A review of recent published research from across the globe on open libraries, their benefits and critical success factors.

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OPEN LIBRARIES - A NEW MODEL FOR SUSTAINABLE
GROWTH
– PRESENTATION AT AXIELL CONFERENCE
– OXFORD 2 MAY 2017
Carl Gustav Johannsen
Associate professor
University of Copenhagen

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7 OUTLINE
• In a library history perspective
• Open libraries in seven countries
• Technological requirements
• Open library users
• Pros and cons
• Challenges – sustainable growth
• Critical success factors

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BASED ON MY RECENT 2017 BOOK

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LIBRARY HISTORY PERSPECTIVE
• A modern open library offers:
– Free access to the physical library up to 24/7 h a weekly
– Access to all basic library services and transactions( book shelves, online
catalogs, internet sources, computers in the library)
– Reading, browsing, deliveries, loans, use of computers, children’s library
facilities, and – sometimes – cookies, tea and coffee …

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7 TEA & COFFEE IN A DANISH OPEN LIBRARY
NEAR COPENHAGEN

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7 THREE MAIN LIBRARY REVOLUTIONS- THE
GRADUAL OPENING OF THE LIBRARY
• Open shelves – the ”open access revolution” (Alistair Black, 1994) – UK 1994 – US
earlier
• Automated Self-delivery and Self-checkout of library materials - from the 1990s
and onwards
• Open libraries – the ”open library revolution” (Johannsen 2017)

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OPEN LIBRARIES IN SEVEN COUNTRIES(1)
• Which public library was the first with Open libraries?
– Gjern (Denmark) or Singapore?
• Gjern – established in 2004
• Singapore – opened in 2002
– Silly question or:
• Gjern branch library was the first staff-less library with a particular self-lock-in-
procedure
• Singapore was the first staff-less library – but located within a larger shopping
mall

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OPEN LIBRARIES IN SEVEN COUNTRIES(2)
• Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom & the United
States
• Differences as to spread and growth rates
• Other differences: the use of surveillance technology and CCTV is restricted in
Sweden
• Why differences? Variable explanations – fear of vandalism, trust levels, social
capital, courage, …

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7 FOUR COUNTRIES – NUMBER OF OPEN
LIBRARIES 2009-2016
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
2009 2010 2013 2016
Denmark
Norway
UK
Germany

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OPEN LIBRARIES IN SEVEN COUNTRIES(4)
• Opening hours per week:
– Denmark (2011): 20 h staffed / 69 h unstaffed (average)
• Only very few totally staff-less libraries
• Vandalism:
– Rare (in all seven countries) – much less than expected!
– Occurs mostly in urban areas
• Resistance:
– Mostly among librarians – local politicians and library leaders, on the contrary,
most often adherents
– experienced in e.g. Sweden and Denmark: resistance tends to diminish after
implementation

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OPEN LIBRARIES IN SEVEN COUNTRIES(5)
• Patterns: staffed and unstaffed opening hours:
– Denmark 2011(averages):
• Total staffed opening hours per week: 20 (22%)
• Total unstaffed opening hours per week: 69 (78%)
– The latest figures suggest an increased percentage of staffed opening hours
– In all seven countries the open libraries are seen as an increasing trend
– A spread from rural and suburban to urban neighborhoods is a common trend

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7 TECHNOLOGICAL REQUIREMENTS (1)
• A modern open library representsa highly technological solution:
– Technological interfaces to the building (door locks, light control, security alarms,
sound announcements, etc.)
– Library management system integration
– Video surveillance (except in Sweden)
– RFID

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7 TECHNOLOGICAL REQUIREMENTS (2)
• Future developments within the Open library:
– The ”transformative library” – screens in the library automatically adapt to the
present users’ particular wants and needs
• More focused and better communication with the users outside the staffed
opening hours
• Testing of open libraries with eight different modes (e.g. children 6-12 years
old. News, crime, fiction, etc.
– Open mobile libraries

