The Digital Public Library for Flanders A strategic look into the future Jan Braeckman Based on consultancy by ONE Agency Vlaams Centrum voor Openbare Bibliotheken Flemish Agency for Public Libraries

Overview Web 2.0 has arrived, and libraries are taking all kinds of initiatives to participate in this development Characteristics of new media How people behave Challenges for public libraries New roles for public libraries Strategy in Flanders

Web 2.0 has arrived, and libraries are taking all kinds of initiatives to participate in this development

Characteristics of new media

How people behave

Challenges for public libraries

New roles for public libraries

Strategy in Flanders

Political context Belgium: 10 million Flanders: 6 million (Dutch speaking) Brussels French speaking 4 million Brussels & Wallonia

Belgium: 10 million

Flanders: 6 million

(Dutch speaking)

Brussels

French speaking

4 million

Brussels & Wallonia

Cultural context Dutch speaking community in Europe is 22 million Netherlands: 16 million Flanders: 6 million

Dutch speaking community in Europe is 22 million

Netherlands: 16 million

Flanders: 6 million

Our questions How can public libraries cope with the ever expanding digital environment? What kind of investments have to make in order to develop a “digital public library”?

How can public libraries cope with the ever expanding digital environment?

What kind of investments have to make in order to develop a “digital public library”?

Consultancy Strategic study: looking into the future 1 st How will the future public behave in the evolving digital environment? How will people use media? 2 nd What will be the impact on the public library? What kind of digital library do we have to build in order to let it be useful for the future public?

Strategic study: looking into the future

1 st How will the future public behave in the evolving digital environment? How will people use media?

2 nd What will be the impact on the public library? What kind of digital library do we have to build in order to let it be useful for the future public?

Was it the 60’s, 70’s or 80’s? In the beginning… separate media, channels, technology

In the beginning… separate media, channels, technology

Internet 10 years ago: the internet revolution New technology, content, cultures, behaviour Internet has become a driving force for change, for a media revolution

10 years ago: the internet revolution

New technology, content, cultures, behaviour

Internet has become a driving force for change, for a media revolution

Media 2.0 Now: web 2.0 What are people doing in a media 2.0 environment? Conclusions: New media -> new use Shift of control from provider to consumer: shift of time, place and authority Driven by mass: mass of content, “power of many”

Now: web 2.0

What are people doing in a media 2.0 environment?

Conclusions:

New media -> new use

Shift of control from provider to consumer: shift of time, place and authority

Driven by mass: mass of content, “power of many”

Shift of time Control: Technology Use Business model

Control:

Technology

Use

Business model

Shift of place

Content choice

Communities 2.0 Consumers are increasingly engaged in on-line communities, where they find kindred spirits and where organizations can find groups with similar interests, ideas or wishes. Social networks / virtual worlds wikis Social networks, sharing, ...

Consumers are increasingly engaged in on-line communities, where they find kindred spirits and where organizations can find groups with similar interests, ideas or wishes.

Shift of authority They do not see technology as an innovation; instead, it is considered fundamentally an extension of their consciousness. It’s part of how you behave, of where you live.

They do not see technology as an innovation; instead, it is considered fundamentally an extension of their consciousness.

It’s part of how you behave, of where you live.

Social Network

Social Network Hanging out with friends and family Making new friends Building groups/communities Impressing others Sharing experience Share media Playing Fighting Bullying …

Hanging out with friends and family

Making new friends

Building groups/communities

Impressing others

Sharing experience

Share media

Playing

Fighting

Bullying

…

Participation Generation Research 2008

“ You are not alone” (c) Business Week June 2007

Blogs

Wiki’s, Newswiki’s, Swiki’s

Social bookmarking

You Tube

User Generated content

Journalism & social networks

Really Simple Syndication

widgets

Discovery

Web Application Content and Conversations Selection and Profiling Social Networks

Web 2.0 Web2.0 is the manifestation of Shifting power to consumers New communication and marketing Introducing new business models Introducing new technologies and rich internet experiences Shift of authority

Web2.0 is the manifestation of

Shifting power to consumers

New communication and marketing

Introducing new business models

Introducing new technologies and rich internet experiences

Shift of authority

Shift of authority Users decide on time, place, and content Users focus on digital communities and their peer groups Users focus on a universe of immediately available content Users co-create content, co-create their own digital environment => The universe of the new public is digital, shared with peers, interactive & participatory, immediately available / the universe is online

Users decide on time, place, and content

Users focus on digital communities and their peer groups

Users focus on a universe of immediately available content

Users co-create content, co-create their own digital environment

=> The universe of the new public is digital, shared with peers, interactive & participatory, immediately available / the universe is online

What is the impact on public libraries? Mission Current situation Changes of roles Strategy and roadmap

What is the impact on public libraries?

