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Redefining the Library in political context Michel Steen-Hansen Director of The Danish Library Association www.dbf.dk

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The new director of The Danish Library Association, Mr. Michel Steen-Hansen, gives a short introduction to The Danish Library Association based on a special association structure with local politicians as well as library professionals on the Council. A main theme of this introduction will be to what degree political consensus is needed in this kind of organizational setup. 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 a politician and the other a library professional. Michel Steen-Hansen will then introduce some current issues in focus, including free an equal access in the modern society and some new programs at the Libraries Denmark Speakers: Michel Steen-Hansen, Executive Director, Danish Library Association

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Redefining the Library in political context

Michel Steen-HansenDirector of The Danish Library Association

www.dbf.dk

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Presentation Outline

• Introduction of myself – A bit about me

• A bit about Denmark and libraries – in historic context

• What started it all – the Danish Library Association's history

• How an organization can exhert political influence – ex. the Danish Library Association building

• Challenges (for the organization and the Libraries)

• Future Trends and developments

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Redefining the Library in political context

How to make the political decision-makers understand, promote and finance these changes.

Michel Steen-HansenDirector of The Danish Library [email protected]

www.dbf.dk

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Short introduction

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

• Issue: what degree of political consensus is needed in this kind of organizational setup?

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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?

In other words

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The challenges today

• What are the major challenges facing libraries in the modern knowledge society and the programs we focusing on?

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But first…. ….a little about me

• 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

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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.

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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!

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A example from Ringsted in 2000

The Book Bus

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Library in Ringsted1920

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You are welcome at the library

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Don’t forget us

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

understand the modern library

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Bringing the libraries onto the political agenda

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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)

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DLA Organisation

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Who are the DLA members?

Danish municipalities, represented by their politicians

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

Other cultural associations

Students of the Royal Library School

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DLA Vision

To support democracy development by promoting free and equal access to information for all Danish citizens

To further the development of Danish libraries – in particular the public libraries

To influence and stimulate library development through lobbying and political work – nationally and locally

To further library development through cooperation between politicians, librarians and library related institutions

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DLA Objectives

The association shall

Advocate for library development towards city councils e.g. Danish municipalities

Secure its members influence on library development issues

Serve as an inspirational network for local and national politicians, library employees and others taking an interest in libraries and the information and cultural sectors.

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Membership figure

2008

93 of 98 Municipalities

Representing 95% of

Population 5,5 mil.

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Membership 2008

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

IndividualStudentsInstitutions

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How does DLA work

www.dbf.dk

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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

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Challenges

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

• Make politically approved library strategies on a National and Local level

• Focus on the Local Government and the local election in 2009

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A policy should guide us between two extremes

UTOPIA –ITC 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

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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?)

Run projects with new services

Take the library out to where people are now

Build partnerships and

Become part of ’new public service’

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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.

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Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Chart

Traditional Modern

Self- Actualization

Esteem Needs

Social Needs

Safety Needs

Physiological Needs

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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

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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?

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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

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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

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Examples of films under a MPLC Umbrella License DLA had made

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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

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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

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'Learn more about IT'We want to:

• place the library as the institution that ensures that all citizens can get the necessary confidence and skills to exploit the digital opportunities

• actively work to make citizens aware of many digital self service solutions

• through education, reduce the IT knowledge gap between parents and children

• raise awareness of IT as a necessary competence for the continued development of Denmark as a democratic society

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Book Start helps children The children get a book package four times• When the child is six and 12 months, the library visits

the families at home.

• When the child is 18 months, the family are invited to collect a book package at the library

• By the child's third birthday, provides an book package in association with daycare in the local area.

– Libraries organize language stimulation activities for children and give inspiration to parents about children's language and reading.

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Book start in Slagelse

Bags with logo.You need to recognize the employees from Slagelse libraries

Kirsten Slot Larsen og Arne LarsenEmployees from Slagelse Libraries

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• 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

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Bringing Libraries

On the agenda

- Let’s do it together !

Michel Steen-Hansenwww.dbf.dk

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Chicago Public Library

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• See You in [email protected]

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