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Jens ThorhaugeDanish Agency for Libraries and Media

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We are working in an involving way to create ’The new library’

– CO-CREATION – USER CENTRED

INNOVATION – YOUTH CULTURE – THE PHYSICAL LIBRARY – INTERACTIVE LIBRARY

SPACES – COMPETENCES – COMMUNITY BUILDING – CREATIVITY AND LEARNING

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Three waves of change in the library

• From card catalogues to databases

• The internet and digital media wave

• Google and social technologies, globalization – Change of culture, user

needs, user behaviour , co-creation

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Three axes changing our world

• A new globalized economy and technology

• A knowledge society based on networking

• A new mindset is emergingCreating new opportunities

AND problems: new forms of poverty, new forms of fundamentalism, new social tension(Otto Scharmer)

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Deep cultural changes: from ’solid’ to ’liquid’

• Industrial production moves east –’flattening of the world’, new competition

• New competenices are needed, lifelong learning

• Fragmentation of life – ’liquid modernity’ (Bauman, Giddens)

• Lack of identity/flexibility: constantely redefinition of life-

situation –’emigrant culture’ (Xiaolu Guo)

• Widening of the digital gab• New (multicultural)social

tension

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Three deep challenges to our societies

• The competition forces us to be innovative to a degree that cannot be overestimated

• The dramatic changes in the medialandscape is challenging democracy to find new ways to involvement of citizens

• The digital divide leads to a gap between ’haves’ and ’have nots’ that is a threat to a coherent society

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What is library business in this context?

• To create value for users and to support the agenda of the society: social processes! The media are means or tools

• The goals of the library may be seen as answering the challenges by– Supporting innovation - and lifelong learning– Developping democratic involvement– Bridging the growing gap by nourishing identity building

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Where are libraries now? A few trends

• Lending is decreasing but number of visitors stable

• Digital content is already dominating – growing demand for 24/7 access to all media

• Social technologies are entering the library

• The library space is becoming the medium

• Lifelong learning programmes are needed

• Promotion of literacy• Third place- and inspiration

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How should we proceed? A New Public Library!

• with new• Roles• Services• Infrastructure• Organisation• Competencies• Premises

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The New Public Library takes new roles

• Roles: the qualified ’third place’ – learning acitivities ,

participation, cultural programmes to new extend, from ’transaction- to

relation’• Services 24/7, updated

platforms, ’my library’, new partnerships, • Infrastructure with national

services – download of music, films, talking books and e-books

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The New Public Library works in new ways

• Infrastructure: three layers architecture, local/national

• Organisation: networking• Competencies:

communicative and intermediary skills

• Premises: inviting, inspiring, interactive and changing space

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We continue to work on

– Integrating the library services in the daily lives of people

– Developping new services- user driven innovation

– Reaching out to give relevant offers to the entire population

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Thank you for listening – Good luck!