Mission

Current situation

Changes of roles

Strategy and roadmap

Mission The public library is a basic facility for every citizen, as inexpensive as possible, neutral, and free from any (commercial) pressure. The library has to: Be an active intermediary and guide for people searching for knowledge, culture, information and recreation Stimulate people to raise the right questions and learn how to do this Make sources of information available Facilitate by delivering services, supporting processes, providing infrastructure, and creating places where people can meet => This applies to the physical and digital library alike.

The public library is a basic facility for every citizen, as inexpensive as possible, neutral, and free from any (commercial) pressure.

The library has to:

Be an active intermediary and guide for people searching for knowledge, culture, information and recreation

Stimulate people to raise the right questions and learn how to do this

Make sources of information available

Facilitate by delivering services, supporting processes, providing infrastructure, and creating places where people can meet

=> This applies to the physical and digital library alike.

Libraries today Current strengths 1 million people visit a public library at least once a month 32% population uses the library, 27% is member Uniquely embedded: 800+ locations Libraries have a local flavour, adapt to local timing, local current affairs Well known brand: Reliable, neutral, delivers quality services Easily accessible

Current strengths

1 million people visit a public library at least once a month

32% population uses the library, 27% is member

Uniquely embedded: 800+ locations

Libraries have a local flavour, adapt to local timing, local current affairs

Well known brand: Reliable, neutral, delivers quality services

Easily accessible

But! Generation Google Future customers? Research of student behaviour : 84% starts searching in Google, Yahoo…. Only 1% considers using the website of a library Un iverse of the new user = digital, shared with peers, enables participation, delivers immediately “ Google is the public library of the new generations.”

Future customers? Research of student behaviour :

84% starts searching in Google, Yahoo….

Only 1% considers using the website of a library

Un iverse of the new user = digital, shared with peers, enables participation, delivers immediately

“ Google is the public library of the new generations.”

Use of media (NL)

Media use and age (NL)

Libraries today Weakness: The library is a well known brand, but it’s image is grey, dusty, old fashioned – especially with people who don’t use the library Staff is not aware of what is going on, is not competent to deal with new challenges For most people “library” equals “books”. Because of the less important position of the book as a source of information, people will stop associating the library with searching and finding information => One of the big challenges in the future will be the re-branding of the library, and communicating its new identity

Weakness:

The library is a well known brand, but it’s image is grey, dusty, old fashioned – especially with people who don’t use the library

Staff is not aware of what is going on, is not competent to deal with new challenges

For most people “library” equals “books”.

Because of the less important position of the book as a source of information, people will stop associating the library with searching and finding information

=> One of the big challenges in the future will be the re-branding of the library, and communicating its new identity

Challenge: physical library Building on strengths, being local: “ Home” of physical media Access to the digital environment Focus on personal contact with people Physical “place” for social networks “ Physical” display-window and storefront for content providers Crucial in battling digital divides

Building on strengths, being local:

“ Home” of physical media

Access to the digital environment

Focus on personal contact with people

Physical “place” for social networks

“ Physical” display-window and storefront for content providers

Crucial in battling digital divides

third place http :// www.pps.org / (But do we have the staff that can do this, that is willing to do this, that is allowed to do this?)

http :// www.pps.org /

Change of library paradigm? From To Scarce resources Overload Product driven Process driven Consumers Participants Lead Support Democratise (digital divide) Quality / Reliable Free from (commercial) influence

From To

Scarce resources Overload

Product driven Process driven

Consumers Participants

Lead Support

Democratise (digital divide)

Quality / Reliable

Free from (commercial) influence

Change of roles The library has to keep its role in society to deliver quality services; but should take into account the changed behaviour, control and expectations of new users: it has to search a new equilibrium on the balance of authority. The library should assume 4 roles: The library as gatekeeper The library as curator The library as guide The library as participant

The library has to keep its role in society to deliver quality services; but should take into account the changed behaviour, control and expectations of new users: it has to search a new equilibrium on the balance of authority.

