National libraries in Europe – A case study of collaboration Introduction: Europe, European national libraries Collaboration of European national libraries in 4 steps – a case study Future steps NLB Conference, Singapore, 15-11-2005 Olaf D. Janssen Web & New Projects manager The European Library Office, The Netherlands

Introduction: Europe, European national libraries

Collaboration of European national libraries in 4 steps – a case study

Future steps

Europe – relevant institutions European Union (EU) - Founded 1992 - 25 members states - Group of 10 New Member States joined in 2004 - Major project funder More  www.eu.int Council of Europe (CoE) - Founded 1949 - 46 member states, 800M people - Aim: to achieve a greater unity between its members. More  www.coe.int

European Union (EU) - Founded 1992 - 25 members states - Group of 10 New Member States joined in 2004 - Major project funder More  www.eu.int

Council of Europe (CoE) - Founded 1949 - 46 member states, 800M people - Aim: to achieve a greater unity between its members. More  www.coe.int

Nature of a national library By law 1 per country (Russia & Italy 2) Roles: D epo sit library ( national bibliogra phy) Scientific library Sometimes also university library (eg FI, SI) Preserving , managing & opening nation a l cultur al heritage (documents) Promoting & supporting national & international co-operation Research & development ( national & international)

By law 1 per country (Russia & Italy 2)

Roles:

D epo sit library ( national bibliogra phy)

Scientific library

Sometimes also university library (eg FI, SI)

Preserving , managing & opening nation a l cultur al heritage (documents)

Promoting & supporting national & international co-operation

Research & development ( national & international)

Collaboration since 1987, since 1995 online CENL : C onference of E uropean N ational L ibrarians (directors of NLs) National libraries in European context Regional subgroups (Northern, South-East) CENL is umbrella of many European projects & task groups 45 official national libraries – 43 countries (Council of Europe)

Collaboration since 1987, since 1995 online

CENL : C onference of E uropean N ational L ibrarians (directors of NLs)

Regional subgroups (Northern, South-East)

CENL is umbrella of many European projects & task groups

45 official national libraries – 43 countries (Council of Europe)

Roles & tasks of CENL Setting policies - H armoni s ation & innovation of national policy concerning libraries - T o increase and reinforce the role of national libraries in Europe Innovation & S tandardi s ation S tandardi s ation and implementation of effective and innovative communication & information networks, for, in & between national libraries Maintaining cultural heritage P reservation and conservation of important collections in Europe Education & culture L ibraries are suited to promoting cultural heritage (e.g. schools) More info  http://www.cenl.org

Setting policies - H armoni s ation & innovation of national policy concerning libraries - T o increase and reinforce the role of national libraries in Europe

Innovation & S tandardi s ation S tandardi s ation and implementation of effective and innovative communication & information networks, for, in & between national libraries

Maintaining cultural heritage P reservation and conservation of important collections in Europe

Education & culture L ibraries are suited to promoting cultural heritage (e.g. schools)

More info  http://www.cenl.org

European collaboration in 4 steps 1995-2005 : Gabriel = W eb guide to Europe’s national libraries 2001-2004 : TEL Project = Feasibility study for searching catalogues & collections of national libraries 2005  : The European Library = Operational result of Feasibility study (sum of A+B) 2005-2006: TEL-ME-MOR = Extension of The European Library with 10 European Union New Member States

1995-2005 : Gabriel = W eb guide to Europe’s national libraries

2001-2004 : TEL Project = Feasibility study for searching catalogues & collections of national libraries

2005  : The European Library = Operational result of Feasibility study (sum of A+B)

2005-2006: TEL-ME-MOR = Extension of The European Library with 10 European Union New Member States

A 1995 – Start of W eb guide for/of/by Europe’s national libraries Gabriel

Gabriel : Guide to European national libraries GA teway and BRI dge to E urope's national L ibraries 1995 pilot, online since 1997 Non-EU funded – own means Maintained & hosted by NL of Netherlands, 4 mirrors (Finland, Germany, Slovenia, UK) Is no longer alive  Content moved to TheEuropeanLibrary.org

GA teway and BRI dge to E urope's national L ibraries

1995 pilot, online since 1997

Non-EU funded – own means

Maintained & hosted by NL of Netherlands, 4 mirrors (Finland, Germany, Slovenia, UK)

Is no longer alive  Content moved to TheEuropeanLibrary.org

What could you find on Gabriel? Practical information about the European NLs: addresses, opening hours, history, contact info, etc. Information about online services : OPACs, national bibliographic databases, websites, periodicals… Exhibition of (digitized) treasures of the 43 NLs Search all websites ( NOT: catalogues ) of all 43 NLs in one query Available in 3 languages: English, French & German

Practical information about the European NLs: addresses, opening hours, history, contact info, etc.

