Europe Direct in the Netherlands

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Europe Direct in the Netherlands

• Marian Koren
• Netherlands Public Library Association
• koren_at_debibliotheken.nl

Varadin, 11 May 2006
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Netherlands Public Library Associationwww.debibli
otheken.nl/english

• Association 450 library members
• National Public Library Institute innovation,
  quality, network, ict, reading promotion
• Experts groups Childrens and Youth Europe,
  mobile libraries

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Public library network 1123 public
libraries 1800 mobile stops 4,3 mln
members 140 mln loans
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Development in the Netherlands

• 12 IPEs established in 1996
• situated in and performed by public libraries
• division and specialisation of subjects
• related to the public library network
• coordination by NPLA, Netherlands public library
  association

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Current situation in the Netherlands

• 13 Europe Direct (10 former IPEs and 3 former
  Carrefours)
• Agreements for 4 years and annual contracts as of
  1st of April 2005
• Max. Budget 20.000 euro per InfoPoint (was 7800
  euro)
• Preserve the IPE network (2 former IPEs included
  as satellites)
• Continue general website, Al_at_din service, Europe
  dossiers
• Continue coordination by the Association common
  promotion, representation, library campaigns

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Europe Direct in The Netherlands
Network of 13 service points Based on 12 former
Info points in public libraries and 4 Carrefours
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Why Information about Europe in Public
Libraries?

• Access to information
• Public Information service
• Similar to other government information
• Supporting citizenship
• Participating in society
• New opportunities work, education,
  travel-cultural exchange

Information about Europe in public libraries in
the Netherlands
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Info-service about Europe
European citizenship
Europe
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Integrated information policyof public libraries

• Europe-information is part of community
  information/public information
• community information is basic task of public
  libraries as information centres
• integrated information policy
• handbook
• training
• materials

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Introduction

• Europe Direct is part of the new European
  Information and Communication policy information
  relays
• Decentralised structure organised per Member
  state
• Contract with European Commission.
• Does not exclude cooperation with e.d. European
  Parliament, European Movements etc.

General information Information Relays of
the European Union Europe Direct
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The role of the relay

• The role of the IPE is
• to provide general information on the European
  Union, its institutions and its policies
• to inform and promote the use of the programmes
  adopted by the EU which might have an impact on
  life in urban and rural areas
• to disseminate Community information at local and
  regional level
• to give an initial response to any request for
  information on the EU and refer people, if
  necessary, to more appropriate sources
• to feed back information to the European
  Commission
• to take part in the debate about EU by holding
  seminars, meetings, debates etc...

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The role of the Service Points Europe Direct

• The Europe Direct Points are addressing, on one
  hand, the general public and, on the other hand,
  special target groups such as local associations
  and authorities, schools, local media and other
  special groups.
• They have many activities targeting specifically
  a young audience.
• They are pro-active centres organising events and
  cultural activities to promote European issues

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Host structures
Europe Direct Points are established within a
host organization which manages it either alone
or in partnership. Regional Governments
Provinces/Municipalities/Communities/City
Councils Prefectures Public Libraries Chambers
of Commerce Associations
Host Information Relays of the European Union
-
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Agreement

• As Europe Direct relay, there is a general
  agreement for four years, with an annual
  confirmation contract, between the Commission and
  the host organization
• The agreement defines the reciprocal obligations.
  

Contractual relations Information Relay
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International Newsletter
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How do the Europe Direct Points come into
contact with the public?

• Location
• Special events
• Promotional campaigns
• Services, tools

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• Europe Points connected to
• Public Library Network
• Visitors in public libraries having an Info Point
  8.621.000
• National information campaign through
• 1123 public libraries
• Europa-binder with leaflets in all libraries
• National library campaigns on Euro etc.

The Netherlands Information Relays of the
European Union - Info Points Europe
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IPE activities

• Information, supply, advice
• Promotion, exhibition
• Local website
• Local/regional Training
• Integrated distribution of materials

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A variety of services
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Network

• national co-ordination
• Coordinated Working Group
• Info Europe Direct Meeting twice a year
• Annual Working Plan,
• Division of Tasks, co-operation
• National information distribution system
• Special projects
• Discussion-list Info-Europa-L
• national training
• information markets
• outreach activities

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Promotion of the Network

• 2-3 articles a year in Public Library Journal
• All Infopoints on Website at national library
  portal-NPLA
• Connected to regional websites
• Local/Regional library contacts
• Regional contacts with EDC, EIC
• National contacts with European organisations

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A variety of materials
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New sticker
New websites
http//europa.eu.int/europedirect/index_nl.htm
www.eu.nl (Including page for children)
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National Promotion Activities

• national/provincial coordinators
• handbook, checklist, package
• banners, leaflets, bags, games, videos, CD
• press-information
• local information session
• exhibitions
• lectures

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Example National library action on the euro

• During One week
• 1150 public libraries involved
• cooperation with organisations for the elderly
  and banks
• NPLA distributes materials

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Campaign on Enlargement and Bulletin Board
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Working Group Activities

