Talk at The Swedish Library Associations Network for Development Methods: https://www.biblioteksforeningen.se/kalender/traff-med-expertnatverket-for-verksamhetsutvecklande-metoder/

1. A library visit is not just a number
Seeking a new language for the value of libraries
Christian Lauersen
Director of Libraries and Citizens Services
Roskilde Municipality, Denmark
Twitter: @clauersen
Svensk Biblioteksförening, March 24 2021

2. The aim
The design
The findings
Next steps

3. How we talk about
things matters
How do we talk about
the value of libraries?

4. New Public Management..

5. .. vs. the bigger picture

7. Library statistics says something about the use of libraries,
but not neccesaily something about the value of libraries
We need a new language for the value of libraries
and what it means to citizens and society

8. Method and design

9. “It is only once we have started with individual experience
that we can then work outwards, and understand the
kinds of benefit that culture may have for society, for communities,
for democracy, for public health and wellbeing, for urban life and regional growth”
- The Cultural Value Project (2016)

10. The scaffold for a new language
4 dimension of culture:
The emotional: Awakens feelings and thoughts
The intellectual: Creates conversations and reflections
The creative: Inspire and motivates us to create
The social: Self-cultivation/bildung, belonging and
community

11. Collecting data and the The Impact Compass
• Quantitative survey: Representative sample of 1.509 citizens
• Qualitative survey: Questionary and observation on various libraries
• Participants have assessed their experiences using response
categories from “To a very high degree” to "Not at all". The answers
are then converted to numerical values ​​from 5 - 1
• To every of the 4 dimensions we have added 3 parameters of meaning
to unfold the dimensions into The Impact Campass visualizing what
the library means to citizens
• Main library categories: The Collection, Programs, The Library Room,
Guidance from staff (which are reflected in the survey questions)

12. What is a library to citizens?
Programs
Collection
Guidance
Physical facilities

13. 4 groups of library services chosen on
concrete activities that can have an impact on
citizens
Specific theory of impact where the 4 overall
dimensions is applied to public libraries with
a number of specific words for impact
General theory of impact, consisting of 4
overall dimensions of impact analyzed from the
Cultural Value Project
Meaningful questions that captures the impact
the citizens experience by using the public
library

14. The findings: Impact and attitude

15. Haven
Denmark’s public libraries are a
haven in which users experience
well-being and immerse themselves

16. Perspective
Danish public libraries give
users perspective on life

17. Community
Public libraries help form
and maintain communities

18. Creativity
Public libraries allow people
to develop creatively and try
new things

19. Staff
Help from staff at public libraries
holds significant impact

20. Trust
The public library is a place
can you trust what you see and hear

23. Background: The citizens relationship and
attitude towads the public library
• The user / non-user distinction does not make that much sense
• 88% find that public libraries are important because the offer free and
equal access to knowledge and culture
• 82% finds that public libraries are important because is supports local
communities
• 75% of parents finds that it’s of great importance for their children to
have access to a public library
• 4 out 5 thinks that the public library still have relevancy today despite
the rise of digital services like Spotify and Netflix

24. Next steps

25. Releasing the design

26. Creating a new language:
• Political arena
• Library and cultural professionals
• Traditional media
• ‘Soft’ media

27. Context
Change the language of the value of the
public library in context of society

28. ‘To me the library seems to be an institution
with a heart. An institution that wants me the best
and don’t treat me like a product or a customer’
- Man, 39 years old

29. Thanks for listening
Christian Lauersen
Director for Libraries and Citizen Services
Roskilde Municipality, Denmark
Mail: cula@roskilde.dk
Twitter: @clauersen
The Library Lab: christianlauersen.net
Library Planet: libraryplanet.net
Instagram: @librarylovestories
Seismonaut: https://seismonaut.com/