Information about online services : OPACs, national bibliographic databases, websites, periodicals…

Exhibition of (digitized) treasures of the 43 NLs

Search all websites ( NOT: catalogues ) of all 43 NLs in one query

Available in 3 languages: English, French & German

Pros & cons of Gabriel Pros Only pan-European library service All NLs had a presence on the web (e.g. Malta did not have a website until 2003!) Co-operation, share knowledge, networking, political Cons Not able to search the catalogues & collections of the NLs  Enter TEL Project (2001)

Pros

Only pan-European library service

All NLs had a presence on the web (e.g. Malta did not have a website until 2003!)

Co-operation, share knowledge, networking, political

Cons

Not able to search the catalogues & collections of the NLs  Enter TEL Project (2001)

B 2001 – Start of Feasibility study for searching catalogues & collections of national libraries TEL Project

8 pilot libraries: Finland, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Switzerland, United Kingdom. Intended to create operational service from start, so business plan was part of project TEL Project (2001-2004) 2001-2004: Feasibility study = is it possible to create one central service for searching the catalogues & collections of all European NLs ? Financed by European Union (30 months) + own recources = 2M Euro ( ~ 4M S$)

8 pilot libraries: Finland, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

Intended to create operational service from start, so business plan was part of project

2001-2004: Feasibility study = is it possible to create one central service for searching the catalogues & collections of all European NLs ?

Financed by European Union (30 months) + own recources = 2M Euro ( ~ 4M S$)

Creation of technical infrastructure Developing metatada models Relations with publishers - copyright issues - open access vs. restricted access Multi-linguality (37 languages in CENL) Business models - market research - financing - is there a need for a European Library? Consensus building – recognizing & clearing political hurdles TEL Project – task fields

Creation of technical infrastructure

Developing metatada models

Relations with publishers - copyright issues - open access vs. restricted access

Multi-linguality (37 languages in CENL)

Business models - market research - financing - is there a need for a European Library?

Consensus building – recognizing & clearing political hurdles

Results of TEL Project 31-1-2004 : Feasibility study ended successfully - other NLs can participate too (France) N ew collaborative effort between national libraries in Europe  start of Pilot libraries + France commit for 3 years initially to create operational service = The EuropeanLibrary .org (portal) Creation of a European Library Office , hosted by National Library of The Netherlands

31-1-2004 : Feasibility study ended successfully - other NLs can participate too (France)

N ew collaborative effort between national libraries in Europe  start of

Pilot libraries + France commit for 3 years initially to create operational service = The EuropeanLibrary .org (portal)

Creation of a European Library Office , hosted by National Library of The Netherlands

C 2005 – Start of Operational result of Feasibility study The European Library

TheEuropeanLibrary.org = service of all European National Libraries to provide access to their (deep web) catalogues & collections via 1 central multi-lingual web interface (= portal) What is The European Library?

Vision “ Provision of equal access to promote world-wide understanding of the richness and diversity of European learning and culture.” “ The European Library exists to open up the universe of knowledge, information and culture of all Europe's national libraries” Mission

“ Provision of equal access to promote world-wide understanding of the richness and diversity of European learning and culture.”

“ The European Library exists to open up the universe of knowledge, information and culture of all Europe's national libraries”

TheEuropeanLibrary.org live since 17 March 2005 (beta) Alfa release expected for 24 November The European Library – current status Funded by the national libraries, owned by CENL Development + maintenance by European Library Office (KB – 4.5 FTE) 12 Full Participants: National libraries of - Britain, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Switzerland (2004) - Austria, Serbia, Croatia (June 2005) - Catalogues & collections searchable (160+ collections, 500K digitised objects, 15M records) + basic Gabriel information 33 Basic Participants - Catalogues & collections not searchable - Only basic information – as on Gabriel

TheEuropeanLibrary.org live since 17 March 2005 (beta) Alfa release expected for 24 November

