The document discusses the cooperation and development of library services in Southwest Finland, highlighting the establishment of regional cooperation networks and the orchestration of joint resource usage among libraries. It outlines the goals of enhancing customer service, promoting cultural equality, and improving logistical efficiency while emphasizing expert collaboration and the participation of library users in developing new services. The Blanka project aims to create a bilingual library system ensuring access to quality services for all citizens and promoting continuous professional development among library staff.

1. Cooperation and development of services on the West Coast Päivi Almgren 15.5.2009 Twin Cities

2. 459 235 inhabitants 8,5 million loans 4,6 million library visits 4,9 million web visits Southwest region 2008

3. Southwest region Municipalities in 2008 Municipalities in 2009 From 53 to 28 municipalities in 2009

4. Networks and library systems 7 regional cooperation networks 3 different library systems: Abilita, ATP Origo and PallasPro

5. The Southwest Finland Library cooperates in creating and developing library services to all southwestern citizens. All development is based on cooperation of experts and will increase the visibility and impact of all participating libraries. The Southwest Finland Library-project

6. to improve customer service to increase cultural and informational equality to increase economic efficiency, rational and efficient use of resources to increase professional competence Goals

7. Joint use of resources (acquisition of materials) Sharing of expertice Developing and sharing best practices and tools Cooperation in creating web services Supporting the construction of national catalogue and library system Efficient logistics Cost Efficiency

8. Project started 1.8.2007, funding from MinEdu Executive group: library directors from all southwestern municipalities, various workgroups Vaski library system 2008 Vaski logistics 2009 Expert ”know-how pools” Southwest Finland Library

9. Interlibrary EkstraNet Facelift Communication and public relations Library image Campaigns Southwest Finland Library

10. Development of services Coordination of web services Coordination of material transports, cooperation, storing, inter-library loans mediating web material Updating professional expertice Following trends and participating in national development of library services Organizing professional further education regionally Coordinating self-evaluation and user questionnaire practices Strenghtening the visibility and role of southwestern libraries on national level The role of regional library

11. High quality, continuously updated and developed, cost efficiently produced library services are equally available to all southwestern citizens. Library users participate interactively in the development of new services and enrichen them with varied and personal expertice. The Southwest Finland Library functions as a professional community that stimulates expertice and renewal of professional skills among personnel. Vision 2015

12. Blanka

13. Queen Blanka of Namur c. 22 700 inhabitants Bilingual municipalities with (mostly) Swedish-speaking majority Blanka network-project started in 1994 Development of bilingual joint library system Logistics Further education of staff, Blanka-seminars

14. Blanka library strategy Quaranteed basic library services at the local level Blanka as a well known concept Shared services policy and service standards Continuous development of electronic services Good contacts with other local, regional and national organizations and institutions Simple and effective administration Personal responsibility for fulfilling the shared ideas and goals

15. No end to new forms of cooperation ?

16. Chief librarian..

17. ..or the captain of the library boat?

26. Thank you! [email_address]