Towards a truly public library IFLA 20100809

Towards a truly public library

Libraries as learning environments

Anne Hederén, County Library of Östergötland, Sweden

[email protected]

Presentatör

Presentationsanteckningar

The County library of Östergötland and which is a part of the East Sweden regional municipal association. The main task for the county library is to support and stimulate collaboration and development in public and school libraries in the region.

Östergötland

Presentatör


Östergötland - the East Sweden region is situated in the Southeast, approximately two hours south of Stockholm. It has 416,000 inhabitants, which makes it the fourth largest region in Sweden. We have in all 13 municipalities in the region in very varying sizes. There is a marked concentration of residents in the central areas and a low population density in the northern and southern areas. The major towns Linköping and Norrköping have grown continuously over the past 30 years, while the population in smaller centres beyond the immediate vicinity of the towns has fallen. The county contains eighty-nine urban centres with at least two hundred inhabitants and 86% of the inhabitants live there, while around 50% of them, or forty-five such centres, have a library in some form or another.� This fact has great significans for the developing work we have started, where the main question is: How can we develop the potential of libraries in local community? ��

Library in the middel of the willage?

Presentatör


In Sweden, public libraries are a strong brand and provide an important arena for experiences, story telling, learning and encounters, while they also guarantee that democracy can function. They play many diverse roles and function in many different ways. The potential is however not allways obvios for the world outside the libraries. By the sorrounding society they are not always perceived as the support for social development that we, library lovers, believe them to be. The library at the heart of the village; a natural meeting-place for everyone in the municipality and a community resource for old and young alike – That is a beutiful vision probably shared by the many of us working with libraries. But , as we need to admit when we scrutinize ourselfs : it is not always a true picture . � Libraries are not always adabted to the chainging society. Globalisation, new technology, media and user patterns, and the digital divide are putting the libraries under growing pressure at the same time as many of them have been affected by major cutbacks. �In order to spotlight and develop the role of the libraries in society and adapt their operations to the needs of different target groups, we need strategies for the future That is the main background to the developing work we have started in Östergötland. �

Libraries as learning environments‐develop the potential of libraries

in local community

How can libraries support lifelong learning, integration, social and digital participation?

Core strategy:Expand co‐operation with adult education bodies,the voluntary sector and other municipal actors

Funds from:East Sweden region/ The Swedish Arts Council/ Internet Infrastructure Foundation .SE

Presentatör


The project Libraries as learning environments started in 2008 and is being financed by the Swedish Arts Council and the East Sweden regional municipal association. We also have foundings from the Swedish Internet infrastructure Foundation. This project aims to broaden the role of libraries in the community and to develop their ability to contribute to society and support the county residents’ lifelong learning, integration and social and digital participation. The core strategy is co-operation and to promote proactivity! ��Ten local sub-projects are running. The libraries have been able to choose which aspect they want to focus on. All the projects focus, among others, on digital participation. To start with I am going to give you some of the problems and issues from the analysis we made in the beginning of the project which constitute the background to our activities and development work. And then I will present some of our solutions and findings so far – we are not yet ready…

Problems and issues1. Libraries in Swedish society

A major impact compared with other culturaland aducational institutions.- Every third person is active borrower- High level of public confindenseBut…- Library visits are declining- Increasingly fewer visits among the low-educated

Anne Hederén, Länsbibliotek Östergö[email protected]

Presentatör


More than half the population of Sweden (53% or 4.9 million people) visited a library one or more times in 2007 and every third person is an active borrower at a municipally run public library. �In 2008, there were 7.3 visits per inhabitant. However, the number of library visits has declined somewhat every year during the last six years period. Despite the fact that the number of physical visits is falling, Sweden’s public libraries are thus maintaining their leading position as society’s most visited cultural institution. Libraries are also the social institution in Sweden that enjoys the highest level of public confidence. �But - over a longer period of time, the level of library visits among the low-educated has fallen more than among the well-educated. � The figures indicate that the libraries’ appeal among the low-educated is diminishing. The group that ought to have the greatest need for free access to media and information is increasingly turning its back on public libraries, and we ought to ask ourselves why this is happening. One can ask whether the often used phrase “Libraries are open to everyone” is just a piece of well-meaning rhetoric and whether it should be reformulated as “What is needed to make libraries open to everyone?” It is clear that social trends have a major impact on library use and one example of this is the rising number of students of all ages.

Problems and issues2. Lifelong flexibel learning


Distance students have trebled in the past decade. New demands on support structurs and public learning environments‐What demands does the flexibel learning make on librarie’s technology, cooperation, environment, media, areas of expertise an co‐ordniation?

