Public Libraries Section

The Norwegian Library Act within the public library sector

The Norwegian Library Act, together with directives from the Ministry of Cultural and Church Affairs, constituted the basis for the former Norwegian Directorate for Public Libraries. The establishment of the Directorate in 1949 was a direct result of the Act, first introduced in 1935. Amendments to the Act were last passed in 1985, but some selected sections of the legislation haven now been under review.

Library Act for a new millennium?

This is a revision caused by the establishment of ABM-utvikling, Norwegian Archive, Library and Museum Authority. Since The Norwegian Directorate for Public Libraries actually was mentioned in the Library Act, the Act needed some minor amendments. At this point the Ministry of Cultural and Church Affairs found it suitable to recommend a larger revision. A public consultation document was sent out for comments last autumn, creating quite a riot in the library sector in Norway. The recommendations were mainly based on the political strategies of the Norwegian government who are in favour of giving local municipalities greater freedom in how they organize their public services. A majority within the library sector did not applaud recommendations to remove the legislative requirement that each municipality shall have a public library of their own, and to remove the obligation of having trained staff in public libraries. In May this year the final document for amendments in the Public library Act were presented, now with only minor changes, and the new, revised law was passed June 16, 2003.

• tear down the barriers between different libraries
• achieve better services to students, lifelong learners, and not least of all:
• such changes in the library legislation will also make a necessary impact on the people managing and administering the libraries - namely the librarians themselves.

By Vilde Ronge, adviser ABM-utvikling, Norway

Act No.108 of 20th December 1985
Including amendments as of 10th January 1997

The task of the public libraries shall be to promote enlightenment, education and other cultural activities by the dissemination of information and by making books and other suitable material available free of charge to all those who live in Norway.

In offering its services to children and adults, each individual library shall concentrate on quality, variety and topical relevance.

Library activities shall be directed towards the public and the nature of the services shall be made generally known.

Public libraries are part of a national library system.

The Act applies to the public library system and comprises local public libraries which are a municipal responsibility (Chapter II), county libraries which are a county responsibility (Chapter III) and the central library and advisory services which are a government responsibility.

Public library activities also include library services for patients in hospitals and similar institutions and for others who have special difficulties in making use of libraries.

Libraries shall follow standard regulations with regard to lending co-operation, bibliographic registration and the compilation of statistics and annual reports. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs may issue further regulations.

In accordance with the aims stated in Chapter I, all municipalities shall have a public library.

A public library may be run by the municipality on its own or wholly or partly in co-operation with other municipalities or with the county authorities.

The municipality shall lay down regulations for the public library on the basis of recommended guidelines issued by the Ministry.

All municipalities shall appoint a professionally qualified chief librarian.

The Ministry may grant exemption from the above provision and set other requirements with regard to qualifications and transitional arrangements.

§ 6. Co-operation with schools

There shall be an organized co-operation between the public library and municipal school libraries in each municipality.

The Ministry issues recommended guidelines for such co-operation.

(Repealed)

In accordance with the aims stated in Chapter I, all counties shall have a county library run by a professionally qualified chief librarian. The county library shall be associated with a public library.

The county shall lay down regulations for the county library on the basis of recommended guidelines issued by the Ministry.

The county library shall make provisions for inter-library loans within the county, organize lending co-operation and assume its share of the responsibility for joint arrangements for the acquisition and storage of literature.

The county library may organize direct lending from mobile libraries or library ships, either alone or in co-operation with other county or public libraries.

The county may enter into agreements on joint library operation with one or more municipalities.

The county library shall advise local authorities, offer professional guidance and assistance and arrange meetings and courses on library subjects.

There shall be an organized co-operation between the county library and the county school authorities.

Co-operation with county and municipal school authorities shall be secured by means of agreements and by placing the library's professional expertise at the disposal of the school authorities.

In addition to the duties specified in § 3, the county shall make recommendations concerning the distribution of central government funds and shall assist government authorities in research and planning.

(Repealed)

The duty of meeting governmental responsibilities under this Act shall be assigned to the Norwegian Directorate for Public Libraries acting on behalf of the Ministry and according to guidelines set by the Ministry.

The Director of the Norwegian Directorate for Public Libraries shall be appointed by the Crown.

Special government grants may be given for specific library purposes which do not naturally fall within the sphere of responsibility of individual municipalities or which are of special importance for the maintenance of a national library system. Further provisions concerning such grants shall be issued by the Ministry.

(Repealed)

This Act shall come into force on the date decided by the Crown. As of the same date the following changes in the Acts specified shall also come into force.

1. The Primary School Act of 13th June 1969, § 10,

Section 2, shall read:

All schools shall have a library and a person in charge of library services. The school library shall have both a educational and a general cultural function and shall

maintain permanent co-operation with the municipal public libraries.

2. The Secondary Education Act of 21st June 1974, § 12,

Section 1, shall read:

The county shall be responsible for school premises and associated areas. The schools shall have access to the necessary equipment, fittings and teaching aids,including library services.