danish library association and the danish digital library

WelcomeMichel Steen-HansenDirector of The Danish Library Associationmsh@dbf.dkwww.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.

• Our President Vagn Ytte Larsen is politician in Odsherred municipality

….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

The challenges today

• What are the major challenges facing libraries in

the modern knowledge society and the programs

we focusing on?

• 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?

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.

It seems that development lead to fewer and fewer libraries,

but bigger and better libraries………..I hope!

Don’t forget us

We have to explain who we are, if we

want the politicians to remember and

understand the modern library

Bringing the libraries

onto the political agenda

The Newest library act in Denmark 18 May

2000

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)

DLA Organisation

Who are the DLA members?

Danish municipalities, represented by their politicians

2009 - 91 of 98 Municipalities, representing 95% of a Population 5,5 mil.

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

Other cultural associations

Students of the Royal Library School

Membership 2008

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

Individual

Students

Institutions

How does DLA work

www.dbf.dk

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

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

A policy should guide us

between two extremes

UTOPIA –IT is exploited to create

the ultimate library:

integrated access to

knowledge, culture and

support in the daily lives of

all citizens…DYSTOPIA

– Libraries cannot pay prices

on download of copyrighted

material – access becomes

restricted along with digital

monopolies. Digital divide

widens and social tension

grow

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’

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.

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

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?

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

Integrate library services in daily life

• The library space – the third place – should offer lifelong

learning opportunities, cultural experience, inspiration &

involvement

• Download should be permitted to relevant platforms:

pc’s, reader devices like Kindl, Ipods, Ipads cell-phones ….

• relevant e-content

– journals,

e-books,

music,

films,

multimedia,

computer-games

• on a 24/7 basis

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

Bringing Libraries

On the agenda

- Let’s do it together !

Michel Steen-Hansenmsh@dbf.dkwww.dbf.dk

http://biblioteksdebat.blogspot.com/

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