Karolien Selhorst – Digital library/knowledge manager Library of Vlissingen (Holland)

The public library of Vlissingen: introduction

The digital library of Vlissingen: what/for whom?

The digital library: strategic themes

The public library of Vlissingen is situated at the heart of Zeeland (South West Holland).

Apart from the main building, the library provides services in the nearby situated village, in the local schools and in the nearby hospital.

Library management has always been convinced of the fact that the library – to stay relevant in the future - has to provide more specialist and tailor-made services for its users.

Mission statement:

“The library of Vlissingen promotes the participation to culture and the use of information by stimulating people to come to the library with their questions, by giving access to information and knowledge… helping everyone who has problems with using this information.”

Video intermezzo

A world without books? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW8wa8rjsDM

Bright future (without books?) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hVMywT0u68

RSS?

Wikis?

Podcasts?

Blogs?

…

For everyone (in the broadest sense of the word)

The digital library of Vlissingen aims to:

◦ Stimulate user participation

◦ „Save‟ questions - is customer oriented

◦ Foster knowledge-sharing

◦ Make people information/media literate

◦ Work with „rich media‟

◦ Remain relevant to its users

The success of web 2.0 is shaping user expectations

People spend more time behind their computers and on the net

An increasing amount of information becomes freely accessible

The library wants to be where its users are: on the net

The library aims to be an active participant in community building and stimulates its users to engage

A story wiki for our users

The digital library newsletter

Library presence on social networks

Many people have difficulties in expressing their needs/formulating questions

The internet is ubiqutious: people want information delivered to them

The library invites people to ask for information

The library wants to be there where the questions are and therefore works together with several strategic partners

Ask for children

Active use of Al@adin on the library website/RSS

Project „vragen redden‟ together with the backoffices from the community council and local heritage partners

The emergence of virtual knowledge-sharing tools

Library users are no longer satisfied with libraries offering content; they demand tailor-made quality services

The library aims to increase the quality of its services through better internal and external cooperation

The library invites people to share their knowledge with others

A knowledge-sharing wiki

The project „kennis delen‟ with other libraries (Rotterdam, Zeeland, Antwerp)

Sharing favourite websites via „Delicious‟

People are increasingly struggling with the flow of information

Information literacy is an important condition for people to participate in society

The library wants to make young children media and information literate at schools.

The library assists adults in making decisions that affect their lives.

23 things

Training of mediacoaches in our library

The opening of school libraries

The use of YouTube and Flickr for library instruction

The increasing dominance of „rich media‟ on the net thrill and excite our users

New media are changing the way people live and communicate with others

The library wants to make more and better use of new media and platforms to communicate with its users

The library aims to take a creative approach to its website

The library website becomes more interactive

The library is there where the users are: on YouTube, on Flickr, on Wikipedia,…

The future library has to remain visible and relevant to its users/society

The emergence of new technologies

Web 2.0 bridges the gap between the library and its users

The library wants to focus on high quality service.

The library invests in developing the skills of its staff members.

The library fosters innovation.

Competence management

Communities of practice

Constant project evaluation

Any questions?