Good Practices and Innovations in Public Governance 2003-2011

2008 Category 2: Sweden
for its development work in the past, when it received the European Public Sector
Award and the Union of Baltic Cities Innovative Cultural Activity prize.
Thanks to the single library card, a visitor can borrow and return items at any of the
libraries in the region. Thus, cooperation in the Umeå region has given the participating
municipalities a considerable increase in book stock without having to purchase
a single book. The total book stock makes it easy to make reservations, borrow
and return books. A total of 94% of the inhabitants of the region have reported
being satisfied with the new system. A higher level of service has been achieved at
very little cost.
Accessibility has been increased. The website has been designed so that the disabled
have increased accessibility to the libraries. All citizens have been given the opportunity
to reserve and borrow books, as well as to download e-books, music and films
from the Web. Borrowers can manage a great deal without even leaving their home.
In cooperation with the Umeå Institute of Design and the Umeå University, the Umeå
Library System developed prototypes for navigation with a handheld computer, as
well as with other electronic gadgets. AudioIndex, the talking library has become a
commercial product, launched in 2007.
By putting the resources together and acting as one agency, the Library System of
Umeå was able to lower the cost of acquisition of new computer systems and software.
The Umeå Library System practiced streamlining and large scale benefits. In
order to administer and operate a system with great demands for reliability and accessibility,
many measures were required such as shell protection, fire-protection,
and protection against unauthorized access to computer systems, such as physical
data security, as well as security breaches to the website.
This cooperative efforts among libraries in the Umeå region has increased savings in
many other ways. Costs are divided among more parties; the possibility of an improved
bargaining position to acquire books increases, thereby providing leverage
for better terms, and information about new books only needs to be entered into the
catalogue one time instead of six. The System has improved the level of protection.
To achieve an adequate level of protection for classified information, three municipalities
would have had to improve their alarm, fire-protection, code locks, for an
estimated cost of €10,500 each if there had not been a joint action.
The innovative technological solutions are the result of leading-edge research at the
Institute of Design at Umeå University. One example is AudioIndex where intended
users have been involved throughout the entire development process, from specifications
to the design of the product and services.
One objective for the Umeå Region is “renewal of municipal services”. The libraries
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