Lifelong, or adult, education has become widespread in many countries. However, education is still seen by many as something aimed at children, and adult education is often branded as adult learning or lifelong learning. Adult education takes on many forms, from formal class-based learning to self-directed learning. Lending libraries provide inexpensive informal access to books and other self-instructional materials. More recently, libraries are understood as extending beyond the physical walls of a building, by including material accessible by electronic means, and by providing the assistance of librarians in navigating and analyzing tremendous amounts of knowledge with a variety of digital tools.

The rise in computer ownership and Internet access has given both adults and children greater access to both formal and informal education. In Scandinavia a unique approach to learning termed folkbildning has long been recognized as contributing to adult education through the use of learning circles.

Here Folkbildning is a name given to an approach to Community Education in Scandinavia, particularly in Sweden. It encourages education which is driven by the needs of the learners and where the teacher takes more of a role of facilitator or moderator. So-called study circles are often part of the process. Because of its democratic style, folkbildning is always voluntary and traditional ideas of marking or grading do not typically have a good fit in the pedagogy.

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