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Innovating the Library in the Knowledge Society. Jens Thorhauge Danish Agency for Libraries and Media. The basic question: libraries in a digital world?. How do we create libraries that still have relevant services in a digitized world? That is the question
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Innovating the Library in the Knowledge Society Jens Thorhauge Danish Agency for Libraries and Media
The basic question: libraries in a digital world? • How do we create libraries that still have relevant services in a digitized world? That is the question • The workshop is based on the theory that all libraries in the globalized world are facing the same basic challenges from changes in technolgy and culture. • Like in the renaissance the changes have a pattern but they occur at different times in different countries • The point of view of the presentation is Danish and Nordic- with inspiration from EU and US Bratislava workshop June 27 2008
Workshop programme 10-15 • The digital challenge – how will the (public) library change Presentation and discussion • Examples on webservices • Lunch 12-13 • The new library space Presentation and discussion • Planning for innovation • Marketing of the new library Bratislava workshop June 27 2008
Two sessions with group discussions • Form 3 groups, a chair and a reporter in each • Topic 1: what is the potential of innovation in your library? – list 3 suggestions (½ hour) • Topic 2: how can you improve service to your users? – list 3 ideas (20 minutes) Bratislava workshop June 27 2008
What is the potential of innovation in your library? • Group 1: Bratislava workshop June 27 2008
Trends in the Knowledge society • Globalisation of industrial production- based on • ICT • Tremendous speed of change • Competition on production costs moves away from Europe • Competition in the old world based on innovation • Cultural changes- traditional frames are replaced by constant choices with quick impact on cultural and behavioural patterns • New social tensions between knowledge ’haves and have nots’, tensions between ’immigrant or born googlers’? Bratislava workshop June 27 2008
The change of the library continues • Coming generations act very differently, and the use of traditional library services is diminishing – while new services tend to expand less than expected. • In Denmark we face the ’Glacier-syndrome’: you don’t notice the daily melting – but in the long run the change is tremendous • How do we act? Bratislava workshop June 27 2008
The professional heritage and shift of paradigm • From collection to connection • From transaction to relation • From product- to userfocus • Most library professionals are mainly rooted in a pre-internet world Bratislava workshop June 27 2008
In spite of the changes:The vision of the ’free public library’ is still valid • Everybody has a right to information and knowledge – acces to any published information is a democratic right • Every person has a potential for personal development • Two types of traditional values should still be cornerstones in the library in the knowledge society • - the rights of the democratic society • - the humanistic view of the human being Bratislava workshop June 27 2008
Libraries DO change. I.e. the school libray tends to integrate itself more and more in the learning activities • The school library is changing from a collection of books to a service to support learning activities • The good school library provides acces to many relevant sources in all kind af mediatypes • The good school library is potentially present in any lesson • The difference between the school library e-ressources and the internet is selection and quality as in the classic library Bratislava workshop June 27 2008
The university and special library becomes digital • The use af e-resssources boom, use of printed material decrease – easy access the first challenge • The library stays a beloved working and study space • University libraries tend to develop new tasks • Information literacy training • Registration of research • Publishing • Open access • Support to research dissemination – portals, Bratislava workshop June 27 2008
Academic user ’s wishes • Students (and many others) request simple search procedures like Google • And enriched presentations like Amazon • Space for working- good and fast delivery service • Solution? – integrated search • Information is incorporated into a single repository that can be searched. The information is processed prior to the user’s search Bratislava workshop June 27 2008
New trends in academic libraries • Content acquisition (licensing) • Integrated search and delivery • Research registration • Institutional repositories • Information literacy support • Study environments • Virtual reference desk • VLE support? • E-science support? Bratislava workshop June 27 2008
Consequences • Increased cooperation in many areas • Library service and information provision based on user preferences • Increased consolidation of library it-systems as complexity increases • Increased focus on document delivery and access management • New roles for local academic libraries – closer cooperation with the parent institution and more value adding activities in supporting research and learning Bratislava workshop June 27 2008
Roles for the public library in the knowledge society • The library should – within its mission:enlightenment, education, cultural activities- support the fullfilling of the general strategy for our societies: democratic weelfare societies with good and equal opportunities for the individual. • Many relevant onjectives are possible within this frame. A policy statement for each library is relevant. Bratislava workshop June 27 2008
