen science for all: A guide for citizen science practitioners” explains step-by-step how to plan and manage a citizen science project from start to finish.
A “Guide to citizen science: developing, implementing and evaluating citizen science to study biodiversity and the environment in the UK” gives practical overview about citizen science project building from before implementing project to analysis and reporting phase.
The citizen science starter kit created by EUTOPIA Alliance defines what is citizen science and provides guidelines, tips and tricks.