Public Libraries Section - Country Reports

Public Libraries Section Country Report: Sweden August, 2000 Britt Marie Häggström & Kerstin Hassner Trends and Discussions Seminars and discussion meetings have during a this first part of the new millennium dealt with the revision of the Swedish library law. The Swedish Library association and the DIK association have made a common suggestion for revision, but the department of cultural affairs has not yet produced a new version of the law. We can expect a draft at the time for the new budget period in September. A combination of university -public and county library is the new concept for the Sam biblioteket (Co -library) in Härnösand. The idea is resource sharing. The library is beautiful but it is too early to say how well three different functions can merge in a successful way. Sourcing, out, entrepreneurs have been discussed and debated. Profoundly it is a question with a high degree of political viewpoint. Local politicians have initiated the question, but there are no entrepreneurs in the library field in Sweden, at the moment. A proposal to an organisation for adult learning to run a library gave in result that the organisations answer was that they did not have the right competence to run a public library and that is true. A third field for discussion in Sweden is the role of public libraries in the democratic process. This question has an impact on the revision of the library law. The state can give the public libraries a definite role as centres for information to the general public. We hope for success in this question because public libraries need a clear role in our democratic society. Promotion for Reading The public libraries have got extra money for books for children. 258 local communities out of 289 have got from 50 000 SKr to I million SKr in extra support for books for children. The communities do also have to present plans for bookpromotion. Internet Development A survey made by the county library in Värmland shows the number of computers for internet use the Swedish public libraries.145 out of 289 local communities have answered the survey and it shows that the highest amount of computers for internet use for the general public was 1 computer / 599 inhabitants and the lowest was 1 computer /14.000 inhabitants.,br> The number of computer for Internet use is constantly growing in Sweden. For more information visit the homepage for the county library in Värmland address: wermland.se/lansbibThe survey is under archive. On the International Arena The first part of the year 2001 is the EU presidency period for Sweden. If this period will give any remarks in the Public Library world is uncertain except for one library. The Public library in Nyköping will have a very limited space for a couple of weeks. The library will be press centre when the ministers of foreign affairs have their meeting in Nyköping.The Swedish minister of foreign affairs has her home in Nyköping. The IASL conference have taken place in Malmö August 8. 9. Success for Co -operation The role of public libraries in adult education is gradually getting stronger due to hard lobby work. The situation and role and status for school libraries is also gradually getting better and better. This positive development is due to an extremely good co-operation between Library Associations, Trade unions, like DIK ass. And the teachers unions., School authorities, Local community authorities and the Council for cultural affairs. We work together in all matters with respect for possibilities and limits for the different organisations.


Latest Revision: September 19, 2002	Copyright © International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions www.ifla.org