New legislation for public libraries in the Netherlands & the new role for the Koninklijke Bibliotheek

Abstract

A new public library law

Fall 2014 the Dutch Parliament adopted a new public library law: the "Wet stelsel openbare bibliotheken” (Wsob). According to the new law public libraries should give the general public access to information and culture, guided by principles such as independence, credibility, accessibility, pluralism and authenticity. Their concrete tasks are: • to make available knowledge and information; • to facilitate learning; • to promote reading and a taste for literature; • to promote art and culture; • to organize social encounters and debate. The new law defines the scope of the digital library and arranges its funding.