New York City October 10-16, 2011 www.mobilityshifts.org

 

Rethinking the Public Library in the Networked Society Friday, October 14, 1:00 p.m. Wollman Hall 65 West 11th Street, 5th floor

The public library has for decades been said to be on threshold of extinction. The challenges are obvious, digitization and broadband penetration, mobility in exchange of knowledge, e-books and e-readers, social technologies and software are all potential threats to the traditional business model of the public library. Based on Danish experiences this talk will highlight some of the models for the development of public libraries, relevant for the 21st century society and show examples of innovative services and transformative processes and practices founded in a paradigm of societal awareness combined with cutting edge technologies.  

Rolf Hapel: Rolf Hapel has worked as director of Citizens Services and Libraries (CSL) in the city of Aarhus, Denmark since 2006. He has been chairman of numerous steering groups, committees and international advisory boards, is the author of a number of articles and frequently speaks on library related issues. 1999-2006 member of the Bertelsmann Foundation International Network of Public Libraries (INPL), member of the Danish Ministry of Culture Committee, forming the Danish act on public libraries. Currently member of Critical Friends advisory board for the Global Libraries initiative of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Awarded by HM the Queen with the order of Dannebrog and honorary professor at the Royal Danish Library School. Aarhus Public Libraries has a long earned reputation of creating innovative services and development using methods of co-creation and user involvement. AaPL received the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Access to Learning Award in 2004. International events have mapped Aarhus as a hot spot for public library development.

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