The library of the future

The European Commission library celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2018. The Treaties of Rome entered into force in 1958, establishing Euratom and the European Economic Community (EEC). The library services were set up in the same year and have grown in step with the European project. The library collections, initially spread across the ECSC, the EEC and EURATOM, were brought together in the Commission's central library in 1968 when these three structures merged.

Sixty years ago, readers had to visit the reading room to search the card catalogue, borrow a book or read an article. Technology and innovations have changed media, search tools and readers' habits, but the library's role has remained unchanged: to connect readers to knowledge by providing a wealth of resources relevant to the work of the European Commission.

Yet libraries are facing multiple challenges in the 21st century. What is the librarian's role in the digital age? How can libraries remain relevant in the Google era? Are they still needed?

During the Library Days dedicated to its 60th anniversary, the Commission Library and e-Resources Service organised a conference entitled 'The library of the future'. In his opening speech, Theo Duivenvoorde, Head of Unit Library and e-Resources at the European Commission, opened up these challenges for discussion.

Annika Ostergen from DG CNECT (Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology) at the European Commission, talked about the digital skills gap in EU member states. She recalled that libraries still play an important role as 4.6 million people a year access the internet for the first time in a library.

Jeannette Ekstrøm, Senior Information Officer at the library of the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), shared her experience and explained how librarians can remain relevant for their users by constantly developing their digital and data research skills.

After the conference, librarians from the EU institutions got together for a workshop on 'Professional development for information specialists'. Various initiatives and strategies were discussed but the librarians agreed that networking and knowledge sharing with colleagues are vital.

The European Commission Library and e-Resources service and we at the Council have enjoyed excellent cooperation in recent years and are looking forward to new opportunities for collaboration. We wish our colleagues in the Commission every success in their projects and activities.