• Annual programme
• Subgroups
• Stock of information
• Distribution of materials
• Public Relations, promotion
• ICT-applications

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IPE co-workers of the Netherlands
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Cooperation with other organisations

• Speakers from Team Europe
• European Parlementarians
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
• and others
• Youth organisations
• Embassies

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Reference service for students and learners

• Cooperation in regional reference teams
• Al_at_din personal reference at www.bibliotheek.nl
• 3329 visits 903 queries a day
• Increase in children and young people
• 48 for school, studies
• 39 for personal interest

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Library portal Bibliotheek.nl and digital
reference service Al_at_din

• Information desk on the internet
• Answering questions
• Knowledge data base
• Domain specialization Europe
• Solving queries together
• Promotion in co-operation

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searching in www.europedirect.nl
Ask a librarian Al_at_din
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Youths Right to information

• freedom of expression
• access to information
• information about rights
• Students
• European Citizens
• Intergenerational Programmes
• Qualified services

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• Offer to youth organisatons
• Europe Direct offers
• Public Relations, website, local websites,
  digital newsletters, distribution of press
  releases contacts with educational institutions
• Meeting rooms for sessions, competitions,
  presentations.
• Distribution of leaflets and other materials
• Support for activities questions answers

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Co-operation with Eurodesk

• The network will serve as a special regional
  service for the distribution of Eurodesk
  information to young people.
• A campaign has been launched called
• Go Europe?!

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• Co-operation of 4 national services related to
  youth and Europe
• Network of IPEs and regional Youth Information
  Points
• Website www.go-europe.nl
• Common Training
• Newsletter

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• International practice
• Secundary schools
• Higher education
• Vocational education
• Language studies
• Essay and lecture aid
• Certificate qualification
• Other education links

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Most relevant activities

• Activities with schools
• Exhibitions
• Workshops and seminars on funding
• and EU programmes
• Newsletter (electronic or paper version)

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• Special events
• "Europabakelsen" (la patisserie de
  l'Europe/European pastry) competition.
• On initiative of Info Point Europe, the bakery
  high school Ester Mosessons in Göteborg
  challenged the other 28 bakery highschools in
  Sweden to create the European pastry. Several
  organisations representing the bakers and the
  producers participated in the organisation of the
  competition.
• The cake is now sold all over Sweden (and
  Europe?) on the 9th of May, every year hereafter!
  The winner is sent on a trip to Brussels to visit
  Belgian chocolate producers - and the European
  Institutions! The Pastry was served in Brussels,
  at Restaurant Victoria in Sweden House, Rue du
  Luxembourg the 9th of May.

Sweden Information Relays of the European
Union - Info Points Europe
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Promotional campaigns
A new leaflet on Europe Direct Services in the
Nederlands
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Wheel of Fortune, Quiz
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• Services, tools

• A national website on Europe information
• The website of Europe information is a major
  channel for distribution of information to the
  public.
• All major publications produced by Europe
  Information (books, articles, brochures, maps
  and directories, links contact info) can be
  found on the web.
• The website also gives specific information on
  each Info Point as well as a comprehensive guide
  book to contact information on networks involved
  with EU.
• Interesting columns are Top ten (subjects most
  frequently enquired) and Peoples opinions on the
  impacts of EU membership

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Discussion on the EU Constitution
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Exchange programme

• The objectives of the programme are
• to organise a study trip to another IPE in order
  to share experiences in how to organise
  documentation, see how an information centre of
  comparable nature functions, know better the
  activities developed for a special target group,
  study the solutions brought to identical problems
• to carry out, training visits in an IPE of their
  own country
• to strengthen co-operation and the network
  process
• to provide aid to setting up of project of
  European dimension
• Each exchange lasts 3 days at the maximum.

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Example of exchanges

• With other IPEs also hosted in a public library
• Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Germany
• With same language neighbours Belgium
• Exchange through visits and presentations
• Target groups, arrangement of materials, website,
  special programmes, promotion

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Service desk
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Recent Library Campaign regarding NL referendum
on European Constitution

• National activities
• Coordinated portal www.onafhankelijkeinformatie.n
  l
• www.bibliotheek.nl
• Aladin reference service Europe team
• Press releases
• E-card
• Distribution of leaflets, campaign material
• Local activities
• Information market in the library
• Debate with parlementarians
• Local press

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Organising debates
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Activities Europe Direct 2006Working Group
Activities

• A travelling debate cycle Europe, where do we
  go from here?
• The first debate takes place on the 9th of May.
  Every month the debate continues in another
  Europe Direct Point.
• Every Infopoint invites speakers who are well
  known in the region. The cycle takes place in
  cooperation with the Europe Movement Netherlands
• Masterclass
• For coordinators An update on Europe in
  cooperation with ex-MEPs.

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Training and exchange

• Training
• legal matters
• Statistical analysis
• Exchange
• With Belgium focus on target group youth common
  website (content).
• With Finland, combined with Baltic States on
  theme Turkey.