Funded by the national libraries, owned by CENL

Development + maintenance by European Library Office (KB – 4.5 FTE)

12 Full Participants: National libraries of - Britain, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Switzerland (2004) - Austria, Serbia, Croatia (June 2005) - Catalogues & collections searchable (160+ collections, 500K digitised objects, 15M records) + basic Gabriel information

33 Basic Participants - Catalogues & collections not searchable - Only basic information – as on Gabriel

Advantages of The European Library Give integrated access to national collections across Europe - digital (500K) and non-digital (14.5M items) Deliver integrated results Increased visibility of national collections on the web Open standards - development & sharing Access to native resources held in other countries Political – all NLs operate as one force (more weight than individual NLs) Mechanism to extend collaboration 

Give integrated access to national collections across Europe - digital (500K) and non-digital (14.5M items)

Deliver integrated results

Increased visibility of national collections on the web

Open standards - development & sharing

Access to native resources held in other countries

Political – all NLs operate as one force (more weight than individual NLs)

Mechanism to extend collaboration 

D 2005 – Start of Extension of TheEuropeanLibrary.org with 10 EU New Member States TEL-ME-MOR

TEL-ME-MOR GLOBAL FACTSHEET Funded by European Union - 1.4M Euro kickstart (2.8 M S$) 2 main objectives: 1. Facilitating & stimulating the 10 EU NMS to apply for future EU funding (creating momentum) 2 . Making the 10 NMS national libraries Full Participant of The European Library (except Slovenia) Project started 01-02-2005 – Duration 2 years National libraries of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Malta and Cyprus (& Slovenia)

Funded by European Union - 1.4M Euro kickstart (2.8 M S$)

2 main objectives: 1. Facilitating & stimulating the 10 EU NMS to apply for future EU funding (creating momentum) 2 . Making the 10 NMS national libraries Full Participant of The European Library (except Slovenia)

Project started 01-02-2005 – Duration 2 years

National libraries of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Malta and Cyprus (& Slovenia)

TEL-ME-MOR - Hurdles Lack of staff (esp. smaller libraries) Lack of knowledge  TEL Office + Full Participants to assist (workshops, teleconferences, email support…) Technical hurdles (infrastructure, m etadata, collection descriptions, charcater sets/diacritics) Financial + organisational (first EU project for most) Possible hurdles for NMS libraries to join The European Library

Lack of staff (esp. smaller libraries)

Lack of knowledge  TEL Office + Full Participants to assist (workshops, teleconferences, email support…)

Technical hurdles (infrastructure, m etadata, collection descriptions, charcater sets/diacritics)

Financial + organisational (first EU project for most)

New resources for users - Collections in The European Library today : 165 - New collections added by NMS by end of 2006: 47 Extension of network and collaboration (o pen standards, development & sharing knowledge) Extended profile of The European Library (snowball effect)  possible future e xtension to other European cultural institutions TEL-ME-MOR - Benefits

New resources for users - Collections in The European Library today : 165 - New collections added by NMS by end of 2006: 47

Extension of network and collaboration (o pen standards, development & sharing knowledge)

Extended profile of The European Library (snowball effect)  possible future e xtension to other European cultural institutions

Next steps (2006 - …) Offering more digitized content - Currently relative low % of content is digital material - The European Library is seen as ideal point of entry to digitised material - CENL will develop a network of digitisation activities - European Digital Library? (  Google Print) Nov 2005: Project proposal to EU to include all remaining EU member states 2006-2007 : more (non-NMS) NLs to join TheEuropeanLibrary.org January 2006 : Moscow, Denmark July 2006 : Spain Beginning of 2007 : 25-30 national libraries searchable (200-300+ collections, 10-100M records)

Offering more digitized content - Currently relative low % of content is digital material - The European Library is seen as ideal point of entry to digitised material - CENL will develop a network of digitisation activities - European Digital Library? (  Google Print)

Nov 2005: Project proposal to EU to include all remaining EU member states

2006-2007 : more (non-NMS) NLs to join TheEuropeanLibrary.org January 2006 : Moscow, Denmark July 2006 : Spain

Beginning of 2007 : 25-30 national libraries searchable (200-300+ collections, 10-100M records)

www.TheEuropeanLibrary.org (beta) www.telmemor.net www.cenl.org [email_address] [email_address]