XI Congress of Estonian LibrariansLibrary is freedom 18-19 October 2018

Rethinking the public library - based on experience from Dokk1,Aarhus, Denmark

Agenda // Outline

• 1 Presentation

• 2 Background: • Why a new Main Library?

• How did we rethink the public libraries in Aarhus?

• 3 The vision for Dokk1

• 4 Some of our experiences and lessons learned

• 5 Questions & Comments?

1. Presentation

Name: Susanne Gilling

Position: Head of Local Branches and Library Services, Dokk1Librarian and management education

Focus:- The matters of the librarires- Change processes in the library- Partnership oriented focusing on the possibilities and needs of the local community, - New role for libraries in the future: staff roles, motivation and performing- Projects- Involvement and cooperation with citizens- The physical space, learning, inspiration and meeting as anchors

Denmark:5.5 mill inhabitants43.000 km2450 fixed library service points

Denmark – Aarhus

High internet penetrationNational library co-operation Danish Digital LibraryLibrary law

Libraries financed by municipalityNational legislationand strategy

Significants

The Flag Queen Margrethe 2Lukas GrahamEuropean Championship Football 1992

ConfidenceHappiness”Hygge”

Aarhus Municipality

Aarhus – significants:320.000 people in Aarhus19 libraries in Aarhus- vibrant, young, - Cultural Capital 2017, - start-ups, - closely connected, - Nice area – sea, wood etc.- Library and Citizens policy 2015-18

The 18 Branches –The direction is defined in Citizenship and Library policy

Local community centers – a lot of activities and newServices. The center of small cities and suburbs.

Informal learing and culture arrangements

Involvement and Co creation with the local community

Local Partnerships

”Open libraries” – no staff in some hours.

2.

Background: Why a new Main Library? How did we rethink the public libraries in Aarhus?

2017

2015

Client: City of AarhusArchitects: schmidt hammer lassen architectsLandscape Architects: Arkitekt Kristine Jensens Tegnestue

Marie Ostergard/Dokk1/Aarhus/ Denmark

”The library as a hinge”

Dokk1 Context – a changein Aarhus - harbour areaand the old library toosmall!

Dokk1 - Urban Mediaspace Aarhus

The largest construction in the municipality in Aarhus

Old industrial area

Rolf Hapel, Borgerservice og Biblioteker, Aarhus Kommune

Dokk1 to:• Change the center of Aarhus• Close to the city – a part of the city• Close to the sea – a new area for people• Right on the river. • Important part of urban development in Aarhus

Ligth rail way stop: Dokk1

Dokk1:

3 times the size of the public area on twolevels

Special place for kids and their families - 5 times the old childrens library

Increased level of technology- the building, the functions, the size

Learning activities and partnerships

Increased opening hours

Dokk1:

• Main Library

• Citizens’ Services

• Partners and network

Automatic parking - 1000 cars

2 new harbour squares

Light rail station

Opening to the river

Regulation of traffic

Climate screen protection against flooding

Play ground – “Kloden” – The Globe

=

Urban development

Project elements

LOCAL ARCHIVE

PLAY

MEETING

MEDIA

COUNSELLING

CITIZENS’

SERVICES

LEARNING

PROGRAMMES

MAKERSPACES

SELF SERVICE

TUTORSCOMMUNITY CENTRE

FAMILIESCAFÉ

DEMOCRACYJOB CORNER

START-UPS

GA

MIN

G

EXHIBITIONS

CONSUMER INFO

SCIENCE & TECH

CU

LT

UR

AL P

RO

GR

AM

SWIFI

SILENCE &

NOISE

NEWS

Partnerships

READING

The Mash-up Library is the inspiration

3. DOKK1 - the Vision• Space for co-operation and human

development and interaction ..

• Place for dialogue, knowledge, ideas and inspiration

• Open informal learning space• a flexible and programmable

building..

• A unique place for children and families

Involving staff and usersNew mind-sets -> Changing Mind-sets for at nå visionen

Focus on competencies, networks, strong project culture, possible future,involvement,co-operation with citizens and much more = new library role and new onesEmployee roles, create offers with others – co creation

New professions and new tasks

New stories and new professional identities

Digital editor

Programme editor

Let people use the space as they like

Play maker

Game maker

Proto-typerDesign thinker

Maker

Partnership developer

Space maker

Democracy stimulator

User involvement designer

Researcher, host, facilitator...

