During my undergrad LIS studies I spent 6 months at the University of Borås, Sweden. This is a presentation containing quick stats and visuals from a dozen different libraries that I visited as part of our exploration of Swedish library systems. The main findings of my exploration are that trust towards library users, alongside with effective library loan systems and good management practices really do make a difference in the Swedish library system - and this includes both public, and private. Libraries included: Bibliotekmuseet University Library of Borås University of Gothenburg's Economics Library Gothenburg City Library Bäckangs Gymnasiet Library Borås Hospital Library Göta Public Library Borås City Library Gothenburg Court Library Vinge Law Firm Library Hope it inspires you! Data is from 2015.

1. TRUSTING THE
READERS
How it has improved the Swedish libraries
by Alina-Mihaela Stoicescu

2. WHAT MAKES SWEDISH LIBRARIES
WORK?
Good
management
practices
Effective library loan
systems
Appropriate
budgets Attracting
users to
libraries
Trust

3. SHOWING TRUST
Caring
about their
opinions
Respecting
the local
community
Library
design
Acquisition
process

4. Bibliotekmuseet
Since 1989
Books
Book carts
Archived materials
Library cards
Electronic equipment
Children’s library

5. 1972
6000 m2
318.119
visitors/yr
113.982
printed
books
80 database
subscriptions
37.223
electronic
journals
Textile,
library
science,
research
University Library of Borås

6. “We invite you to become better
researchers” -Svante Kristensson

7. “Invite the customers behind”
Receptive to student
requests
Info Points
Reducing library anxiety
Lounge talks
Convenient design

8. University of Gothenburg-
Economics Library

9. Business Law
The library in numbers
• 513.309 loans
per year out of
2.77 million
books
• 400 online
databases
• Course books

10. Library services
Group study rooms
Library instruction
Search support
Special equipment
Wi-Fi
Ordering digitization
Paid services:
Photocopiers
Commissioned
documentation
Advanced
library courses

11. GOTHENBURG
CITY LIBRARY

12. “You need a library that people just
happen to bump into.” -Marie Johansson
Playing in the library creates future
readers
Well represented minorities: foreign books, LGBT
topics
Censorship- down to the readers
Relaxation and entertainment opportunities- chess,
board games, video games…
…and fika!

13. Bäckangs Gymnasiet Library
1200 pupils
& 110
teachers
25 000
printed
materials
50
magazines
& 5
newspapers
Introduction
to library
Class book
talks
Loan period
5 weeks or
more

14. Hospital library
Medical
books
Fiction
30 000 loans per year
Leadership books
Crime fiction
Biographies
Medical books for staff
Book cart- once a week
Network of hospital
libraries

15. Göta
public
library
Priority groups:
elderly people and
children
Most appreciated:
crime, romance,
audiobooks, comics
Large print books
and DAISY format
are available
Closer bonds
between librarians
and readers

16. 514 000 loans
248 000 visitors
11 staff members
Collaboration with parents and
teachers for youth activities
Baby book talks, dramatized
fairytales
Media for disabled children
Borås
city
library

17. Gothenburg
Court
Library
1 of 20
court
libraries
in
Sweden
Used by
judges
100 total
users, 25
regulars
Permanently
open
200 loans
per month
Swedish, the
official
courtroom
language

18. VINGE LAW FIRM LIBRARY
Internal customers
Confidentiality
Printed books are
preferred.
Challenges:
multitasking,
adding value to the
company and
return on
investment.

19. RESPECT
TOWARDS
THE
READERS
DESIGN
TRUST
… are some things
libraries should
consider more
… and progress will come by itself!

20. THANK YOU!
[the end]