Reykjavik City Library

A brief tour …

1. Iceland2. Reyjkavik City

Library3. Programming

Iceland facts

• National Population = approximately 320,000– Loudoun County 325,000

• 80% live in the Reykjavik area• Settled in 874 • 80% of Icelandic males are of Nordic origin• 63% of Icelandic females are of Celtic origin

•Live expectancy • Male = 74 years• Female = 81 years• Comprehensive state health care

Iceland facts• 6% of population is of foreign origin

Geography

Resources

Geothermal Power

Resources

Fishing

Resources

Farming

Government•In 930 established republican government; 1262 -1944 ruled at various times by Norway and Denmark.•In 1944 became a Republic.

Þingvellir – Where Icelandic government began

Politics

National Day – June 17

Politics

Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson = President

Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir= Prime Minister

President’s Residence

Citizens

Peace House

Citizens

• Lutheran = State Church

• All recorded• 90% baptized first

year• 90% Confirmed• 85% Married• 99% Funerals• 10% Weekly

Services• Bible stories taught

in school

Leif Ericsson

Hidden People & Trolls

Icelandic Sagas

Required reading for all Icelandic school children

Bookstores typically open 8am – 11pm

Literacy rate = 99%

• 2011 = 757 books published

• Publishers support school libraries “recipe for reading”

Education

Parents pay 30% of the cost of Playschool

@ 16 yrs of age – choose to continue to Upper Secondary, 97% do, pay for textbooks

Tuition for Higher Education: $400 a year

Between 6 – 16 years of age

“We are fluent in English by 9 years of age.”

Playschool

Children

“My parents and grandparents taught me to read.”

• 80% of their average salaries during the leave

• 9 months• fathers were given three

months’ leave, mothers three months and the parents were given three months to share as they wished.

• Fertility increasing to 2.1 children per woman

Reykjavik City Library• 6 Branches• Circulation = 1,034,000 annually• Bookmobile & Storymobile• Mission: “The Reykjavik City Library is a public library

and open to all. It operates in accordance with local public library regulations with the goal of providing equal access to information, knowledge, and entertainment.”

Free Wi-Fi. Had just removed Internet stations – “Everyone has computers at home. They weren’t being used.”

History

• The establishment of the library is partly due to the sale of fishing vessels owned by the City of Reykjavik to France in 1917.

• The Government of Iceland made it a condition for the sale that a part of the profit would be used to set up a library for the public in Reykjavík.

• It is one of the city’s oldest cultural institutions.

Operations

• From its beginning the library lent cases of books to fishing vessels.

• Reykjavík City Library operates within the tradition of library services in the other Nordic countries, Western Europe and North America. The Library also operates in accordance with the Icelandic Public Libraries Act from1997

• The UNESCO Public Library Manifesto from 1994.• The library also looks toward to the IFLA Multicultural

Manifesto from 2008.

Points of Contact

Thorbjorg Karlsdottir, Children’s Librarian Kristin Vilhjalmsdottir, Manager of Multicultural Projects

“A public library is in fact a gateway into society.”

Youth Services Objective Visits to Reykjavik City Library should be a part of the cultural upbringing of children and teenagers

Ways to achieve objective:-Library visits for school children and a good connection with the schools in Reykjavik.-Story hours for young children as a weekly event and other programs offered, such as puppet theatre and music programs.-Special projects for children and teenagers, such as writing workshops.-A collection that appeals to children and teenagers.-An emphasis on reading promotion for children and teenagers as well as information literacy.

Children’s Onsite Programs• Storytimes (Winter weekends)– Mother Tongue – language games, stories, dance,

singing, and other activities to stimulate Icelandic language

– volunteers present in languages other than Icelandic upon request

• Introduction to the Library – 4th Grade classes, part of their Icelandic studies, they come to library

Children’s Onsite Programs• Writing Workshops- ages 8-12• Heilahristingur (Shake Your

Brain) Homework Help provided by Red Cross volunteers for immigrant 5th – 10th Graders

• Cultural and educational programs –storytellers, drama, music, etc.

• El Dia – International Day of the Child/Day of the Book

Children’s Outreach Programs

Bookmobile

Story Van – takes storytimes to Playschools

Family Mornings

Informal playtime for children, coffee and conversation for adults.

Family Mornings

Librarian joins them for 10-15 minutes of songs and rhymes (Icelandic) and announces any upcoming programs.

Family MorningsFormal topics are presented 3 times a year- Fall, Winter, Spring.

Topics presented by outside presenters included:Sleep & Sleeping HabitsHeuristic play with objectsMother Language (Icelandic language “games” )

Summer Reading Program

Located in entry lobby, under main stairway.

Summer Reading Program

Literacy Trunks

Children’s Program Space

Children’s Area

Children’s Area

Children’s Area

Children’s Area

Children’s Area

Teen Area Poetry Slam & other literary/cultural events

No teen volunteer programs

“The overall number of library visits is decreasing, especially teens.”

Starting a Teen Book Club.

Investigating online Homework Help.

Adult Area

Program Space

Adult Programs

Author VisitsFilm DiscussionsArt ExhibitsLiterary ToursKnitting GroupTelevised sportsNew books

Multicultural ProgramsIFLA Multicultural Library Manifesto – a gateway to a culturally diverse society in dialogue.

Multicultural ProgramsIntroduction to the Library for adult Icelandic language learners.

Let’s Read the Newspapers – Practice Icelandic and discuss current issues

Women’s Story Circle – practice Icelandic, share stories and ideas; complete public art projects.

Flying Carpet – outreach to schools, coordinate cultural exchange activities or projects.

Women’s Story Circle

Their art is on display at Reykjavik City Hall

ArtoTek A cooperative project between the City Library and The Association of Visual Artists,

Public Art

Public Space

Public Space

Public Space

Reyjkavik Photography Museum

Located on the 6th Floor of the Library

Reyjkavik Photography Museum

Family Area

Library Shop

You can buy puzzles, dolls, calendars, playing cards, games and other literature related items. The toys are connected to popular Nordic fiction characters, such as Pippi Longstocking, and Helgi.

Reykjavik City Library

“A public library is in fact a gateway into society.”