NEXT library

REACH OUT - How to organize and run a strong library organization in 2011

Michel Steen-Hansen

msh@dbf.dk

Short introduction

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

• Our President Vagn Ytte Larsen is politician in Odsherred municipality

….a little about me

• Director of The Danish Library Association from December 2008

• Master of Science (history and geography) Roskilde University

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

in Ringsted– Chairman of Denmark's

archive organization

Michel Steen-HansenDirector of The Danish Library Associationmsh@dbf.dkwww.dbf.dk

Let's Link?:     linkedin.com/in/saintmichels twitter.com/saintmichels facebook.com/saintmichels

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.

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

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)

Who are the DLA members?

Danish municipalities, represented by their politicians 2011 - 87 of 98 Municipalities, representing 95,7 %

Library decision makers and professionals as well as library associations and – institutions

Other cultural associations

Students of the Royal Library School

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

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

Three major challenges for the library

• Integrate library services in daily lives of citizens

• Develop new services from user driven innovation

• Reach out with offers relevant to the whole population

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.

Bringing the libraries onto the political agenda

- Let’s do it together !

Don’t forget us

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

understand the modern library

The Newest library act in Denmark 18 May 2000

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

Digital content is already dominating

Social technologies are entering the library

User driven innovation is a must

The library space is becoming the medium – users define it

New public value and a new commitment to serve all kinds of users

Lifelong learning and promotion of various literacy programmes

Partnerships help the library to serve outside the walls –where people are

New trends- where are we?

Integrate library services in daily life

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

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

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

• on a 24/7 basis

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

Bringing Libraries

On the agenda

- Let’s do it together !

Michel Steen-Hansenmsh@dbf.dkwww.dbf.dk

http://biblioteksdebat.blogspot.com/

Let's Link?:      linkedin.com/in/saintmichels                         twitter.com/saintmichels                         facebook.com/saintmichels

Chicago Public Library

•

Remarkable Danish library

buildings and projects clockwise

from top-left:

Black Diamond/The Royal

Library

Naerum Gymnasium Library

Middelfart ”KulturØen” PL +

Experimental Search/ Aarhus PL

Hjoerring Experience PL