A Danish example on a city public library policy • 10 objectives from the policy of Århus City Library • The libraries must impart knowledge and experience through the media of the day • The library must support the lifelong learning of the individual • The library must strengthen the democracy by securing free and equal access to information • The library must contribute to the preservation of the cultural heritage including Danish language • The library must strengthen the integration of refugees and immigrants Bratislava workshop June 27 2008
Policy- continued • The libraries must take part in the development and support of the subject knowledge and personal development of children • The libray must enter into partnerships with other institutions and organisations • The library must develop library services based on the latest ICT • The library must ensure the quality, topicality and diversity of its collection • The library must be sustaiable, open and accessible Bratislava workshop June 27 2008
SWOT – analysis of the public library- example Strengths • A beloved and trusted service • Open for all • A god mission: to help educate citizens and keep them updated • Offer trustworthy information • Immense collections and content – the cultural heritage of man • Competent staff ready to serve you Bratislava workshop June 27 2008
Swot – possibilities • To become a central institution in a multimedia and multicultural (future) society – secure info acces • To become an attractive partner for other institutions, organisations, companies • To become a qualiified meeting place and space to support the continuing development of citizens by many different activities • To become an attractive partner in european and international library development Bratislava workshop June 27 2008
SWOT- weaknesses • Even if we have a good offer a huge part of the population do not find it attractive • The libraryis are not completely up to date in exploiting new technology • Most citizens are unaware of the offers that actually are there • Sometimes libraries are too slow in implementing new offers • Libraries are fighting against a dusty image Bratislava workshop June 27 2008
Swot- threats • Libraries loses legitimation, lack of understanding of the values and impact of the library • Ongoing budgetcuts • Reduction of the ’library’ to a search engine- ’all is on the web’ • Reduction to a service for a dying race printed book users • Source: centrumbiblitoeket, a Finnish report, 2008 Bratislava workshop June 27 2008
The public library is changing rapidly • Access to all kind of media – hybrid library • New services related to learning • New activities related to library 2.0 -? • The library space invites to stay • Cultural activities and programmes • Service center for citizens • Active support to integration programmes Bratislava workshop June 27 2008
Libraries for children – a special challenge • The change in patterns of cultural behaviour of children in Denmark is moving very fast • Children tend to use all kind of media • Their ability to implement spontanous games and plays is de creasing • Their dayplan is highly structured till 10 years old • After 10 they are building their own identity or profile • The classical childrens library is loosing users What to do? Bratislava workshop June 27 2008
Recommendations to renew library service for children1. The library space • Transform the library space to meet many varied user needs. Play, read, learn, attend events & programmes • A place to be, for learning, for doing. Bratislava workshop June 27 2008
2. The ultimate library web for children • Info, chat, lending • Ask olivia – and similar e-reference services • Games and computer programmes • Library 2.0 activities • Learning activities The e-reference service ’Ask Olivia’ Bratislava workshop June 27 2008
3. Throw out the desks • New staff profile. Staff should focus on active mediation, facilitation of variuos activities and communication with children: computer circle clubs, workshops of many kinds, theatre, plays, story-telling • Strengthen continuing professional education • New professional profiles in library staff. Bratislava workshop June 27 2008
4. The library must be boundless • Services should be offered where children are • Not only on the web and in the library but • In kindergartens and day-care, in school, in clubs and sport centres – at events and festivals - ’book a bookmobile’. Bratislava workshop June 27 2008
5. The library should be active in social inclusion • Libraries designed with community centre activities in ghettos • Programmes for various groups of children and their parents. Like Book-start. Computer circle clubs, girl’s club, home-work café. Bratislava workshop June 27 2008
6. Much closer cooperation and coordination • Coordinated plans for development of school- and children’s library locally • Cooperation with all leisure-, cultural- and knowledge institutions dealing with children to make the library offer available everywhere. Cerritos Library, California Bratislava workshop June 27 2008
Conclusion – expressed before but not yet done! • The traditional book library is under pressure in the knowledge society • The ’hybrid library’ –combining virtual and real library services seem to be the way forward • The challenges in creating new virtual services, changing the physical library space and to meet the users where they are demand • New competencies and probably a new leadership • We need to work very focused on innovation. Bratislava workshop June 27 2008