The Danish Library Association (DLA) advocates for libraries, emphasizing their role in the knowledge society and community development. It consists of politicians and library professionals, focusing on lobbying, raising awareness, and adapting libraries for the 21st century through projects and innovation, such as the concept of 'open libraries'. The DLA represents a significant portion of Danish municipalities, aiming to modernize library services and engage users more effectively.

1. My experience is that it is way
easier to convince the politicians of
the need for books, than it is to
convince them of the need for
internetservices, development
projects and contracting of
database licenses.
That’s why we need a strong
lobbbyorganization
Michel Steen-Hansen
CEO The Danish Library Association
msh@db.dk
www.db.dk
@saintmichels

2. Short introduction
• DLA (Danish Library Association) has a special
association structure of library professionals as
well as local politicians on the Council. The
President is always politicians and local
politicians always constitute the majority
President Vagn Ytte Larsen
President of the Danish Library Association Steen B. Andersen
Chairman of th Culture Committee. Municipality Aarhus

3. The modern library
 more than just books
 is an house of identity
 developed together with users
 contributes to the knowledge society
 create community benefits and social capital

4. Who are the DLA members?
 Danish municipalities, represented by their
politicians
 Library decision makers and professionals as
well as library associations and – institutions
 Other cultural associations
 Students of the Royal School of Library and
Information Science

5. Members
2015
75 of 98 Municipalities
(Representing 85% of a population 5,5 mil.)
Personal members 350
Institution members 44

6. Library Association structure
• The Danish Library Association is organized on the basis of a
number of local elect representatives to our Council.
• 35 members are politicians, members of their municipalities and
17 members are library Professionals
• The Council elects from within its members, an Executive
Committee with ten members including a:
President, who is always a politician, and
Two vice presidents
(one of them is a library professional)

7. DLA Organisation
General Assembly
Elect the President and Vice
President
Politicians
35 members
(active politicians,
members of their
municipalities)
Library Professionals
17 members
Council
52 members
Executive
Board
10 members
Digitizing committee Cultural committee Learning committee

8. How does DLA work

9.  Lobbying towards all relevant
decision makers
 Raising awareness and debate
on relevant matters
 DB Annual Meeting – is the meeting place for
politicians and the public library sector
 National and regional library conferences on hot
topics
 Carrying out, initiating and participating in
library projects and surveys
 Participating in official hearings/central
committees nationally and internationally
How does DLA work Annual Meeting
IFLA president

10. Challenges
• Support transformation of Yesterday’s Library to
The 21st Century LIBRARY (physical and digital)
• We have to explain who we are, if we want the
politicians to remember and understand the
modern library

11. fremtidensbiblioteker.dk
In the Danish libraries we have created a Thinktank "Future Libraries"

12. http://fremtidensbiblioteker.dk/

13. Denmark
98 municipalities and approximately 450 public libraries,
to a population of 5,5 mil. people

14. 483 Libraries in 2015
(half closed since 1980, but 106 new ”pick up places” in
stores and 270 “open libraries”* See the next slide )
Public libraries 1996-2014
Central Libraries
Branch Libraries
Busses
Pick up places

15. 36 million visitors
• Kilde: Danmarks Statistik

16. Loans
Books

17. e-book

18. E-books and physical book loans
e-book
book

19. Number of events

20. 270 “open Libraries” in Denmark
We have 98 main-libraries and 350 smaller Libraries, some of them we call
“open Libraries” it is term for a concept that allows users to access the library
space in principle 24/7 and serve them- selves with loans and return materials.
And use the computers, read or maybe even set up a meeting or an event, if
the space allows it. In the first instance the term ‘open library’ was chosen as
the concept was implemented in libraries that had typically been branches with
short – and often inconvenient – opening hours. And ‘open library’ is also a
term preferable to ‘self service library’, as this concept requires another kind of
professional support enabling the users to complete the necessary transactions
themselves and to find their way in the library.
In a few years this concept has spread to 270 libraries in Denmark and more
are planned.

21. Opening hours
Central Libraries Branch Libraries
Busses

22. material costs
Public libraries economy by revenue / expenditure and time
operating accounts

23. Let's Link?: linkedin.com/in/saintmichels
twitter.com/saintmichels
facebook.com/saintmichels
Se PowerPoint
Biblioteksdebat.dk
@saintmichels
Michel Steen-Hansen
CEO The Danish Library Association
msh@db.dk
www.db.dk