An international experience 2017
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Jane Cowell visited 12 libraries over 17 days in 4 countries as part of the IFLA World Library Congress in 2017. The document discusses her overall impressions of the libraries in Poland, Germany, Denmark, and the UK. Many of the libraries had large, old book collections but limited investment and were very connected to their communities. Several libraries were developing programs and events to engage more users. One notable program discussed was a German library's refugee program that provided services and work opportunities for refugee librarians.
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An international experience 2017
- 1. An International Experience Public Libraries Tour 2017 Part 1 World Library Congress & Germany Jane Cowell
- 2. The Overview • IFLA World Congress 2017 • 12 Libraries in 17 days • 4 Countries – Poland, Germany, Denmark, United Kingdom
- 5. Shows how full bleed image can be used. Caption preferably in white, or black if a light photo. Minimum 20pt arial
- 22. Overall impressions • Very tied to large book collections that were quite old • Have very traditional buildings & limited investment • Very connected to community • Developing event / programs to build audiences
- 46. Refugee Program
- 47. Overall Impressions • Integration of digital and print formats & services • Significant increase of refugees in 2015-16 & need for library to respond with specific program • Actively looking for new library service models and engagement opportunities • Active work program for refugees who are librarians
- 48. Overall Impressions • Want right mix of gimmicks digital & physical as attractors • Sunday closing is an issue • Challenge for staff / skill set in the Tech & Event space • Open Plus Library
- 73. Overall Impressions • Great refurbishment of an old building • Services are responsive to community need • Do have a business focus with Customer Service standards in place • Work to embed customer focus as a culture with staff
- 74. Overall Impressions • Challenges: – eResources – acquisition / lending / legal & financial models – Open Access policies – Sunday opening
Editor's Notes
- There were 16 Australian and New Zealand Library Industry professionals on the tour which only added to the professional learning that occurred as we were able to discuss and debate the Library Services and buildings that we visited.
- There were 16 Australian and New Zealand Library Industry professionals on the tour which only added to the professional learning that occurred as we were able to discuss and debate the Library Services and buildings that we visited. We travelled by train throughout Germany and Denmark so a lot of the time was spent on travel but we did find time to do a City tour and see a host of Cathedrals and some lovely Art Galleries and for me a highlight was seeing a Salvador Dali, Picasso and Miro artwork.
- World Congress was in Wroclaw Poland and it was a lovely City that is considered a tourist spot for Poland.
- The WLIC opening shared this City’s (Poland’s 4th largest City which has just hosted the World Games) history with us through an amazing interpretive dance and song piece. We were welcomed by the Minister of Culture and the First Deputy Prime Minister, Piotr Tadeusz Gliński and Rafał Dutkiewicz,the Mayor of Wroclaw and are meeting in the Centennial Hall, where Pope John Paul and the Dalai Lama have also met the people of Wroclaw.
- The key takeaways for me from the opening sessions yesterday and today’s focus from the IFLA President’s highlights, the Global Vision Workshop and the Storytelling for Reference Librarians are: Inclusion: As IFLA works to create a Global Vision for Libraries there is a real sense of inclusion of all areas of the world in the discussion. And it is a discussion, librarians problem solving and working together to articulate what it is to be a library of the future, delivering community outcomes for today. The findings from the Workshops held in all parts of the globe were shared and all views were considered. 2. Participation: IFLA Quote The challenges facing the library field from ever-increasing globalisation can only be met and overcome by an inclusive, global response from a united library field. And this challenge requires all librarians from around the world to ACT and Participate. The call to vote has gone out across the world for all librarians to have your say to influence the Vision document. So Vote!
- Stronger Together: A very strong message coming through the discussions for both the Library Industry response to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Vision for libraries is that the Library Industry must come together — A United Voice- all voices together advocating as one. Breaking down the walls between the types of libraries is essential to move forward and evidence our global impact. The launch of the IFLA Library Map of the World happened and this requires countries to add their stories and library data. Powerful tool to evidence the impact of libraries across the world — but this tool is only effective if Libraries participate and submit their data and stories! Effective Storytelling: The whole two days has been about telling effective library stories and stories of place and the session Storytelling for Sustainability and Solidarity from the IFLA Reference and Information Services Committee bookended a storytelling kind of day. So the new skills needed by librarians are the ability to tell stories, curate curiosity, and to use many different tools to deepen the relationship with our users and to give them a voice. Working with our communities we broaden the diversity of our users, develop a deeper relationship and build evidence to base decisions on.
- I was very impressed to be addressed by a total authentic Viking from Norway. Aslak Myhre is the Director General of the National Library in Norway and his message that libraries are the social glue for communities resonated with the audience. Libraries are the community meeting place, the place where small democracy happens which allows people to connect and then engage in big democracy debates. He advocates for libraries where people can stay, talk, flirt, connect and get to know each other, breaking down divisions in the community. The National Library of Norway opens a bar next week to deliver on this aim and I will follow with interest how the flirting is getting on.