Presentatör


In our constantly changing society, its essential to have the possibility to study and continue one’s education, irrespective of age, background, place of residence and family and professional life. Students have varying needs for flexibility and an increasing number of those in higher education are distance students, whose numbers have trebled in the past decade, while their mean age is higher than among other students, with 40% of them over thirty-four years of age. ��The increasing flexibility of adult learning indicates a need for different kinds of support structures. And creates new demands on the libraries. In our region we have 89 urban centres half of them have a library in some form or another. From the perspective of the individual, it is perhaps precisely sparsely populated rural areas that have the greatest need of public learning environments. It is very often the case that in smaller localities, the library is the only public space that exists and one that is also open and has both staff and printed and digital media.

Problems and issues3. Libraries, multiculture and integration

Different functions of libraries play a vital role in the process of integration

But…Libraries are not always adapted to the needsof new arrivals.


Presentatör


A number of surveys show that Sweden’s libraries have very great significance among both first- and second-generation immigrants and that these groups make both more extensive and more frequent use of libraries than do the native born. New arrivals in Sweden use libraries primarily for practical purposes, and this group readily borrows factual works and materials that support their language studies and their own education. However, it has been shown that the literature that is required in order to establish oneself in Sweden is not found in public libraries to a desirable extent. Language courses and other literature that supports the learning of Swedish are often inadequate and study materials in immigrants’ mother tongues is often entirely absent. The group which is most content with the library services is those who have lived in Sweden for a longer period. This group readily borrows literature in its mother tongue and use the library as a provider of native culture. This kind of use better accords with library holdings., ��

Problems and issues4. Digital exclusion in Sweden and Östergötland

A growing digital divide1,7 million people do not use Internet.1,5 million people make very little use of it = 1 out of 4

Regional survey in 20081300 residents of this county – 35 % did not use the Internet at all.


Presentatör


Sweden has a high level of Internet use compared with many other countries but there is a growing digital divide that is widening with expanding Internet use. ///��Every year, Internet users spend more and more time on line doing a wider range of things. At the same time, the entry of new users is unexpectedly low. In recent years, the group of Internet non-users has remained virtually unchanged, which explains why the gulf between users and non-users grows wider every year. According to a report from Sweden’s World Internet Institute, which was published in October 2009, there are 1.7 million people in the country, who do not have Internet. To this we can add 1. 5 million people who make very little use of the Internet. That means that one out of four adult Swedes is part of the digital divide. Half of those who belong to this group are pensioners, but the other half comprises people of working age, where factors such as unemployment, low education, immigrant background, place of residence and functional impairment contribute to this digital exclusion. Local survey in Östergötland�This view of exclusion tallies with a survey undertaken by the county library in Östergötland during the winter 2007/2008. Around 1300 residents of the county were interviewed with regard to their library and Internet habits and 35% of them replied that they did not use the Internet at all. At the same time, this survey revealed great differences among the municipalities. The figures agreed quite well with the education levels within the municipalities. Another factor broadband coverage within each municipality. �

Problems and issues5. People turn to the libraries to optain support

”How can I send an e‐mail?”

”How shall I attache a file in support of anapplication for a residence permit?”

”Please help me pay the bills over the Internet”

”How can I create my own blogg?”


Presentatör


The result from the surveys first astonished us but then we realized that it agreed with the fact that many people turn to libraries to obtain support and help in handling computers and Internet,. A library is often the only public building in a municipality that offers free access to computers and staff who can provide assistance. Questions may range from paying bills to scanning documents and attaching files in support of an application for a residence permit.

Problems and issues ‐

6. E‐service increases in society ‐ and in the libraries

Essential civic functions are relocated to the Internet

Libraries offer an increasing number of Web services

E‐service producers need to focus on the users


Problems and issues

Presentatör


Several groups are completely excluded when essential civic functions relocate to the Internet. Basic Internet skills are often a requirement on the labour market or to have access to key public services, and the digital divide is as much a democratic issue as an economic one. At the same time e-services increases in the libraries. As all e-service producers we have responsibilitys to the users. Libraries, however, need to find ways to organise this support, and it makes sense to seek the co-operation of the adult education associations, who have been charged by the government with narrowing the digital divide in Swedish society. Unlike other countries as UK and some of the Scandinavian countries Sweden so far has lacked national efforts and national dialog how to lessen digital exclusion. Some county libraries have started a project claiming an “ICT lift for Sweden” focusing on the possibilities for libraries and adult education associations to contribute to digital participation.

