Short introduction• DLA (Danish Library Association) has a special

association structure of library professionals as well as local politicians 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

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 450 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

250 “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.

7

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

Opening hours

Central Libraries Branch Libraries

Busses

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

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

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)

• We have to explain who we are, if we want the politicians to remember and understand the modern library

fremtidensbiblioteker.dk

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