PowerPoint-Pr

1
Recent Developments in the Zurich Public Library
System June 2008
Christian Relly
www.pbz.ch
2

• Libraries for today and for tomorrow
• Or
• How to get more subsidies
• And how to make more of it

3

• INTAMEL in Zurich 1999Poor condition of big
  parts of the library networkMain library in the
  City Center completely outdated and much to
  small.No hope of improvement
• 2003 (Rotterdam) updatethe so called
  Masterplan shows the strategy for the
  developmentfirst signs of change on the horizon
• 2008 updatemaking the point at the moment of my
  leaving the job after 28 years and handing it
  over to my successor

4
Pestalozzi-Bibliothek Zürich (PBZ)is the Zurich
Public Library It has the name of the famous
pedagogue and reformer of public schoolsJohann
Heinrich Pestalozzibecause it was founded in
1896 in memory of his 150 birthday.
It is financed by the City government.
Nevertheless, it is not a departement of the City
administration but organized as a private
association.
5
Network in 1979 17 Libraries Population Ca.
380000
X
17
X
6
In the 60s and 70s of last century the librarians
supported a strategy of havinga library in every
community and in every area of the City.
Today we are no longer sure if this was a good
strategy.
7

• The result in Zurich and also in other places
  in Switzerland is that many of the libraries in
  urban areas as well as in the countryside are

• too small
• in the wrong place
• in an unsuitable surrounding
• have insufficient ressources, that leads to
• short opening hours
• insufficient stock

And after all, there are too many.
8
The library network in Zurich as it has grown in
the 1960s and 1970s had to be adapted to the
present requirements.
objective (1) Better service by optimizing the
disposable ressources
9
objective (2) Standardized service in every
library
10
Every library offers

• All types of media
• Information service
• Anti theft system, booking machines(by RFID
  technology)
• Working space for the customers
• Internet access for the public
• Online-services
• Minimal size of 350 sqm
• Sufficient back office space
• Suitable opening hours

11
MeasuresReduction of the number of
librariesExtension and renovation of the
remaining libraries
As a result there will be less but better and
more productive libraries.
12
We laid down this strategy in the so called
Masterplan.In 2003 we submitted this paper to
the library board who accepted it.After that it
was introduced to the City government. They took
note but they did not have to decide upon.
Whenever we ask for the financing of a specific
project, we can refer to that masterplan.
In 2006 we produced an updated version and that
again was submitted to the City government.
13
PBZ Masterplan 2006 Status quo
Blue OK Red insufficient (needs urgent
action) Orange insufficient
14
PBZ Masterplan 2006 Target to be achieved
Projects L Hardau (Albisriederplatz) M Escher-Wyss
-Platz Most urgently needed action N Enge O Witik
on
15
(No Transcript)
16
Public Transport
17
We decided to build a new library there by
merging two neigh-bouring branches.
18
(No Transcript)
19
sqm Staff FTE Opening hours weekly
Enge 150 1.0 16
Heuried 204 2.1 21
Sihlcity 677 3.1 33
20
Visitors
Besucher ENHR SI
06/07 07/08
Juli 3'454 9'129
August 4'184 9'982
Sept 5'195 8'290
Okt 5'065 10'185
Nov 5'407 9'509
Dez 4'688 8'569
Januar 4'258 9'602
Februar 4'530 9'256
März 4'935 9'721
41'716 84'243
102
21
Loans
Ausleihen ENHR SI
06/07 07/08
Juli 8'879 20'883
August 10'245 20'769
Sept 12'057 18'671
Okt 12'015 20'748
Nov 12'833 18'854
Dez 11'490 17'522
Januar 10'983 20'691
Februar 11'196 19'919
März 11'909 20'466
101'607 178'523
76
22
1 km
23

• We have to add, that
• public transport is well developed
• the distance between the old and the new library
  is approx. 1.5 km
• it is common to walk and to cycle in town
• there are school libraries for the kids in most
  of the schools
• shops, post offices, banks and also the City
  administration are concentrating their services

24
The library does the same.This is not to save
money or to cut down on jobs,but to offer better
services with the same amount of money.
What is your meaning?
25
Bibliothek Aussersihl, Zweierstrasse 50 eröffnet
2003 (335 m2)
26
Bibliothek Schwamendingen, Winterthurerstrasse
531 eröffnet 2004 (610 m2)
27
Quartier- und Schulbibliothek Leimbachim
Schulhaus Falletscheeröffnet 2006(257 m2)
28
Bibliothek Altstetten, Lindenplatz 4 eröffnet
Januar 2007 (505 m2)
29
Bibliothek Altstadt, Zähringerstrasse 17Opening
1. October 2007 (1998 sqm)
30
?
Often we hear the question

• Why after so many years with almost no steps
  forward at all is there now such a good time
  for library development?

There is not one single answer to that question.
31

• After a long time of tension on the market for
  real estates, it is easier now to find premises.
• Public libraries are generally better estimated
  as before.
• Some key persons in politics and City
  administration have realised that public
  libraries are important for the quality of living
  and for the rating of the City.
• The economical situation of Zurich is better than
  it was in the years before.
• The economical perspectives are quite exciting
• (after the latest developments on the financial
  marketplace we better say they have been quite
  exciting).
• Personal changes The politicians now in charge
  of public libraries are more aware of the
  importance of library service.

32

• Good reputation of PBZ thanks to continuos
  serious work, high performance and increasing
  demand.
• Over-all-strategy, described and well founded in
  the Masterplan
• Private funding in addition to the subsidies from
  the City

33

• Conclusion
• If we compare with the situation as outlined in
  2003 and as you have seen it in 1999, it is much
  better today and there is a real progress.
• But if we compare with other European, American
  or Australian Cities the level is still
  insufficient.

34
MeasuresReduction of the number of
librariesExtension and renovation of the
remaining localities
As a result there will be less but better and
more productive libraries.
35
?

• It is better to have a reduced number of
  libraries
• but libraries that are sufficiently equiped, that
  have a bigger size, that are better located and
  can offer excellent standardized services.

Overall this will be the better service for
citizens.