Will the library spirit continue in the future?

Library Spirit in the Nordic and Baltic Countries 1909 - 2009 

Will the library spirit continue in the future?

Michel Steen-HansenDirector of The Danish Library Association

[email protected]/ www.dbf.dk

Presentation Outline

• A bit about – The Danish Library Association – Denmark and the libraries

– Challenges for the Libraries – Future Trends and developments

Will the library spirit continue in the future?

The question then is, how to make the political decision-makers understand, promote and finance these changes.

Yes - if we redefine the Library in a political context

What is the meaning ?• How do we define the modern library?

• Why is it so expensive to run modern libraries?

• How can we make politicians understand the new definition of the modern library and the cost of running it?

• And why is the library chancing character?

The challenges today

• What are the major challenges facing libraries in the modern knowledge society?

New narrative frame

We need to create a new narrative frame

Create a definition for what the modern library is

Constantly debating

how to describe it.

But first….….a little about me and The Danish Library Association

• Michel Steen-Hansen

• Director of The Danish Library Association from December 2008

• Master of Science (history and geography) Roskilde University

• Former :– Director for Slagelse Library – Head of a historical archive

in Ringsted– Chairman of Denmark's

archive organization

Short introduction

• The Danish Library Association (DLA) has a special structure of local politicians as well as library professionals on the Council.

Free of charge• In Denmark almost all the Libraries are funded by tax.

• We have 98 municipalities and all of them are obligated, by legislation, to have a library and to finance it.

• In Denmark there is free and equal access to the libraries, meaning that basic service must be free of charge for the public.

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

Bogbusser

68 66 64 64 59 59 56 50 57 56 53 52 52 52 51 48 44 42 40 31

Fil-ialer

788 738 717 675 651 653 651 651 593 586 545 529 503 501 484 467 428 422 420 422

Hovedbiblioteker

250 250 250 250 253 250 249 249 250 250 251 252 245 244 229 227 224 222 221 97

100

300

500

700

900

1100

Public libraries1988-2007

Hovedbib-liotekerFilialerBogbusser

Kilde: Styrelsen for Bibliotek og Medier

It seems that development lead to fewer and fewer libraries, but bigger and better libraries………..I hope!

Library in Ringsted1920

You are welcome at the library

Don’t forget us

We have to explain who we are, if we want the politicians to remember and

understand the modern library

Bringing the libraries onto the political agenda

Library Association structure

• The Danish Library Association is organized on the basis of a number of local associations working on regional level.

• These local associations elect representatives to the Council of the National association.

• The Council elects from within its members, an Executive Committee with ten members including a President, who is always a politician, and two vice presidents (one of them is a library professional)

DLA Organisation

How does DLA work

www.dbf.dk

Lobbying towards all relevant decision makers

Raising awareness and debate on relevant matters

DB Annual Meeting – is the meeting place for politicians and the public library sector

National and regional library conferences on hot topics

Carrying out, initiating and participating in library projects and surveys

Participating in official hearings/central committees nationally and internationally

How does DLA work Annual Meeting 2009

Challenges

• Support transformation of Yesterday’s Library to The 21st Century LIBRARY (physical and digital)

A policy should guide us between two extremes

UTOPIA –IT is exploited to createthe ultimate library:integrated access toknowledge, culture andsupport in the daily lives of all citizens… DYSTOPIA

– Libraries cannot pay prices on download of copyrightedmaterial – access becomesrestricted along with digitalmonopolies. Digital dividewidens and social tensiongrow

There is a route – but it is stony We should avoid Dystopia and fight for Utopia

Develop a vision for the ’new public library’

Create strategies on a local, national and European level (and global perhaps?)

Take the library out to where people are now

Run projects with new services

Build partnerships and

Become part of ’new public service’

New narrative frame

We need to create a new narrative frame

Create a definition for what the modern library is

Constantly debating

how to describe it.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Chart

Traditional Modern

Self- Actualization

Esteem Needs

Social Needs

Safety Needs

Physiological Needs

The modern library

is an house of identity

more than just books

developed together with users

contributes to the knowledge society

create community benefits and social capital

The internet and digital media are dominating

We have Google and all the social technologies as facebook, Twitter…….

We talking globalization

And we have a Change of culture, change in user needs and user behavior

New trends- where are we?

Three major challenges for the library

• Integrate library services in daily living of all citizens

• Develop new services from user driven innovation

• Reach out with offers relevant to the whole population

Integrate library services in daily life

• relevant e-content – journals, e-books, music, films, multimedia,computer-games

• on a 24/7 basis

• download should be permitted to relevant platforms: pc’s, reader devices like Kindl, Ipods, cell-phones ….

• The library space – the third place – should offer lifelong learning opportunities, cultural experience, inspiration & involvement

Present new services- user driven innovation

• Literacy programs,• lifelong learning, • e-learning,• workshops, • bookclubs • job applications, • coping with new technology, • meet the artist, • maintain your motorbike, garden, house…..• love, dating at the internet • ….and much, much, more

Reach out- relevant offers to the entire population

• Think in terms of public service

• Work systematically with new partnerships and varied offers to all segments

• Meet people where they are:– on the web, – in their homes,– in schools, – on the job, – in the club, – at the concert or the football match

The modern library

• I hope I made my point of the importance of working politically

• And creating a new definition for what the modern library is.

• If we still want the politicians and the public recognition and support, we need to put Libraries to the political agenda

Bringing Libraries

On the agenda

- Let’s do it together !

Michel Steen-HansenThe Danish Library Association

[email protected]

biblioteksdebat.blogspot.com/

www.dbf.dk

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