Solutions –1. Learning environments on library premises

Presentatör


The project involves equipping the libraries with modern technology and software to enable individuals and groups, e.g., study circles, to book computers, workspaces and premises for individual learning. ��There is a very wide target group with regard to the activities: Those tracing their family history, distance students, study circle participants and pensioners learning how to surf the Net, are all equally important. ��Basic equipment includes scanners, web cameras, headsets, a range of software to support reading and writing, image editing and data projectors. The library contact staff have been trained in using digital learning platforms in order to be able to instruct distance students. �Those booking computers are offered instruction in the use of Internet and software. The equipment available also enhances the ability of the libraries to provide tuition for groups, e.g., in Internet use. Previously, only the two largest municipalities in the county had computer rooms for group tuition but this is now available in ten municipalities.�

Solutions –2. Develope the role of libraries in introducing immigrants

Civic information and Internet guidance - Libraries providing civic information to both recently arrived and older immigrants groups.- Library services comprise an obligatory part of the civic information course that all municipalities provide- Internet guidance with bilingual tutors

Presentatör


As we have seen there is a great potential in developing the library role in introducing immigrants. Hence, libraries are not always adapted to the different needs that exist during different phases of the integration process and better directed efforts are required to both review holdings and develop new contact networks within the municipality. We now are developing co-operation at both a local and a regional level with integration coordnators. For exemple: Library services should comprise an obligatory part of the civic information course that all municipalities provide. ��Our plans include Internet guidance courses with bi-lingual tutors in Arabic and Somali, as an initial measure.

Solutions –3. Free Internet courses on the right learning level

Courses in basic Internet use led by library staff:

Internet for beginners –an Internet course in four stages1. Computer basics2. Writing using a computer3. What is Internet?4. E‐mail for beginners

Presentatör


When it comes to increasing digital inclusion - the libraries in Östergötland have for the past few years worked with a wide scope of activities. This has been a way of exploring what role a library can have to bridge digital gap. This initiative is supported by project funds from the Internet Infrastructure Foundation (.SE) One way has been to offer free Internet courses for beginners on basics level. Four course modules with tuition material have been developed based on structure and materials devised by Jan André at Alingsås Library and the EU project Stepping Stones into the Digital World. The activities are provided free of charge, in order to attract people who would otherwise not dare to try out the Internet for themselves. T��The purpose is to test various ways of increasing digital participation both under the auspices of the libraries and in co-operation with others, and thus see how these resources can be best used. There has been an enormous interest in these activities �

Article in local newspaper in

Finspång mars 2010 resulted in 200

applications in one week

Hughe respons…

Presentatör


The respons has been hughe!

Solutions –4. Coach individual needs

Individual tuition Offered as booked appoint‐ment or drop‐in, e.g.: Help getting started to use the Internet, signing up for e‐mail or using the library cathalogue or databases

Presentatör


Another concept is individual tuition – The Library in Norrköping has developed this concept, which is now being offered at most libraries. On a slip of paper, library users can put a cross next to the kind of support they want, which may be help with getting to use Internet, signing up for e-mail or using the library catalogue or databases. This tuition last for up to one hour and there has been very great interest in getting help with users’ individual needs. This service offers both drop-in and fixed appointment times.

Solutions –5. Temptate with content

Curios about the net? ‐ Themedreviews, e.g.:TravelTelephone, addresses and mapsHealthNewspapers, magazines and blogsSocial media

Presentatör


A key solution to convince people to try the Internet is to temptate them. The library in Mjölby offers themed reviews of different subjects to inspire beginners to use Internet under the heading Curious about the net? During each review practical tips are provided relating to the different themes and students can put questions about Internet and computer use to their instructors and even get their help in trying out a computer for themselves. Some examples of themes are: Travel, Telephone numbers, addresses and maps, Newspapers, Magazines and blogs, Gardening and the Countryside, Health, Social media

Solutions –6. Cooperation with adult education ass. to max. efficiency

Free study circles offered on library premises‐ Tutors providing their services free of charge (unemployed or students but mostly active pensioners)‐”Old teaching old”‐ Libraries find the tutors through their contact network ‐ Expanding into rural districts

Presentatör


The first activity we started was together with the Medborgarskolan adult education association in order to ascertain how such associations and libraries could co-operate to increase digital participation. Free study circles are offered on library premises on basic level where the target group comprises individuals who, at an initial stage, are not prepared to pay for a course with an adult education association. The concept is based on the tutors providing their services free of charge. the libraries’ contact networks have been decisive in finding local tutors, who comprise active pensioners as well as the unemployed and students, ��While the libraries provide free use of their premises, computers, Internet connection and other technology, Medborgarskolan, for its part, has undertaken to train the tutors and bear the costs of the course materials and arranging the study circles.� In the spring 2010, this concept was expanded in order to reach further out into the rural districts. Another adult education association The ABF offered to lend the branch libraries portable “computer studios”, i.e., laptop computers, wireless routers and mobile broadband/3G. � There has been an overwhelming interest in these free study circles, and a total of around 600 people have taken part in one since the autumn 2008, while there have been long queues in many of the municipalities. We are continuing with studcyircels in different themes also circels offered with a fee such as bookcircles, family history and so on.