Library Transformer

Staff Competences

Interaction

Distance

Transactions Relations

Renewal of loans

Reservations

Membership registration

Loans Returns

Maker Spaces

Learning activities

Sponsorships

Networks, clubs

Innovation

Changing Perspective

Programmes

New debate formats

Play

Interaction

Distance

Short term Long termSponsorshipsShort duration

Donations, gifts

Volunteers as consultants

Advocacy campaigns

Co-productionR & D

Events and programming

Branding

Sponsorships Long duration

Networks, clubs

Innovation in hybrid organisations

Dialogue on services

Partnership strategy

From space for collection to space for people

Co-creation and user involvement are centre of development

Community and people are the organising factor

The new mindset is about:

One week = 42 activities- Partner ships

4. Experiences so fare – lessons learned• The number of visitors

• The number of partnerships and activities

• Users continue to use the library

• Different audiences on different days

• Students love the library

• Users stay longer

• The number of children and families exceeds expectations

• 60% of program activities and events are created together with partners

• The users like to be involved and like to produce and display their own items

• Un programmed areas where things can occur is essential

• Constant editing of areas and areas / house adapt to needs

• Very busy staff

• Dokk 1 an icon for Aarhus

• Branding effect

Facts Dokk1Project periode 2005-2015

30.000 m2 – the library 18.000 m2

Open June 2015 – 18.000 visitors the weekend

Hours

• Man-Fre: 8-22. No staff 19-22

• Weekend: 10-16

App. 3800 visitors a day (300.000 inhabitants)

App. 2.800.000 visitors 31/8 2017

6% of the users go to Citizens Service (pas ports, drivers licens etc)

App. 8-15 guided tours a week

App. 50 staff in the library with different kinds of educational back ground

1150 seats

325.000 materials incl. stacks

Partnership strategy

3 levels of partnerships:

Strategic

Service oriented

Network-oriented

Partnerships should be formed as close to the operationalagents as possible – personal relationships matter

App. 140 programmes each month – 20 % are carried out by partners alone, 40 % are carried out with partners and 40 % are done by us alone

Marie Oestergaard/Dokk1/Aarhus/ Denmark

1. Services

2. Competences

3. Marketing/synergy

4. Political/Strategical Goals

5. Financial – the idea of sharing

Reasons for Partnerships:

Design Thinking = a mind set and an intentional process for delivering solutions that create positive impact – behov for metoder

www.designthinkingforlibraries.com

Co creation and involvement

Prototyping

DT Ambassadeurs

Staff training to use the methods Citizens’ involvement Observations and dialogueTelling the storyHelping colleques

Prototyping og tests in the old Main Library

Testing the future

Marie Ostergard/Dokk1/Aarhus/ Denmark

Changing with staff

Marie Ostergard/Dokk1/Aarhus/ Denmark

Examples involving citizens:

media, families, meeting facilities, citizen’s services, CTS, acoustics, logistics, accessibility, indoor climate, administration, kitchen and cafe, wayfinding, visualidentity, art, security, facades, materials, design, arrival area, AV/IT, dynamicsurfaces, rental spaces, lighting, parking, concertspaces, children’s theater, etc.

The name and the visuel identity

Marie Ostergard/Dokk1/Aarhus/ Denmark

A gospel choir on the Rampe

Library services and actitivities - different examples

Organized by Team Family and Children with partners: 0-12 years, parents and profesionels

Fars legestue// A play group for fathers on maternity leave

Club activities:poke mon card club for young and adult,philosophy club

School catalog - eg book talks, source criticism, information searchingCatalog for kindergardens – focus early literacy and childrens literature

Baby massage and baby rhythm - for babiesKrea workshop – all about being creative (cut draw sew make bookmarks)

The play ground outside – we care about playing!

:

• Team Adult:• Open workshop – makerlab• Book talks for young people• Spanish Language Café• International play group for expats• Playcafe, math café• Writers club• Learning activities• Non readers - area for people who find it hard to read

• Reaching out in the community

Game-maker

Gaming and learning

Marie Oestergaard/Dokk1/Aarhus/ Denmark

Marie Oestergaard/Dokk1/Aarhus/ Denmark

Music and teather

Marie Oestergaard/Dokk1/Aarhus/ Denmark

Play

The play ground outside Dokk1!

Reaching out to the community!Library on the move

Tools when you go out: tuc tuc and electric bikeVisit local communitiesNew users and new staff roles

The library is a space where we create meaning together

Dokk1 answered a community need

A building for people and communities

If you build for people – people will come

Eliminate restrictions

A library space is an opportunity for meeting, dialogue and

Exchange

Dokk1 . Sum up

5. Questions and comments?

Email: sgi@aarhus.dk/

A library space is an opportunity for meeting, dialogue and exchange