Revised Norwegian Library Act• New act came into force 1 January 2014• Most important change concerns the

preamble of the act• Emphasizes active promotion of

information, education and culture• States that public libraries shall be

independent meeting places and arenas for public conversation and debate

National development program• As part of national library development the

National Library provides annual project grants to libraries (3,5 mill. euro in 2014)

• One third has been earmarked to develop public libraries as meeting places and arenas for debate as a consequence of the new act

• Main library priority of the new Norwegian government

• 60 projects provided grants in March this year

Project examples• Development of libraries as local

houses of literature• Smaller local events like public debates

in local libraries• Digital makerspaces in two city

libraries• Cooperative study by 14 bigger

libraries on future needs for library services in communities of their size