1 The Digital Public Library for Flanders A strategic look into the future Jan Braeckman Based on consultancy by ONE Agency Vlaams Centrum voor Openbare Bibliotheken Flemish Agency for Public Libraries

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3 Political context Belgium: 10 million Flanders: 6 million (Dutch speaking) Brussels French speaking 4 million Brussels & Wallonia

4 Cultural context Dutch speaking community in Europe is 22 million Netherlands: 16 million Flanders: 6 million

5 Consultancy What kind of investments have to make in order to develop a “digital public library”? Strategic study: looking into the future 1 st How will the future public behave in the evolving digital environment? How will people use media? => What are people doing in a media 2.0 environment? 2 nd What will be the impact on the public library? What kind of digital library do we have to build in order to let it be useful for the future public?

6 Content choice

7 Communities 2.0 People are increasingly engaged in on-line communities, where they find kindred spirits and where organizations can find groups with similar interests, ideas or wishes. Social networks / virtual worlds wikis Social networks, sharing,...

8 Shift of authority They do not see technology as an innovation; instead, it is considered fundamentally an extension of their consciousness. It’s part of how you behave, of where you live.

9 Social Network Hanging out with friends and family Making new friends Building groups/communities Impressing others Sharing experience Share media Playing Fighting Bullying …

10 Generation Google Universe of the new user = digital, shared with peers, enables participation, delivers immediately Future customers of libraries? Research of student behaviour: –84% starts searching in Google, Yahoo…. –Only 1% considers using the website of a library “Google is the public library of the new generations.”

11 Blogs

12 Wiki’s, Newswiki’s, Swiki’s

13 You Tube

14 Really Simple Syndication widgets

15 Web 2.0 Web2.0 is the manifestation of Shifting power to consumers New communication and marketing Introducing new business models Introducing new technologies and rich internet experiences Shift of authority

16 Shift of authority Users decide on time, place, and content Users focus on digital communities and their peer groups Users focus on a universe of immediately available content Users co-create content, co-create their own digital environment => The universe of the new public is digital, shared with peers, interactive & participatory, immediately available / the universe is online

17 What is the impact on public libraries? Change 4 roles for public libraries Strategy

18 The changes The (digital) public library has to focus on “working with people” rather than “working with books”. Focus shifts from “carriers” to “content”. The library evolves from “a supplier of products and services” to “a facilitator for people to handle and develop their own products and services”. The core business will shift from managing a physical (local) collection, to finding, interpreting, using, organising a larger, continuously expanding universal collection.

19 Libraries today Current strengths 1 million people visit a public library at least once a month; 32% population uses the library, 27% is member Local, accessible: 800+ locations, local flavour, adapt to local timing, local current affairs “Home” of physical media Focus on personal contact with people Physical “place” for social networks

20 Libraries today Weakness: The library is a well known brand, but it’s image is grey, dusty, old fashioned – especially with people who don’t use the library For most people “library” equals “books”. Because of the less important position of the book as a source of information, people will stop associating the library with searching and finding information => One of the big challenges in the future will be the re-branding of the library, and communicating its new identity

21 Change of roles The library has to keep its role in society to deliver quality services; but should take into account the changed behaviour, control and expectations of new users: it has to search a new equilibrium on the balance of authority. The library should assume 4 roles: –The library as gatekeeper –The library as curator –The library as guide –The library as participant

22 The Library as gatekeeper Stands for reliable information and collections, quality selection and descriptions Related to the local community

23 The Library as curator Is an objective and qualitative store window of information, media, and services Help people to discover things they like, and didn’t know New things, and things out of the long tail It’s: the libraries’ choice

24 The Library as guide Learning how to fish the ocean of information Learning how to search, find, interpret, and share information and knowledge

25 The Library as participant The library and its staff are full blown participants of the Web 2.0 conversations, relying on their specific expertise to of value to the others On the same level as other participants

26 Towards a strategy Strategy with 6 policy guidelines + 3 programs

27 Policy guidelines 1.One coherent strategy, one owner of this strategy: Flemish government 2.Expert organisation: expertise on technology, on library business models, and on user behaviour 3.Library staff: training and education 4.Influence the legal context for libraries 5.Embed the digital strategy in a comprehensive vision on the future of libraries 6.Develop partnerships: media, heritage, publishing industry, education,…

28 Programs 1.Supporting the local library 1.Awareness program 2.Bridging the digital divide 2.New applications for the public 1.Searching ( 2.New digital environments 3.Data and metadata: 1.Digital collections 2.Metadata 3.Back office on a Flemish level

29 Looking back in the future “Through the need for adaptation, this institution had to evolve and get rid of its traditional and static image to become a place with a new meaning and a diversified functioning.” Gregory Blauwers Public libraries and urban regeneration: ‘From reading place to public space’, University of Brussels, dissertation, 2007

30 Thank you! (extended version)