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.

1. Welcome
Michel Steen-Hansen
Director of The Danish
Library Association
msh@dbf.dk
www.dbf.dk
Let's Link?:
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facebook.com/saintmichels

3. 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

4. ….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

8. 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?

9. 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.

10. It seems that development lead to fewer and fewer libraries,
but bigger and better libraries………..I hope!

12. Don’t forget us
We have to explain who we are, if we
want the politicians to remember and
understand the modern library

13. Bringing the libraries
onto the political agenda

14. The Newest library act in Denmark 18 May
2000

15. 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)

16. DLA Organisation

17. 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

18. Membership 2008
500
450
400
350
300
Individual
250
Students
200 Institutions
150
100
50
0
1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

19. How does DLA work
www.dbf.dk

20. How does DLA work Annual Meeting 2009
 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

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

22. 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

23. 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’

24. 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.

25. 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

27. New trends- where are we?
 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

37. Bringing Libraries
On the agenda
- Let’s do it together !
Michel Steen-Hansen
msh@dbf.dk
www.dbf.dk
http://biblioteksdebat.blogspot.com/
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