Solutions –7. Coordinate and market the efforts

Internet for everyone – benefit and pleasure in everyday lifee‐campaign at the libraries, October 2009Digital participation, e‐serviceInternet for beginners60 societal actors demonstrated their e‐services

Presentatör


An e-campaign at the libraries in Östergötland was staged in October 2009 on the theme of Internet for everyone- profit and pleasure in everyday life, which covered digital participation, e-service and Internet for beginners. Sixty different societal actors, both local and regional, such as - banks, the office of health insurance, the chemistry participated by demonstrating and talking about their e-services at libraries throughout Östergötland. During this campaign, most of the libraries offered shorter Internet courses for people not used to using computers.

Comment on the campaign from the libraries:

”Greater awareness of the role of libraries in the information society. Excellentgoodwill and much appreciation of the library. We have discovered new actors to co-operate with and have learned to take a wider view. We have had proof that there is a great interest and desire to learn about computers and Internet.”

Presentatör


Some comments on the campaign from the libraries that participated E-kampanj 2009:

Findings so far‐

Study circles give added value and reach out to new groups

‐ increase learning effeciency and utilization of resourses

Co‐operation and regional coordination ‐ knowledge acquistition and development

methodolgy‐ exchange of experiences and inspiration


Presentatör


The majority of those attending the free study circles held in co-operation with the adult education associations had not previously frequented a library, which means that this allows libraries to reach new user groups. The study circles also provide a good complement to library services for libraries that see the needs and want to provide Internet courses but do not have the resources to do so. This also widens the range of local services available to municipal inhabitants. For their part, the adult education associations gain access to premises and computers and can offer an operation locally that would otherwise be difficult to implement, and this gives them a chance to market the rest of their courses. ��Those who have taken the first step into the digital world often desire to become more proficient and look for other computer courses that the adult education association holds. One can thus see that an obvious added value arises when libraries and adult education associations co-ordinate their efforts and both can reach out to new groups. � The county library has initiated co-operation with the adult education associations and integration co-ordinators and thus prepared the way for these local contacts. This co-operation between the libraries within the county has been very important with regard to knowledge acquisition and development methodology. The network of library representatives has met face to face or through web conferencing once a month and been able to exchange experiences and inspire one another. Course modules, study materials and different concepts have thus been refined and spread from one library to another.

Findings so far‐

Libraries are an excellent forum for introducingbeginners to the Internet‐ a modest surrounding ‐ library staff is competent in both ”content” on the weband tuition


Presentatör


The interest in study circles and Internet guidance demonstrates that there is a great need for efforts of this kind, and the lack of any set requirements in the scheme appears to be important to the target group. Several of the participants have made comments to the effect that it is positive that these activities are held at the libraries in modest surroundings and that it is only positive if the tutors themselves have a limited knowledge. With regard to the involvement of the library staff, we can state that they are very good at both “content” and tuition and can focus on what people need, which is inspiration to use Internet. ��The extensive library network is an excellent means of reaching the population even in smaller localities.

Findings so far‐

Demonstrate needs and offer solutions for goodwill and media impact

‐ referenses to local and national surveys

‐ attention in media give local response

‐ politicans notice the library


Presentatör


We have seen clear examples that it may be a good strategy for the local library to involve itself in the issue of digital participation. In many localities this has created goodwill and a means of making local politicians take notice of the library. ��The various activities during the e-campaign and the study circles in co-operation with the adult education associations have received much attention in local media; press, radio and TV, as well as on national radio, which has contributed greatly to marketing efforts and a local response. ��The fact that Östergötland County Library has undertaken its own survey and has been able to refer to national studies has increased the impetus of its message.

”It’s good for the brain to learn about the Internet. Maybe it helps you live longer”

Gun 77 years

Libraries play a role in the development of society but they must show how…

Presentatör


Libraries offer free access to knowledge and expertise but face demands from the enormous flow of information that IT provides. This involves not just being part of this development and providing computers and an Internet connection, but also possessing the competence to do such things as provide tuition in new media. ��It is a matter of making clear for policymakers and politicians how investments in libraries can be a means of preparing for the future and providing intangible assets for the municipality in the form of an attractive local identity, a wider range of services and participation. ��In the final analysis it is a question of democracy and of equality among different groups. Here the libraries have great opportunities to contribute. If the want to…��The libraries can play an important role in the development of society but they must “abandon their cloistered existence”, get in touch with the wider world and through their concrete actions show HOW. I

Towards a truly public library IFLA 20100809

Documents

Transcript of Towards a truly public library IFLA 20100809