National Strategy for Libraries (2015-2018)
To clarify and provide an overview of the Government's responsibility and tasks in promoting the development of future-oriented public libraries in Norway. The municipalities themselves have the main responsibility for developing public libraries, but the strategy presents an overview of how the national Government will contribute specifically to achieving the policy goals for libraries. The Strategy aims at developing a joint infrastructure for developing good library services, both by paving the way for inter-library cooperation and high-quality digital services, and by relieving each public library of some of its tasks.
The National Library of Norway manages projects and provides funding for projects and initiatives put forward by public libraries. The priority areas are joint infrastructure; developing the public library as an arena for debate and learning, as a meeting place and as a dissemination institution; and promoting innovate projects. The Strategy also allows for allocating funding for events and minor adaptions of library spaces.
The National Library of Norway will work for increased access to digital content resources, both through negotiations on rights linked to its own collections, and through its overarching role in contributing to the public libraries' own purchases of e-books.
The main objective is promoting knowledge, education and other cultural activities by providing access to information and by making available books and other suitable material, free of charge, to everyone residing in Norway. The Strategy shall also facilitate local libraries becoming current and independent meeting places and arenas for public discourse and debate. Each library shall, in its services to children and adults, stress the importance of providing high-quality, comprehensive and up-to-date material, on all platforms.
USD 5 565 887 (48,5 million NOK) are made available as funding for projects in 2016, in addition to support from the National Library's operating budgets for serving municipal libraries with joint infrastructures. Public libraries in Norway receive their operating grants from counties and/or municipalities.