Librarianship in Norway
The library system in Norway is seen as exemplary by the professional library community. The libraries of Norway are part of a community, statutory network, which is integrated into a local, regional and national structure. There are a total of 892 municipal public libraries , 336 academic libraries and 19 state libraries .
A library law has existed since 1947 and a school book collection law for school libraries since 1827. The Norwegian Library Law explains free access and free services for all residents of Norway. In addition, the law requires local authorities to have a professionally trained library manager for each public library. The libraries should also be part of the Norwegian library network and work together, for example, in the field of interlibrary loan . Another law of 1827 prescribes school book collections for school libraries. Many small municipalities have developed a combination library consisting of a municipal public library and a school library.
Norwegian municipal public libraries are modern, resourceful and well equipped. The public libraries are based on the Anglo-American library tradition. In the last 10 years around 30 branches have been closed each year. In addition, the volume of media purchases on a national basis has been reduced. But the public is using the libraries like never before, and the number of visits and loans is increasing.
Many of the small public and private academic libraries have been closed or merged into large units in recent years. In addition, many of the education libraries have started collaborations with the region's municipal public libraries. Electronic materials, primarily databases and electronic journals, etc. form a constantly growing part of the library's work . The transition to electronic resources also includes a number of other questions regarding high demands on information literacy, archiving problems , alternative forms of publication, copyright clearance and licensing. Therefore u exist. a. a collaboration on licensing agreements administered by the Norwegian State Center for Archives, Libraries and Museums (Center for ABM).
The Norwegian National Library is responsible for the Norwegian General Catalog, which gives access to the collections of 400 Norwegian libraries. The National Library is also the central depository library of the entire Norwegian Library Society and also receives copies of rarely used documents. One of the main tasks of the National Library is to comply with the Norwegian Compulsory Deposit Act . The current "Law on the Duty to Submit Publicly Accessible Documents" has existed since 1990. The law is independent of media, which means that Internet documents, TV and radio programs, music, video, film, etc., just like books, newspapers and magazines, are subject to the duty. Norway now has one of the most comprehensive legal deposit systems in the world.
The training of librarians takes place since 1940 at the Library School in Oslo .
The World Library and Information Congress (71st IFLA General Conference and Council) took place in Oslo from August 14th to 18th, 2005 under the motto: "Libraries - A voyage of discovery".