The Danish Library Association (DLA) has a unique organizational structure that involves both local politicians and library professionals on its Council. The President is always a politician, and local politicians always constitute the majority. The DLA advocates for library development to municipalities and secures members' influence over issues. It also serves as an inspirational network for politicians, library employees, and others interested in libraries. The DLA lobbies decision-makers and raises awareness through conferences and projects to support the transformation of libraries into 21st century institutions that go beyond books to serve communities physically and digitally.

1. Bringing Libraries on the agenda -
a political Question
Introduction to The Danish Library Association
and its unique organizational structure that
involves both politicians and professionals
Michel Steen-Hansen
Director
The Danish Library Association
msh@db.dk
www.db.dk
@saintmichels
Pre-conference for Decision Makers at the IFLA President´s Meeting 2014

2. Short introduction
DLA (Danish Library Association) has a special
association structure of local politicians as well as
library professionals on the Council.
The President is always politicians and local
politicians always constitute the majority
President Vagn Ytte Larsen
President of the Danish Library Association
Steen B. Andersen

3. What is the meaning ?
• How do we define the modern library?
• Why is it so expensive to run modern libraries?
• How can we make politicians understand the
new definition of the modern library and the
cost of running it?
• And why is the
library chancing
character?

4. 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.

5. 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

6. Denmark
98 municipalities and approximately 480 public libraries,
to a population of 5,5 mil. people

7. 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

8. 150 “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.

9. 9
36 million visitors 2011
(A small increase in the last years)

10. Opening hours
Central Libraries Branch Libraries
Busses

11. I 2011 udlånte bibliotekerne 77 mio. materialer
Loans of materials from libraries (Books represents about 70%)
renewals
loans

12. Books
Audio Books
Periodicals

13. Periodicals
Physical loans
Total

14. Folkebibliotekernes økonomi efter indtægt/udgift og tid
2009 2010 2011 2012
Bruttodriftregnskab
operating accounts
2 886 017 2 910 841 2 790 901 2 791 007
Lønudgifter
Salaries
1 802 464 1 814 681 1 746 489 1 724 895
I alt, materialeudgifter
material costs
368 044 354 495 335 622 319 862
Materialeudgifter, bøger
Books
224 688 209 630 209 120 204 376
Materialeudgifter, andre
materialer
Other material costs
145 995 147 086 128 981 121 622
Øvrige udgifter
other expenses
679 054 687 314 644 059 671 036
Indtægter
Revenue
254 195 266 314 264 174 272 134
Public libraries economy by revenue / expenditure and time

15. ?

16. Don’t forget us
We have to explain who we are, if we
want the politicians to remember and
understand the modern library

17. Bringing the libraries
onto the political agenda

18. 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)

19. DLA Organisation

20. 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

21. DLA Vision
 To support democracy development by promoting free and
equal access to information for all Danish citizens
 To further the development of Danish libraries – in
particular the public libraries
 To influence and stimulate library development through
lobbying and political work – nationally and locally
 To further library development through cooperation
between politicians, librarians and library related
institutions

22. DLA Objectives
The association shall
 Advocate for library development towards city
councils e.g. Danish municipalities
 Secure its members influence on library
development issues
 Serve as an inspirational network for local and
national politicians, library employees and others
taking an interest in libraries and the information
and cultural sectors.

23. Members
2014
76 of 98 Municipalities
(Representing 90% of a population 5,5 mil.)
Personal members 350
Institution members 44

24. How does DLA work
db.dk

25.  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

26. Challenges
• Support transformation of Yesterday’s Library to
The 21st Century LIBRARY (physical and digital)
• Make politically approved library strategies on a
National and Local level and to finance it
• Focus on the Local Governments
and the new politicians
after the local election in 2013

27. New narrative frame
We need to create a new narrative frame
Create a definition for what the modern
library is
Constantly debating
how to describe it.

28. fremtidensbiblioteker.dk
In the Danish libraries we have created a Thinktank
"Future Libraries"

29. Bringing Libraries
On the agenda
- Let’s do it together !
See this presentation at Biblioteksdebat.dk
Michel Steen-Hansen
@saintmichels
Michel Steen-Hansen
msh@db.dk
www.db.dk
Biblioteksdebat.dk
Let's Link?: linkedin.com/in/saintmichels
twitter.com/saintmichels
facebook.com/saintmichels

30. Urban Mediaspace in Aarhu
which opens April 2015
Black Diamond/The Royal Library
ee You in DENMARK!
@saintmichels
Msh@db.dk
b.dk

31. ….a little about me
• Michel Steen-Hansen
• Director of The Danish Library Association from December 2008
• Master of Science (history and geography) Roskilde University
• Former :
– Director for Slagelse Library
– Head of a historical archive
in Ringsted
– Chairman of Denmark's
archive organization
msh@db.dk
www.db.dk
Biblioteksdebat.dk
Let's Link?: linkedin.com/in/saintmichels
twitter.com/saintmichels
facebook.com/saintmichels

32. Reach out
- relevant offers to the entire population
• Think in terms of public service
• Work systematically with new partnerships and varied
offers to all segments
• Meet people where they are:
– on the web,
– in their homes,
– in schools,
– on the job,
– in the club,
– at the concert or the football match
• At the LIBRARY