Bringing Libraries on the agenda - a political Question

Introduction to The Danish Library Association and its unique organizational structure that involves both politicians and professionals

Michel Steen-HansenDirector

The Danish Library Associationmsh@db.dk

www.db.dk@saintmichels

Pre-conference for Decision Makers at the IFLA President´s Meeting 2014

Short introductionDLA (Danish Library Association) has a special association structure of local politicians as well as library professionals on the Council.

The President is always politicians and local politicians always constitute the majority

President Vagn Ytte LarsenPresident of the Danish Library AssociationSteen B. Andersen

What is the meaning ?• 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?

• And why is the library chancing character?

My experience is that it is way easier to convince the politicians of the need for books, than it is to convince them of the need for internetservices, development projects and contracting of database licenses.

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

Denmark

98 municipalities and approximately 480 public libraries, to a population of 5,5 mil. people

483 Libraries(half closed since 1980, but 77 new ”pick up places” in stores and 150 “open libraries”* See the next slide )

Public libraries 1996-2012

Central Libraries

Branch Libraries

Busses

Pick up places

150 “open Libraries” in Denmark

We have 98 main-libraries and 350 smaller Libraries, some of them we call “open Libraries” it is term for a concept that allows users to access the library space in principle 24/7 and serve them- selves with loans and return materials.

And use the computers, read or maybe even set up a meeting or an event, if the space allows it. In the first instance the term ‘open library’ was chosen as the concept was implemented in libraries that had typically been branches with short – and often inconvenient – opening hours. And ‘open library’ is also a term preferable to ‘self service library’, as this concept requires another kind of professional support enabling the users to complete the necessary transactions themselves and to find their way in the library.

In a few years this concept has spread to 150 libraries in Denmark and more are planned.

9

36 million visitors 2011 (A small increase in the last years)

Opening hours

Central Libraries Branch Libraries

Busses

I 2011 udlånte bibliotekerne 77 mio. materialer Loans of materials from libraries (Books represents about 70%)

renewals

loans

Books

Audio Books

Periodicals

Periodicals

Physical loans

Total

Folkebibliotekernes økonomi efter indtægt/udgift og tid

  2009 2010 2011 2012

Bruttodriftregnskaboperating accounts

2 886 017 2 910 841 2 790 901 2 791 007

LønudgifterSalaries

1 802 464 1 814 681 1 746 489 1 724 895

I alt, materialeudgiftermaterial costs

368 044 354 495 335 622 319 862

Materialeudgifter, bøgerBooks

224 688 209 630 209 120 204 376

Materialeudgifter, andre materialerOther material costs

145 995 147 086 128 981 121 622

Øvrige udgifterother expenses

679 054 687 314 644 059 671 036

IndtægterRevenue

254 195 266 314 264 174 272 134

Public libraries economy by revenue / expenditure and time

?

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

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

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

Other cultural associations

Students of the Royal Library School

DLA Vision

To support democracy development by promoting free and equal access to information for all Danish citizens

To further the development of Danish libraries – in particular the public libraries

To influence and stimulate library development through lobbying and political work – nationally and locally

To further library development through cooperation between politicians, librarians and library related institutions

DLA Objectives

The association shall

Advocate for library development towards city councils e.g. Danish municipalities

Secure its members influence on library development issues

Serve as an inspirational network for local and national politicians, library employees and others taking an interest in libraries and the information and cultural sectors.

Members 2014

76 of 98 Municipalities (Representing 90% of a population 5,5 mil.)

Personal members 350

Institution members 44

How does DLA workdb.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

Challenges

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

• Make politically approved library strategies on a National and Local level and to finance it

• Focus on the Local Governments and the new politicians after the local election in 2013

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.

fremtidensbiblioteker.dk

In the Danish libraries we have created a Thinktank "Future Libraries"

Bringing LibrariesOn the agenda

- Let’s do it together !See this presentation at Biblioteksdebat.dk

Michel Steen-Hansen@saintmichels

Michel Steen-Hansen msh@db.dkwww.db.dk Biblioteksdebat.dk

Let's Link?:     linkedin.com/in/saintmichels twitter.com/saintmichels facebook.com/saintmichels

Urban Mediaspace in Aarhuswhich opens April 2015

Black Diamond/The Royal Library

See You in DENMARK!@saintmichelsMsh@db.dkdb.dk

….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

msh@db.dkwww.db.dk Biblioteksdebat.dk

Let's Link?:     linkedin.com/in/saintmichels twitter.com/saintmichels facebook.com/saintmichels

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

• At the LIBRARY