LIBRARIES

Libraries are one of Denmark’s oldest cultural institutions. The first university library was founded in 1482 in association with the University of Copenhagen. This library now forms part of the Royal Library.

The 1800s witnessed the development of public libraries from what were originally reading rooms to the institutions we know today. Since 1964, it has been incumbent on every municipality, either alone or in association with other municipalities, to provide a public library. Accordingly, Denmark’s municipalities are responsible for running and financing public libraries.

Libraries are run on the assumption that all citizens should be guaranteed free access to knowledge and information. The many and varied sources of information available today place greater demands on the selection of material libraries choose to place at the disposal of the public. They must supply books, periodicals, audio books, and music CDs, and provide the public with an opportunity to use multimedia and the Internet.

As a general rule, borrowing from libraries is free of charge. In certain circumstances, however, a fee may be required for access to electronic databases and for services of a more comprehensive nature.

In May 2000, Parliament adopted new legislation on libraries: The Libraries Act of 17 May 2000. The Act primarily aims at providing a better framework for public libraries to carry out their information and cultural policy duties in an information society.

In addition to books and audio books, the Act now requires that public libraries provide musical recordings, Internet access and digital multimedia.

INSTITUTIONS
Denmark’s library service is made up of public, central and research libraries. There are 245 public libraries, 16 central libraries and roughly 350 research libraries, nationwide.

Public libraries are run subject to the Libraries Act, which requires that every municipality, if necessary in cooperation with other local authorities, provide access to a public library, with separate departments for children and adults, available to the public.

The objective of public libraries is to promote information, education and culture by providing the public with access to books, periodicals, audio books and other material – for instance, music and electronic information resources, such as the Internet and multimedia.

Central libraries function as central depositories for public libraries and are responsible for procuring material outside the province of public libraries.

The Århus State and University Library is a State library. It functions both as a university library, serving the entire faculty of Århus University, and a central library by placing books, periodicals and other material at the disposal of public libraries.

The Royal Library is Denmark’s national library and university library for the humanities, theology, social science and law faculties at the University of Copenhagen.

Denmark’s Medical and Scientific Library functions as a university library for the science and medical faculties at the University of Copenhagen.

The Danish National Library for the Blind produces and provides audiotapes and Braille material for the blind, the visually impaired, the dyslexic and others who for reasons of disability experience difficulty reading printed texts.

The Royal Danish Academy Library is Denmark’s central library for architecture, the visual arts and art history.

The National Library Authority operates under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture.

The authority is an expert body dealing with everything connected with public library services and acts in a professional advisory capacity on library issues for the Ministry of Culture, other ministries and local authorities.

FINANCE
Total public spending on libraries in 2005 is budgeted at DKK 2,972.2 million, of which the State’s spend is 592 million.

BIBLIOTEK.DK
“bibliotek.dk” is a new public library service accesible for all
on the Internet. Using this new system, everyone with Internet access will be able to search all books, CDs and other material available from Denmark’s public and research libraries and freely select a library from which to borrow.

Bibliotek.dk is developing into a true Internet portal, inasmuch as it functions both as an access tool to various quality resources on the Internet and as an information medium for special target groups – for instance, children and ethnic minorities.

Approximately one third of all Danes visit a public library at least once a month.
(Source: The National Library Authority)

ADDRESSES

State and University Library
(Statsbiblioteket i Århus)
Universitetsparken
8000 Århus C
Tel. +45 89 46 20 22
www.statsbiblioteket.dk

The Royal Library
(Det Kongelige Bibliotek)
Christians Brygge 8
P.O. Box 2149
DK- 1016 Copenhagen K
Tel. +45 33 47 47 47
www.kb.dk

The Danish Medical and Scientific Library
(Danmarks Natur- og Lægevidenskabelige Bibliotek)
Nørre Allé 49
DK-2200 Copenhagen N
Tel. +45 35 39 65 23
www.dnlb.dk

The Danish National Library for the Blind
(Danmarks Blindebibliotek)
Teglværksgade 37, 3.th.
DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø
Tel. +45 39 27 44 44
www.dbb.dk

The Royal Danish Academy Library
(Kunstakademiets Bibliotek)
Kongens Nytorv 1
P.O. Box 3053
DK-1021 Copenhagen K
Tel.: +45 33 74 48 00
www.kunstbib.dk

The National Library Authority
(Biblioteksstyrelsen)
Nyhavn 31E
DK-1051 Copenhagen K
Tel. +45 33 73 33 73
www.bs.dk