Albania’s National Library, the National Central Library of Florence and the Italian Institute of Culture in Tirana have signed a three-party cooperation agreement to exchange expertise and strengthen professional skills in library science and cultural heritage preservation.

The institutions signed the agreement at the Sotir Kolea Centre of Albania’s National Library under the EPOCHE (Enhancement and Promotion of Our Cultural Heritage) project. The initiative receives support from Italy’s Fund for the Promotion of Italian Culture and Language Abroad for 2025–2027.

As part of the project, Florence’s National Central Library has launched a training programme for three Albanian National Library professionals. The librarians will undergo professional training at the Italian institution.

The programme will focus on cataloguing old and rare books. It aims to deepen professional knowledge and promote the exchange of expertise in documenting and processing historical collections.

Through this partnership, the three institutions seek to strengthen professional expertise and cultural ties between Albania and Italy, while advancing efforts to preserve, document and promote their written heritage.