The value of dedicated Parliamentary Library and Research services

1. The value of dedicated Parliamentary Library and Research services Jan Keukens Deputy Head Information Services House of Representatives of the States General The Hague - The Netherlands Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal

2. Old and new reading room Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal

3. Potential benefits and outcomes • Basic principles and values: • Parliamentary services are dedicated to parliament, its needs and tempo • Working for parliament not for the government • Impartial • Synthesis from different sources • Covering the full range of public policy • Confidential to parliamentarians where necessary • Collective memory Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal

4. Services that can be provided • Traditional library services • Information services • Research services • Parliamentary Information Systems infrastructure • Internet and Intranet services • Services for the public, schools, press • Other services ? Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal

5. Strategic priorities challenges and risks Among many things I have selected 4 issues Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal

6. Globalization and complexity of legislation in a “speedy” society, long term policy and many incidents (1) • Support to handle complexity of legislation. Need for balanced and in depth research and expert policy advise, knowledge of comparative studies and legislation • Increase of emergency debates and incidents • Quality is very important but also speed is highly appreciated Chall: Flexibility to offer both types of services Risk: Doing both things not sufficiently compl Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal

7. More players, strong interest groups and more diverse sources of information (2) Increased role of - interest groups - internet sources (including blogs, polls etc) Chall: Selection and indexing of new information / spidering / being up to date / networking Risk: Dependency on “partial” interest groups / Missing of unstructured information or discovering information too late Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal

8. Information overload (3) • More traditional sources and new sources on the internet. Leads to more pressure on Parliament and on MP’s to respond to news items Chall: Guidance by providing adequate selections/ integrated mix (Mash Up) / info available on desktops, PDA’s, smart phones / providing tools for self service / training of clientele Risk : unauthorized information / creating new information (over)load Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal

9. MP’s have a stronger individual profile(4) • Leads to more individual requests and needs for more pro active and tailored information Chall: Providing of pro active services / tailor made services Risk : Pressure and emphasis on individual requests, less time for in depth research Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal

10. Required changes in culture and competencies to provide better value for clients • A sheep with five 5 legs with communication skills, an extravert and flexible attitude and cooperative approach. This sheep is also a networker with knowledge of ICT and new technology • Awareness that the library will be more and more facilitator of the information process and not the one and only focus point of information • Library must be the Centre for the Parliamentary information infrastructure: metadata, search engine, user friendly interfaces, training of (non) professional users and the supply of paid-for databases Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal