Democracy, Innovation and Partnerships

Jens ThorhaugeDanish Agency for Libraries and Media

04/10/23 Next library 2011 2

Challenges a la carte

• To develop the new library concept – aiming at all citizens• To reorganise the library according to the concept – from

collection to connection to facilitating learning and inspiration• To create services in support of the agenda of the society

– where libraries can be of help

04/10/23 Next library 2011 3

The vision for a new concept

• Coherent digital library covering all fields of media and library services from baby- to researcher level

• Corresponding with the library spaceactivities and programmes

• Aiming at all citizens with segmented services and building on partnerships of all kind

04/10/23 Next library 2011 4

Reorganize library work

• Turn around from collection-centered organisation towards user-need driven organisation

• Build on national cooperation and national services and development in combination with local tailored services

04/10/23 Next library 2011 5

New cooperative models state/municipalities

• Danish Agency for Libraries and Media responsible for infrastructure

• Municipalities responsible for public libraries

• Create an organisation taking responsibility in new (inter)national structure and frame for (public) libraries, closer cooperation

04/10/23 Next library 2011 6

Segmented and including services

• The library niche is facilitating the use of media for lifelong learning, inspirational purposes & other kinds of personal and democratic development activities

04/10/23 Next library 2011 7

Challenges for democracy

• Bridge the divides in a still more fragmented society

• Coherence creating activities

• Educating the public• Democracy and social

media

04/10/23 Next library 2011 8

Innovation – more than a buzz-word

• 180.000 jobs lost in few years

• Competition on production costs lost

• Creativity and innovative ways to work should be pursued systematically

• Social innovation needed – find ways to integrate innovation work in everyday life

04/10/23 Next library 2011 9

Partnerships essential to change

Partnerships is a method• To ensure user orientation• For competence and scope

building• For segmentation of

services• For relationel development

04/10/23 Next library 2011 10

A new library concept

04/10/23 Next library 2011 11

Do we need a new kind of ’institutions’?

• We need a change from institution-centered thinking to user need-driven activities. We need more ’fluid’ and flexible activities

• We need to facilitate people where they are• Connect this need with the trend towards reorganizing library

work

04/10/23 Next library 2011 12

Some citizens’ needs – democracy and innovation related

• Develop media literacy- stimulate linguistic development

• Support learning, help pupils with difficulties• Inspire innovation – small and mediumsized

businesses• Building basic ICT competencies• Lifelong learning activities of many kinds• Inspire and support networking and participation• Coping with everyday issues in a strange culture

04/10/23 Next library 2011 13

Some Danish steps so far – integrating virtual and real services – and building on partnerships

• Bookstart• Paul’s Giftshop• Homework café• Home work online• Literature-web• Open access • Ageforce• Bibliotek.dk• Danish Digital Library

04/10/23 Next library 2011 14

Bookstart in ghettos

04/10/23 Next library 2011 15

The website forms an inspiring universe of its own – inviting children to participate

04/10/23 Next library 2011 16

Homework café works

04/10/23 Next library 2011 17

Homework-online hits boys that are not visiting the library

04/10/23 Next library 2011 18

’Borrow an expert’ – the human ressource!

• Billede fra karrierebiblioteket.dk

04/10/23 Next library 2011 19

Open access and inspiration for SMB

04/10/23 Next library 2011 20

The web for literature is a new intermediary

04/10/23 Next library 2011 21

Empowerment of 50+

04/10/23 Next library 2011 22

bibliotek.dk – a backbone to be improved

04/10/23 Next library 2011 23

Next library

• Danish Digital Library• Integrated acces/federal search to all relevant

material• Open source and SOA• National solutions on infrastructure and licensing–

local priorities and presentations, local profile in library space and programme

• Basic collection of web-media for all libraries

04/10/23 Next library 2011 24

The library space remains - but virtual services are part of it as water taps in a household