Public Libraries in The Netherlands:
A powerful network
October 11 2017 - 11th Croatian Conference on Public Libraries
Jeroen de Boer, innovation advisor Bibliotheekservice Fryslân
CC BY by Adeline van den Berg
Research & Development at the National Library of the Netherlands and Secretary of FOBID, the Netherlands Library
Forum

1. A short introduction to the Dutch (public) library sector
2. Impact
3. Innovation in Dutch Public Libraries

KB
KB - National Library of The
Netherlands
!Founded in 1798
!Budget € 91 million
!Staff 349,76 full time equivalents = 412 employees
(31-12-2016)
!Holdings 7 million printed items = 115 km of library
materials (books, newspapers, journals, microforms)
10,800 current periodicals, 500 licensed databases
and e-journals

Example of one of the services: Delpher.nl
a trustworthy source for research using extensive digital resources, full-text
searchable, datasets downloadable

Public Libraries
17 million people in NL
154 public library organizations
working for 390 municipalities
9 provincial support organizations
>1100 service points

Public Libraries - Trends and Statistics
Stabilization of members: more youth members, fewer members.

All shapes and sizes
Public Libraries - Trends and Statistics

Loans of printed books the same, audiovisual materials decrease, E-books more
popular.
Public Libraries - Trends and Statistics

Stabilization of staff, increase volunteers
Public Libraries - Trends and Statistics

Public Libraries - Transformation [the library of the future will]
‘become a modern agora – a
modern sociocultural marketplace –
a central, dynamic meeting place
where people can relax and meet
other people, and where they are
encouraged to take an active part in
society.’
Cohen, Library of the Future, 2014..

The new Dutch Library Law (2015)
• Integrating the public library system with the services of the
Dutch National Library (KB)
• Improving coherence within the decentralized sector
• Tailoring the current legal framework for public libraries to the
digital age
• Defining the core functions of public libraries.

Core tasks & values
1. Making knowledge and information
available
2. Facilitating personal development and
learning
3. Promoting reading and introducing
people to literature
4.Organizing social encounters and
debate
5. Promoting art and culture
Accessibility
Independence
Pluralism
Authenticity
Credibility

The Public Library Network & a new role for the National Library
• Coordination of the network
• Synergy and coordination
• Education, information and reflection
• Representation and promotion
• Developing and maintaining the national digital library
• Maintaining library service for people with print disabilities

The law put into practice
Merger of library organizations
Collection plan
Innovation Agenda

Innovation Agenda
• Youth and education
• Participation and
empowerment
• Personal development
• Transformation of the
traditional library

Innovation Agenda
The Dutch Provincial
Library Support
Organizations formed a
number of
Communities of
Practice (CoP’s)

Innovation Agenda
The Dutch Provincial
Library Support
Organizations have the
legal task to innovate
for public libraries..
… especially for innovation in the physical
library domain, interlibrary loan,
coordination, and general support of the
network.

Innovation Agenda
The Dutch Provincial
Library Support
Organizations formed
14 Communities of
Practice (CoP’s)
1. Youth and education
2. Participation & empowerment
3. Personal development
4. Transformation of the traditional librar
+ a number of general topics)

Communities of Practice (CoP’s)
1. Reading Development 0-18
2.Media Literacy
3.Participation and Empowerment
4.Lifelong Learning
5.Community Librarian Network
6.Makerspaces (Technology and Digital Literacy)
7.Digital Library
8.(Physical) Library 3.0
9.Optimalisation and Transformation
10. Measuring Impact
11. Concepting and Open Innovation
12. Marketing
13.Knowledge Sharing
14. Professional Skills
Youth and education
Participation & empowerment
Personal development
Transformation of the traditional library
(General Topics)

Developments
• Professional development courses: media coach, reading
coach, basic skills consultant
• ‘Community Librarian’ course
• Young Librarians Network
• Volunteers
• Organized innovation

Thank you!
j.deboer@bfrl.nl
@jtdeboer

References
! Berg, A.M. van den and Loes van Eijk, ‘Knowledge sharing and Innovation: a marriage made in heaven’, paper presented at IFLA WLIC Knowledge
Management Section Satellite Conference, 14-08-2015.
! Debeij, Jos, ‘New legislation for public libraries in the Netherlands & the new role for the Koninklijke Bibliotheek’, Paper presented at IFLA WLIC
14-08-2015.
! Digital Heritage Network, National digital heritage strategy, 2015 (http://www.den.nl/art/uploads/files/Publicaties/
20150608_Nationale_strategie_digitaal_erfgoed_Engels.pdf) image on p12.
! Cohen et al, Library of the future, 2014 (https://www.kb.nl/sites/default/files/library_of_the_future_12082014_def.pdf)
! FOBID statistics working group, The Netherlands Library Statistics 2015 (http://www.fobid.nl/sites/fobid/files/
FOBID%2058.16%20NL%20Library%20Statistics%202015%20def.pdf)
! Huysmans, Frank, ‘Over de behoefte aan informatieprofessionals in het internetflixtijdperk’, Warekennis.nl, 08-02-2017 (https://warekennis.nl/
over-de-behoefte-aan-informatieprofessionals-in-het-internetflixtijdperk/)
! KB, Gezamenlijk collectieplan. Beleidskader collectiebeleid voor het netwerk van openbare bibliotheekvoorzieningen, 2016 (https://www.kb.nl/
sites/default/files/docs/191216_gez._collectieplan_definitief.pdf)
! KB, Gezamenlijke innovatieagenda netwerk openbare bibliotheekvoorzieningen. Leidraad voor gezamenlijke innovatie in de periode 2016-2018,
2016 (https://www.kb.nl/sites/default/files/docs/gezamenlijke_innovatieagenda_2016-2018_def.pdf)
! KB, The power of our network. Strategic plan 2015-2018, https://www.kb.nl/sites/default/files/docs/strategicplan-2015-2018.pdf
! KB, Bibliotheekstatistiek 2015, https://www.kb.nl/sites/default/files/docs/bibliotheekstatistiek_2015.pdf
! Koren, Marian, Libraries in the Netherlands, 2016 (http://www.fobid.nl/sites/fobid/files/
Libraries%20in%20the%20Netherlands%2C%20Koren%202016.pdf)
! Pertti Vakkari, Svanhild Aabø, Ragnar Audunson, Frank Huysmans, Nahyun Kwon, Marjolein Oomes, Sei-Ching Joanna Sin, "Patterns of Perceived
Public Library Outcomes in Five Countries", Journal of Documentation, Vol. 72 Iss 2, 2016, (http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JD-08-2015-0103)