The library should assume 4 roles:

The library as gatekeeper

The library as curator

The library as guide

The library as participant

The Library as gatekeeper Stands for reliable information and collections, quality selection and descriptions Related to the local community

The Library as curator Is an objective and qualitative store window of information, media, and services Help people to discover things they like, and didn’t know New things, and things out of the long tail It’s: the libraries’ choice

The Library as guide Learning how to fish the ocean of information Learning how to search, find, interpret, and share information and knowledge

The Library as participant The library and its staff are full blown participants of the Web 2.0 conversations, relying on their specific expertise to of value to the others On the same level as other participants

Gatekeeper Curator Guide Participant

The changes The (digital) public library has to focus on “working with people” rather than “working with books”. Focus shifts from “carriers” to “content”. The library evolves from “a supplier of products and services” to “a facilitator for people to develop their own products and services”. The core business will shift from managing a physical (local) collection, to finding, interpreting, using, organising a larger, continuously expanding universal collection.

The (digital) public library has to focus on “working with people” rather than “working with books”.

Focus shifts from “carriers” to “content”.

The library evolves from “a supplier of products and services” to “a facilitator for people to develop their own products and services”.

The core business will shift from managing a physical (local) collection, to finding, interpreting, using, organising a larger, continuously expanding universal collection.

Towards a strategy Strategy with 6 policy guidelines + Roadmap for the next 3 years, with a perspective on 6 years

Strategy with 6 policy guidelines

+

Roadmap for the next 3 years, with a perspective on 6 years

Policy guidelines Guideline 1: one coherent strategy, one owner of this strategy Flemish government Many (sub)projects on different levels: Flemish, provincial, regional, local Guideline 2: a strong organisations Authority, leadership (vs consensus) Expert in combining knowledge on technology, on library business models, and on the public and user behaviour

Guideline 1: one coherent strategy, one owner of this strategy

Flemish government

Many (sub)projects on different levels: Flemish, provincial, regional, local

Guideline 2: a strong organisations

Authority, leadership (vs consensus)

Expert in combining knowledge on technology, on library business models, and on the public and user behaviour

Policy guidelines Guideline 3: Library staff Provide training and education Promote the hiring of “digital natives” Guideline 4: develop knowledge of legal context in libraries + lobby for a more adapted legal framework Libraries are accountable, users are not or less Legal framework always lags behind reality

Guideline 3: Library staff

Provide training and education

Promote the hiring of “digital natives”

Guideline 4: develop knowledge of legal context in libraries + lobby for a more adapted legal framework

Libraries are accountable, users are not or less

Legal framework always lags behind reality

Policy guidelines Guideline 5 : “the digital” affects all aspects of the library system Impact on core business. The strategy on the digital library should be embedded in a comprehensive vision on the libraries’ future Guideline 6 : Developing partnerships Cultural heritage 4. Publishing, music Education 5. … Media

Guideline 5 : “the digital” affects all aspects of the library system

Impact on core business. The strategy on the digital library should be embedded in a comprehensive vision on the libraries’ future

Guideline 6 : Developing partnerships

Cultural heritage 4. Publishing, music

Education 5. …

Media

Roadmap Awareness program Library sector, learning platform, co-creation, experimentation Policy makers and other stakeholders Development of Web 2.0 platforms with users Data and metadata: creation and connecting Digital collection management Creating metadata + Context: cultural community of 6 million

Awareness program

Library sector, learning platform, co-creation, experimentation

Policy makers and other stakeholders

Development of Web 2.0 platforms with users

Data and metadata: creation and connecting

Digital collection management

Creating metadata

+

Context: cultural community of 6 million

Roadmap Marketing en CRM of local libraries User information Developing CRM tools Changing public image of libraries Digital divide, challenge for local libraries Working with people Infrastructure and services Library as a trustworthy place to get acquainted with the digital universe Legal advice, informing policy makers

Marketing en CRM of local libraries

User information

Developing CRM tools

Changing public image of libraries

Digital divide, challenge for local libraries

Working with people

Infrastructure and services

Library as a trustworthy place to get acquainted with the digital universe

Legal advice, informing policy makers

2019 “ Through the need for adaptation, this institution had to evolve and get rid of its traditional and static image to become a place with a new meaning and a diversified functioning.” Gregory Blauwers Public libraries and urban regeneration: ‘ From reading place to public space’, University of Brussels, dissertation, 2007

“ Through the need for adaptation, this institution had to evolve and get rid of its traditional and static image to become a place with a new meaning and a diversified functioning.”

Gregory Blauwers

Public libraries and urban regeneration:

‘ From reading place to public space’,

University of Brussels, dissertation, 2007

Thank you! [email_address]

Thank you!

[email_address]