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The book of nordic public library challenges
The document summarizes the chapters and key challenges from the book "The Nordic Public Library Challenges". It discusses 10 challenges that Nordic public libraries currently face: 1) changing business models due to digitalization, 2) integrating user recommendations into library services, 3) balancing library values with public management goals, 4) developing partnerships, 5) staying relevant to increasingly diverse communities, 6) modernizing the library brand, 7) developing new competencies for library staff, 8) transforming library spaces, 9) meeting family and children's needs, and 10) ensuring the library's political legitimacy. For each challenge, it provides an unfolding of ideas on how to further explore the issues and questions raised.
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- 1. The book ofNordic Public Library Challenges - an e-book sequel… Strategy Group: Management of the 5 library systems represented by Liv, Holmkjell, Sara, Anna-Maria, Knud
- 2. Chapters: 1: Changing business models+ 2: User-user recommendation 3: Library values >< public management 4: Partnerships + 5: Community + 6: Library brand + 7: Competences + 8: Transforming the library space 9: Families and children 10: Library legitimacy
- 3. Influence from thecamp - output From 11 challenges to 10
- 4. Influence from thecamp - output From 11 to 10 Unfolding of unchosen challenges
- 5. 2: User-user ><library recommendation Traditional library recommendations and quality evaluations are challenged by "private libraries" and shared playlists. How can the library become a player in this arena, and introduce diversity, discuss quality and ensure serendipity in dialogue with the users? This should not be perceived as a threat to libraries and the library profession. Instead we need to look at this as a great possibility and discuss and test how we can integrate this into the library. Together with users we should try to add value to user-driven content in a way that combines the expertise of the library with user-user recommendations. And consider how we can make this visible in both our digital and physical library.
- 6. 3: Library values>< public management The value of Nordic public libraries as democratic space is continuously challenged by public management values (target management, optimisation, digitalisation programs etc.) – things that can be easily measured and calculated How can the library continue to develop as place for dialogue and democracy and how can we make that role recognized as legitimate and valuable, even in public management terms? There is an urgent need to construct or invent a language and a strategic way of thinking that is user-oriented/public-oriented that can be understood and used politically (open Public Management?) We should begin by discussing how we can transform what we already do into a language and measures that can be used and understood easily by decision makers, public and staff. And then try to set up similar communicative measures for the visions for the library of the future. It is also necessary in our dialogue with new partners and in forming partnerships. To convey library values and goals to partners it needs to be interpreted into a common management language that is understood by both partners.
- 7. 8: Transforming thelibrary space The library as keeper of a physical collection is challenged by the fact that 'content' is being distributed infinitely on many platforms. Half of the library users do not borrow anything, but come to use other facilities at the physical libraries. How do we transform the library space into supporting citizens’ needs for inspiration, meeting, learning and performing? To transform the spaces there is a call for a strong strategic attitude towards this, in order to overcome the traditional “books versus space”conflict. Libraries need to embrace new formats, interactive and living presentations. We need to focus on content instead of format to ensure public participation and interaction, but at the same time there is a need for discussion of competences to meet these needs. In limited library spaces the physical collection may narrow the opportunities for other activities. There is a call for open multipurpose spaces that are easy to recreate and focuse on people and user needs. It is important to explore how the library space can be perceived as something that happens outside the library walls too.
- 8. 9: Families andchildren Families and children in the Nordic countries live in an increasingly media dominated reality that in many ways creates a higher level of segregation. There is a need for families to have shared cultural experiences and learning opportunities. How can libraries meet families’ needs for shared cultural experiences and enable children to grow and develop competences in decoding, creating and exchanging text, sounds and images? To stay relevant and create shared experiences we need to change our focus from only “children” and into “families”. The library space is an important factor when wanting to attract families and spaces must be flexible enough to embrace noisy, physical activities or production. This must be challenged and tested in order to find a format that suits user needs. There is a strong need for partnerships in this field. This will call for a strategic discussion of what competences are necessary in library space and how these are brought in to the organization.
- 9. 10: Library legitimacy Library budgets are constantly challenged by a decreasing public economy. Which library invigorating political activities (policy) and ambassador promoting (advocacy) initiatives can enforce the legitimacy of libraries - politically and in the community?
- 10. Influence from thecamp - output From 11 to 10 Unfolding of unchosen challenges Concrete ideas from the groups
- 12. Influence from thecamp - output From 11 to 10 Unfolding of unchosen challenges Concrete ideas from the groups Focus on 5 specific challenges has helped Strategy group form more questions – unfold the challenges
- 13. 1: Changing businessmodels Digitalized media and new publishing formats challenge the traditional business model for physical media libraries. Traditionally libraries could buy an item and repeatedly lend it out to users as long as we pleased as part of our collection. In the future libraries buy access on behalf of their users and pay per use putting pressure upon library resources and user accessibility. How can libraries operate in these new distribution models and how does it influence the way we evaluate quality, accessibility and formats?
- 14. 1: Changing businessmodels Unfolding further… The topic is extremely complex involving a large span – users, production layer, politics, library core business Maybe it is a change from the library as a place to the library as a service Should we be changing the library role to become part of the production business Can user-generated resources become part of library resources?
- 15. 4: Partnerships Library services for citizens increasingly become based on partnerships with organizations, businesses and volunteers. How do we build the necessary partnerships for dynamic innovation of Nordic library services and continue to be an open, non-commercial space?
- 16. 4: Partnerships Unfolding further… We need a language to discuss and develop partnerships Partnerships come in many formats and sizes – how do we organise and level them strategically? What are the definition factors of our choices of partnerships How can we be realistic about offerings to our partners?
- 17. 5: Community Libraries address the need for learning and cultural experience for all citizens and support connectivity in society. In a time of great diversity – how do we continue to stay relevant for everyone, reflect the population and at the same time support a common community feeling.
- 18. 5: Community Unfolding further… What does a feeling of community do to people – and why is that a library task? Challenge to adress all users as well as creating a common ground for the whole community Community relevance must play a larger role in our choice and organisation of library services and content We need to form partnerships on a community level to strengthen the effort
- 19. 6: Library brand The image of the library is strongly connected to books. How do we change the image so that it reflects relations and human needs for development and innovation instead?
- 20. 6: Library brand Unfolding further… What kind of branding is needed for the community to keep feeling an urgent need for libraries? Should the library brand reflect a building or connectivity? How can a library brand reflect the diversity in a library? If a library must reflect its community – how could we then talk about a common library brand – can we draw out an essence of a library?
- 21. 7: Competences In the future the library space will be alive with many new players and there will be a need for a great variety of competences? How do we develop the competences in the libraries to be facilitating, engaging, inspiring, innovative, challenging and…?
- 22. 7: Competences Unfolding further… How do we come close enough to life outside libraries to be able to maintain relevant competences? How do we invite many new competences in and still maintain a library professional identity? Do we need a library professional identity - and if so, what is it? How can we make sure that constructive curiousity becomes a core of professionalism?
- 23. Chapters: 1: Changing business models+ 2: User-user recommendation 3: Library values >< public management 4: Partnerships + 5: Community + 6: Library brand + 7: Competences + 8: Transforming the library space 9: Families and children 10: Library legitimacy
- 24. Pay offs andnew opportunities? The importance of the established Nordic Network 117 people have been through Projects become examples in our Nordic ”e-book” Investigate new opportunities to co- operate in the network? New projects to be tested in real life?