Information on an organisation’s website must be clear and provided in Lithuanian
An organisation’s website is one of the most important official sources of information for residents, businesses and partners. That is why all information published there must first be provided in Lithuanian, so that public communication is clear, consistent and understandable to everyone. This is especially important for municipalities, schools, libraries, museums and other public-sector organisations, whose websites are used by visitors looking for up-to-date information about services, documents, opening hours, contacts, news or registration procedures.
Content provided in Lithuanian helps to ensure not only accessibility of information, but also legal clarity. A resident should be able to understand without additional obstacles what services the organisation provides, how to obtain them, what deadlines apply and where to turn with questions. When information is presented consistently and in correct official language, misunderstandings are reduced, trust in the organisation increases and the overall accessibility of public services improves.
What information must be published in Lithuanian?
All main and additional information related to the organisation’s activities must be provided in Lithuanian. This includes not only a general introduction to the organisation, but also practical information that visitors need in everyday situations. For example, on a municipality website this may be information about social support, issuing permits or the procedure for receiving residents, while on a school website it may be admission conditions, education plans, timetables and contacts.
- Information about the organisation’s activities. The website must clearly describe what functions the organisation carries out, what it is responsible for and which matters it deals with. This helps the visitor quickly understand whether they have contacted the right institution and which department or employee’s information they need.
- Public and administrative services. It is especially important to provide information in Lithuanian about the services offered or administered by the organisation. It should clearly state what service is provided, who it is for, what documents are required, what deadlines apply and how an application can be submitted – online, by e-mail or in person.
- Explanations of how to obtain services. The service name alone is not enough – the resident must understand the full process. It is therefore worth providing step-by-step explanations, frequently asked questions, forms that can be downloaded and contacts to use if anything is unclear.
- Contacts, opening hours and current information. Visitors often first look for practical information: addresses, phone numbers, opening hours, the location of departments or contacts for responsible specialists. This information must be easy to find, regularly updated and presented in clear Lithuanian.
When is information in English needed?
Although the main website language is Lithuanian, the most important information related to the organisation’s activities should additionally be provided in English. Which information is considered most important is decided by the organisation itself, taking into account the nature of its activities and its audience. For example, for museums or tourist attractions it is relevant to provide visiting information, exhibition descriptions and ticket purchase procedures in English, while for higher education institutions or organisations carrying out international projects it is relevant to provide information about cooperation, programmes and contacts.
English is especially useful in cases where the organisation’s services are used by foreign citizens, partners or non-Lithuanian speakers living in Lithuania. Municipalities may provide basic information about civil registration, social services or customer service, while libraries may provide information about registration, events and usage rules. If there is a clear need, certain information may also be published in another foreign language.
Clarity, accessibility and compliance with requirements
Language choice on a website is related not only to the presentation of information, but also to its accessibility. On public-sector websites it is important to ensure that content is easy to read, clearly worded and accessible to users with different needs. This means clear headings, a logical page structure, appropriate contrast, the ability to use the website with a keyboard and compatibility with assistive technologies.
It is equally important to comply with the GDPR and other legal requirements. If the website includes contact forms, registration systems or application submission solutions, the user must be clearly informed what personal data are collected, for what purpose they are processed and where privacy information can be found. Language matters here too – privacy notices, consents and explanations must be understandable, accurate and presented in a way that allows the person to make an informed decision.
Good practice on organisation websites
In practice, it is useful to regularly review the website content and assess whether all relevant information is indeed provided in Lithuanian, whether there are any outdated pages, unclear wording or untranslated system elements. A common problem is that part of the menu, document titles or automatic messages remain in another language. Such inconsistencies reduce the website’s reliability and make it harder to use the services.
A well-structured website prepared in Lithuanian helps the organisation operate more transparently and efficiently. Residents find answers more quickly, staff receive fewer repeated enquiries, and the organisation itself builds a trustworthy and professional image. For this reason, consistency of language on the website is not just a formal requirement – it is an important part of quality public service.