the danish libraries and the economic value
TRANSCRIPT
My experience is that it is way
easier to convince the politicians of
the need for books, than it is to
convince them of the need for
internetservices, development
projects and contracting of
database licenses.
That’s why we need a strong
lobbbyorganization
Michel Steen-Hansen CEO The Danish Library [email protected]
@saintmichels
Short introduction• DLA (Danish Library Association) has a special
association structure of library professionals as well as local politicians on the Council. The President is always politicians and local politicians always constitute the majority
President Vagn Ytte Larsen
President of the Danish Library Association Steen B. Andersen
Chairman of th Culture Committee. Municipality Aarhus
The modern library
more than just books
is an house of identity
developed together with users
contributes to the knowledge society
create community benefits and social capital
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 School of Library and Information Science
Members
2015
75 of 98 Municipalities
(Representing 85% of a population 5,5 mil.)
Personal members 350
Institution members 44
Library Association structure
• The Danish Library Association is organized on the basis of a
number of local elect representatives to our Council.
• 35 members are politicians, members of their municipalities and
17 members are library Professionals
• 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)
DLA Organisation
General AssemblyElect the President and Vice
President
Politicians35 members
(active politicians, members of their
municipalities)
Library Professionals17 members
Council52 members
Executive Board
10 members
Digitizing committee Cultural committee Learning committee
How does DLA work
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 MeetingIFLA president
Challenges
• Support transformation of Yesterday’s Library to The 21st Century LIBRARY (physical and digital)
• We have to explain who we are, if we want the politicians to remember and understand the modern library
fremtidensbiblioteker.dk
In the Danish libraries we have created a Thinktank "Future Libraries"
http://fremtidensbiblioteker.dk/
Denmark
98 municipalities and approximately 450 public libraries,
to a population of 5,5 mil. people
483 Libraries in 2015(half closed since 1980, but 106 new ”pick up places” in stores and 270 “open libraries”* See the next slide )
Public libraries 1996-2014
Central Libraries
Branch Libraries
Busses
Pick up places
36 million visitors
• Kilde: Danmarks Statistik
Loans
Books
e-book
E-books and physical book loans
e-book
book
Number of events
270 “open Libraries” in Denmark
We have 98 main-libraries and 350 smaller Libraries, some of them we call
“open Libraries” it is term for a concept that allows users to access the library
space in principle 24/7 and serve them- selves with loans and return materials.
And use the computers, read or maybe even set up a meeting or an event, if
the space allows it. In the first instance the term ‘open library’ was chosen as
the concept was implemented in libraries that had typically been branches with
short – and often inconvenient – opening hours. And ‘open library’ is also a
term preferable to ‘self service library’, as this concept requires another kind of
professional support enabling the users to complete the necessary transactions
themselves and to find their way in the library.
In a few years this concept has spread to 270 libraries in Denmark and more
are planned.
Opening hours
Central Libraries Branch Libraries
Busses
material costs
Public libraries economy by revenue / expenditure and time
operating accounts
Let's Link?: linkedin.com/in/saintmichelstwitter.com/saintmichelsfacebook.com/saintmichels
Se PowerPoint
Biblioteksdebat.dk
@saintmichels
Michel Steen-Hansen CEO The Danish Library [email protected]