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OPEN LIBRARY ENTRANCE

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OPEN LIBRARY USERS (1)
• Several user surveys have documented that the users are excited by the Open
libraries
• Numbers of loans and visits are, generally, increased when an Open Library is
established
• But:
– The excited Open Library users were not at all displeased with the service of the
existing staff
• Indeed:
– The key benefit gained through Open Library is prolonged opening hours at a
reasonable price

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7 OPEN LIBRARY USERS (2)
• Who are the Open Library users?
– Commuters, especially like the Open libraries?
– A recent Danish user survey indicates that especially people with an origin
different than Danish prefer the Open library model
– Also already enthusiastic library users, like the cultural super user segment, like
Open Libraries
– Flexible physical access is an important user interest
– Open libraries are popular both among students and elderly users
– Data from Open libraries indicate that 71 % of the users are within the
economically active age

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7 OPEN LIBRARY ACCESS SYSTEMS TEND TO
UNDERESTIMATE THE NUMBER OF VISITORS

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OPEN LIBRARY USERS (3)
• Usage patterns:
– Visits per hour during the staffed opening hours still outnumbers the visits during
the un-staffed
– Differences may be exaggerated because of different data collection methods
during the staffed and un-staffed opening hours
– Typical loaner statement:
• ”I use the library when it fits me best”
– More study and work during the un-staffed opening hours

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OPEN LIBRARY USERS (4)
• Importance of a proper balance between staffed and un-staffed:
– Poor experiences as to visits and loans with totally, all-time, un-staffed libraries
– The evidence unclear as to the ideal distribution between staffed and un-staffed
opening hours
– Open libraries are supported by representative user surveys

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MALE, ELDERLY OPEN LIBRARY USER

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PROS AND CONS (1)
• Differs among different participants and stake-holders
• Cons:
– Unemployment of the staff argument
– Economic – budget argument
– Service quality / weak-user-as-victim argument
– Human rights offence argument

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7 LOCAL POLITICIANS LIKE THE OPEN LIBRARY
MODEL

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PROS AND CONS (2)
• Pros:
– User preferences – users like Open Libraries
– Local community protection
– Optimal utilization of the local physical library
– Social capital, trust and meeting place creation
– New professionalism and sustainable library development
– New users and usages
– An advanced and original library solution

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7 A DARK DECEMBER MORNING – THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AS THE ONLY
NON-COMMERCIAL, INDOOR MEETING PLACE

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ONLY FEW SIMILAR COMMERCIAL MODELS

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7 PRO – VALUABLE HISTORICAL BUILDINGS ARE
BETTER UTILIZED

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7 CHALLENGES – SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
• From Community 1.0 to Community 4.0
• New professional roles
• Cooperation and co-creation
• Teori U and the Open Library model
• Sustainable growth and Open Libraries

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CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS (1)
• Strategies to prevent vandalism, unrest and harassment
– Changing opening hours
– Rules and restrictions
– Cooperation with local police, social workers and authorities
– Surveillance technology and monitoring
– Information about surveillance technology and monitoring

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CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS (2)
• Strategies to make the library an inviting and inspiring place:
– Light, cleaning
– Panoptical Interior design
– Slanted shelves – colors
– Nudging
– Signals communicating coziness
– Internal clarity

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THE DARK ENTRANCE – MADE LIGHT

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CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS (3)
• Strategies to improve communication and user friendly-ness:
– Low shelves
– No tightly packed, antiquarian bookseller atmosphere
– Appropriate furnishing
– Eye-catching location of materials
– Sensitivity towards user movement patterns
– Serendipity promoting interior design
– Variety – varying exhibitions
– Personalized login

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CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS (4)
• Strategies to promote the library as a local third place or meeting place:
– Cooperative and pro-active attitude towards local associations and cultural
activities and actors
– Networking and marketing
– Adequate meeting facilities

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THANK YOU