Transcript Electronic Material for public Libraries

Digital contents for public
Libraries
Background
 A collaboration project 2010-2011: Digital text and e-readers
 Finance from the Ministry of Education and Culture
 Participants: Helsinki City Library and Turku City Library
 Purpose: introduce e-readers and tablet computers in public libraries and gather feedback
from patrons
 Familiarize library professionals with e-readers and e- books
 Results:
Huge success: patrons were enthusiast in new service
Open-mind attitude towards library’s role
Library is the right place to learn new things about technology
Lot of visibility in the national media
But something is missing?
 A questionnaire for patrons about e-readers and digital text; nearly 300
responses
 Positive feedback, but disappointment with the digital material
 Patrons wanted different kind of e-material
 Respondents emphasized that they would like to use e-material offered
expressly by libraries
Conclusion
 E-readers and tablet computers are just one format for using e-materials
 The primary task of libraries is to offer content
 Our enviroment is changing rapidly and thoroughly
 Libraries need to respond to the needs of their patrons
Solution

The Council for Public Libraries launched a project Digital contents for public Libraries

A working committee of ten members

Represents the needs and opinions of public libraries

Co-operation increase efficiency

Members:
Soile Hirvasniemi, Oulu City Library
Arja Kuisma, Kouvola City Library
Aija Laine, Turku City Library
Päivi Litmanen-Peitsala, Libraries.fi
Erkki Lounasvuori, Central Library of the Finnish public libraries
Virva Nousiainen-Hiiri, Helsinki City Library
Anna-Maria Soininvaara, Helsinki City Library
Leif Storbjörk, Pietarsaari City Library
Jonas Tana, Libraries.fi
Varpu Vallbacka, Hämeenlinna City Library

Consultation with experts of different fields
Objective and main duties

Provide accees to digital material for all Finnish people

Prevent the digital divide

Answer to the needs of patrons

Libraries in the e-material ditribution chain

Obtain well-functioning licence models together with publishers and The Finnish National
Electronic Library

A centaralized purchaising and financing model

E-material strategy for public libraries

Update the skills of library professionals

Visibility, publicity and marketing of e-material

Collaboration with European libraries and library-related oragnizations

Collaborate with the eReading project, which is part of the Next Media research
programme
Contact information
 Manage by Central Library of the Finnish public libraries, Helsinki City
Library
 Finance by the Ministry of Education and Culture
 Contact information of the working committee: [email protected]
 Chairwoman Virva Nousiainen-Hiiri
Tel. GSM +358 50 4025813
e-mail: [email protected]
 Planning Officer Aija Laine
Tel. GSM +358 40 1682636
e-mail: [email protected]