danish library association and the danish digital library
DESCRIPTION
In The Danish Library Association we are always happy to have guests from around the world. This week we had a visit from Estonian Librarians Association and the National Library in Ljubljana. On this occasion I made a short presentation on Danish Library Association and The Danish Digital Library.TRANSCRIPT
WelcomeMichel Steen-HansenDirector of The Danish Library [email protected]
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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 [email protected]
http://biblioteksdebat.blogspot.com/
Let's Link?: linkedin.com/in/saintmichels
twitter.com/saintmichels
facebook.com/saintmichels