- Human Centered Libraries: participation as a leading principle in the planning and design of new libraries and allowing the community to discuss, design and decide on the outcomes. This is hard! Libraries need to be Smart: A lovely quote was shown at the Smart Libraries session. The ideal of a library is something like a lighthouse that keeps the flames of human intelligence burning: Cheol-Hee Han, Dolbegae. Its about the data: The importance of demonstrating value to our funders was and always is a key topic for Libraries and it was again a core theme of this Congress. Data Management, Data Analysis and Data Scientist as a new skill for Librarians to deliver for their organisations was discussed with passion. Is it a Library role? The open data / open access issues were debated and the library as advocate for open access research is agreed upon.
- Attention as the scarce resource: the last session on the last day was about public libraries and their response to challenges and it was the Scandanavians who impressed me again. Copenhagen presented this slide and emphasised that it is not an either or choice for libraries but that we are all on a continum from the classical Library to the Proactive library model. Finland Libraries presented on their participatory budgeting model whee citizens decide on where to spend the money – so hard to give up the power. Vicki presented in the Library Building and Design session on the State Library of Queensland Design and how that has sustained and changed over time I presented in the Accidental Assessment Librarian session which was all about measurement and data on The Impact of Libraries as Creative spaces research. There were 60 Australians present and we also connected with each other for a dinner and a caucus. The next WLIC in 2018 is Kuala Lumpa which is very close to Australia and I really recommend attendance.
- Group of Librarians who toured the Polish Libraries of Swidnica, Bielawa and Czarny Bor.
- Village – small rural area
- Czarny Bor Fast facts: opened in 2014 at a cost of 4 million Polish Zloty. The architects were from the Wroclaw design studio, ISBA Grupa Projektowa and their design focus was functionality, elegance and simplicity. It is 900 square metres and houses a performance space, a library, a cafe and a children’s play space as well as a place to learn artistic skills. There are 10 staff and a concierge and cleaner and the opening hours are 10am – 6pm daily and the cafe is run by the library and library staff.
- Here are the start of the photos of chairs so be prepared. This is the small café and the design of this library was clever as the café counter backs onto the Library staff desk so one person can cover two areas. Busy times of course mean that there are more staff. What did I Love? I really loved the Librarian’s focus on the community coming together in the library to celebrate, to learn, and to showcase their rural way of life. The real strength was bringing together the 3 cultural activities within the library function, which in other Polish Cities was kept very separate.
- Another interesting children’s area. And a photo of librarians mobbing a library with their mobile phones out taking lots of photos.
- A Focus on Village Confidence: the village children must travel to the larger towns for their secondary education and another impetus for the design and building of what is something of a spaceship in a very small village town was to instil confidence in the village children when they go to the bigger town. That their town has such a modern cultural centre is thought to help them feel confident in their new school as they will have experienced similar library services. The cultural centre also showcases village excellence – trophies, artwork and beautiful local lace work was all on display.
- Central Library Hamburg – opposite the main City railway station and is situated in the original Post Office building built in 1904. The Library moved into this renovated building in 2004. Because of really good visitation it is very attractive to business partners and who may exhibit or rent a desk to be in the library for a short period.
- We were at the library prior to opening. There are 4000 visitors per day to this library. Café is run by a contractor and is a hot spot in the library. Families on a Saturday spend the whole day in the library and use the café.
- Fast Facts: 1899-2017 Budget 33.7 million Euros Staff 356FTEs Collection spend 3.6 million euros Revenue: 5.8 million euros Collection size 1.78 million items in 30 languages Loans 13.7 million per year Visits 4.84 million Events 10, 813 events per year
- This is a new model for Hamburg. You need to have an adult library card to open the door. Security Guard does do a patrol through the library and they intend to roll it out to 7 libraries to gain 1 hour in the morning (staff start at 11am) and more hours in the evening are to be considered. Self service is embedded in the library and this includes the checkin component.
- New Youth library – this has been developed in the basement and is aimed at 13yrs – 23years. Only collections for recreation are included. Opened for 1 year and is a new concept for the City Library. Will be adding a library of things – skateboards, sewing machines, cameras, hammock, drawing tablet and will use Instagram to promote it. There will be 2 of everything but limited to 15 items. The hexagonal shelving is also an acoustic treatment.
- This is very appealing to younger children too but they are not allowed to be in the space. Many young people want a place to study but there is not a lot of space to stay in the youth library. 8 women and 1 male are the staff for this area and they are all within the age group that is being aimed at.
- The bike to charge up your mobile devices is very popular and was even ridden when the charging component was not working.
- This was a lovely space but did have limited seating options. They ran a lot of events but usage is still quite small which is surprising to the staff.
