Libraries and citizen science

New opportunities for libraries are highlighted by analysing the roles they could potentially play in citizen science projects. Citizen science is one of the eight pillars of open science identified by the Open Science Policy Platform, an EC Working Group. Several of these roles are illustrated in case studies from institutions where citizen science has already been embraced: University College London, the University of Barcelona, the University of Southern Denmark and Qatar National Library. A snapshot of what libraries have so far achieved in this sphere is presented, as well as the remaining challenges and opportunities.