Christian Lauersen discusses what makes a great library place. He argues that libraries should be workshops for research and cultivate thorough learning. A great library provides an open platform for education and events using digital methods, hardware, software for data analysis and visualization. It offers a dynamic, inspiring learning environment. The most valuable asset is not furniture but the librarian and users. Facilitation of activities like digital methods sessions and data sprints helps build community. A sense of belonging is important. Libraries support different kinds of learning in an alternative setup to the classic. Key to success is the evolving network between the library, universities, and other institutions. Challenges include defining the library's role and positioning itself in the research environment.

1. What makes a great place?
A story about people, learning and libraries
Christian Lauersen
The Royal Danish Library
Mail: cula@kb.dk
Twitter: @clauersen
University of Lund, May 2018

2. What makes a
great place?

4. The Library as place

5. ”A great library should be a
workshop as well as a repository.
It should teach the methods of
thorough research, and cultivate
in readers the habit of
seeking the original sources
of learning”
- Justin Winsor, late 1800

6. Drivers: Change, fear, choices

7. 11 years ago…

9. An open platform for education and events on digital methods
Hardware and software for harvesting, cleaning,
analyzing and visualizing data
A dynamic and aesthetically inspiring learning environment

10. What we do
• Events and teaching
• Facilitation and curating
• Community building

12. Hardware and furniture is not enough

13. The librarian
The most valuable asset of the library place?
It is not the chairs, it is not the tables
It is the library staff and the users

14. Facilitation:
Digital Methods Sessions,
Data Sprints, network

15. Traditional learning vs. peer-to-peer learning
The users as co-creator

16. A sense of belongingness

17. Maslow’s hierachy of needs (1943)

18. Why do they come?
”The need for connection and community is primal, as
fundamental as the need for air, water, and food”
- Dean Ornish

19. Where you feel at home

20. Tell stories, empower thinking

22. An alternative to the classic learning setup

23. Support different kinds of learning

24. Hvad er Digital Social Science Lab?
• Et fysisk rum til understøttelse af
forskning, uddannelse og læring
• Relevant software og hardware +
vejledning og support
• En platform for digitale metoder og
værktøjer indenfor samfundsvidenskaben
Key to succes?

25. Key to success?

26. The Evolving DSSL Network
DSSL
Aalborg
University
DTU
Faculty
members
Students
Etnographic
Exploratorium
ETHOS
Lab
Tearching
and
learning
unit
Faculty
BADASS
Higher education
Danish
Business
Authority
Open Data
Network
Libraries
and
archives
Society

27. Challenges in the process
• ”Is this a library task?”
• ”On the expense of what?”
• How do we get the relevant skills?
• How do we talk about this project?
• How do we position ourself towards the local
research and educational environtment?

28. What we’re learned
• It’s not enough to provide access to software
and hardware (and crazy coloured furniture)
• Skill development is a long proces and has to
be in context of need and resources
• The facilitating role is a good way to create
value
• Network is key
• The Library is a very strong platform for
bringing people together within academia
• Library support of data literacy might not fit
to all subjects

29. Thanks!
Christian Lauersen
Mail: cula@kb.dk
Twitter: @clauersen
Instagram:
@librarylovestories
The Library Lab:
christianlauersen.net