- This library is over multiple floors and has a lovely music library too. There is a charge to have a library card (45 euros) but using the library space is free. They support school libraries. They have a vibrant volunteer program with 517 volunteers that work for the Media Messenger service and the Refugee service. The volunteers get a direct benefit as their annual library card fee is waived.
- Service desk also dels with customer complaints and takes the fees when required.
- This is the robotic technology used for the check-in process. Contractors are used for shelving and working on this machine.
- Vending machine works really well and in a lot of demand.
- The childrens area is for 0/10 year olds amd os 700 square metres. The summer reading club is featured here under the witches hats and you can see the literacy program and the coat rack and pram parking areas.
- Childrens area is for 0-10 years old Summer reading program 700 square metres for the childrens area
- Music library, piano has silent headphones has performances and use tablets to create their own music.
- In 2015 900,000 asylum seeker registrations and 476,649 applications and in 2016 320,000 million registrations and 745,545 applications – in Germany – In a city of mostly 1.75 million Christians – mostly Muslim countries – Middle East, South Asia, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Western Balkan – 50,000 refugees and asylum seekers. The City wanted to help – Donations paid for the library card / Newcomers card Refugee Centres set up matched the Branch Libraries – Media Boxes, Pictorial dictionaries, elearning Courses were the beginning and then moved to upper level text books, exam questions – drivers licence, technical dictionaries. And they run Dialog in Deutsch,
- Trend of eBranch growth is 15% per year. Online card with online collection access. Developed a 5 euro newcomer card for the first 6 months to try the library. Businesses support the library’s mission to help refugees and donated hundreds of basic language dictionaries for their program Integration of librarians from Sudan and Syria on an 18 month volunteer basis to increase skills and they work with refugees from their own background.
- Trialling open plus – library opening with no staff. Really good response in the branches. Difficult with the Central library – railway station location, will require a security guard on site.
- Bremen Town Musicians Sponsored by local businesses and money went to the library
- 1 Central Library / 7 Branches / 1 Mobile with 22 stops / 1 Prison Library / 1 Hospital Library 10 million Euro budget, Collection is physical items 515,216 and e: 35,662 / Staff FTE 110 / which has halved from 1981 Close to a million visits per year with 1.2 million digital visits (except apps) 13% population is registered – must pay to join but visiting the library is free Opened in the old Police building in 2004 Collection includes art work that you can take home for 3 months
- Open Library – future project – concept for libraries who want to be more open – Scandinavian Libraries began this trend Extended opening hours Use technology to keep the library open Library card access only
- Foyer – the art installation of faces is to show that the library is for everyone. The reading garden is for everyone to use and you do not need a library card to be there.
- Refugee program in all the German Libraries were considered a priority due to the number of refugees coming to every City
- Ran events, Getting to know your library tours, cultural days featuring foods from different cultures that included information on the countries of origin Also cultural exchanges – learning about German culture, German language Children reading to children project had some unexpected outcomes which included increased confidence for the older refugee children who read the storybook in their language
- Both self check in and self check out available at the official entrance to the library. The sorter sorts the books by floor.
- Different experiences available throughout the library and the Reading Garden is welcome for all and WiFi works here too
- Exhibitions and events area.
- The start of my chair obsession. Observation in this library drives the interior design so library staff change the library based on how customers respond or what they are asking for.
- This is a change that was requested and customers can listen and view content – and of course the chairs were interesting to me.
- Computer use is for 4 hours per week and need a library card to use. WiFi is free and can use without a library card Have a 15 min express use computer which you can use without a library card
- Interesting shelving and display options which I did see in other German libraries too. And yes in case you were wondering there is some heritage issues with the building as they had to keep the spittoons.
- This area is packed in the afternoon after school. Youth Gaming area. Need a library card to have the controllers.
- They have a special collection of German crime fiction and True crime and this is the room it is in. Again in the afternoon every chair is taken as there is a high demand for study spaces.
- Children’s area. Have a symbol for all the children’s programs and her name is Kessi. The collection for parenting is also held in the childrens area as that is where families are.
- Children have their own puppet theatre and can create their own puppet shows. They asked teachers and children how should the library be. The answers were surprising. Children wanted somewhere to hide!
- Have a collection in other languages in the childrens section. This prompted some ideas for me regarding The Corner. Could we be more inclusive and provide some picture books in multiple languages from the Statewide LOTE collection.
- The activity here was a program for reading and boys. Popular male identities in the community di a reading for boys. There was lots of laughter coming from this event so the reading was very enjoyable. This program responded to evidence that boys reading abilities were declining in the City.
- The place to hide! They also developed a Pocket Museum – a small cupboard to help with focus and concentration. Look in the peep holes to see what is in the Museum and there is a quiz about what they see in there. The object change every month. This could be something that we also could feature in the Infozone or part of an exhibition – something hidden and secret that you have to guess??? They did report lots of engagement with the program.
- Just to prove they were everywhere some more Bremen Town musician statues – they truly were everywhere and I still have more photos of them but did not include them
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