Innovation

Aarhus Public libraries is very focused on innovation and development. The libraries are working with user-driven innovation to improve existing offers and to develop new services. The aim is to meet the citizens’ needs with services adapted to the general development and to develop and test new forms of services. To support the innovation work an innovation strategy has been drawn up.

To meet the needs for adaptation of existing services and development of new offers, the libraries, at any given time, lead or participate in a range of developmental projects. You can see a list of the current projects here. The list is in Danish, but some of the abstracts for projects have been translated into English.

International cooperation

Aarhus Public Libraries values cooperation with international partners. APL is a member of IFLA and EBLIDA, and the libraries have for the last decade coordinated and participated in a number of EU-projects. Cooperation with Copenhagen Public Libraries secures one large international library conference in Denmark each year, where the venue alternates between Aarhus and Copenhagen.

Each year, Aarhus Public Libraries is visited by delegations of library professionals from many countries, from Europe as well as overseas, and staff members from Aarhus are popular speakers at international conferences abroad.

New Library Building: Urban MEDIASPACE

In late 2014, a new building – Urban MEDIASPACE - will be ready for use on the harbour front in Aarhus. The building will, among other things, house the Main Library. In addition to Urban MEDIASPACE, the project is responsible for a portion of the New Central Waterfront including a new urban waterfront space, clearing of the stream, a car park with 1,000 parking spaces, solutions for traffic, and an arrival centre.

You can follow the Urban MEDIASPACE process.  

Literature Services

Aarhus Public Libraries houses the chief editors behind the popular national service Litteratursiden (Literature-site). The site is run by an association and a group of editors. The site consists of, among other things, recommendations, author portraits and a service for reading clubs.

Littaros is a new service from Aarhus Public Libraries. In cooperation with many local literary partners, the libraries present literature events taking place in the Aarhus area, from readings by established writers to underground literary events.