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Future of libraries: Neustrelitz is fighting for financial support!
On November 6th, 2025, library experts in Neustrelitz discussed the future, financing and shortage of skilled workers in libraries.
Future of libraries: Neustrelitz is fighting for financial support!
This year's state meeting of the German Library Association (dbv) recently took place in Neustrelitz, where the cultural landscape has a lot to offer. In the middle of the lively cultural quarter, which combines the city library, various exhibitions and a café, experts met to debate the future of libraries. Again Northern Courier reports, Grit Wilke, board member of the regional association, emphasized how important cooperation between the institutions in the cultural district is for the positive development of the libraries.
A central issue was the financial resources of the libraries and the lack of skilled workers. Silvio Witt, chairman of the regional association, drew attention to the difficulties faced by small and medium-sized libraries. Often these facilities are operated by only one person, which adds to the challenges. In order to be able to survive in this struggle for existence, he advocated the establishment of associations to train new specialists.
Financial security and added value
Municipal financing is an important aspect. Libraries can only fulfill their role as places of encounter and exchange with a solid financial basis. Andreas Grund, Mayor of Neustrelitz, added that libraries are needed more than ever in the digital flood of information. The importance for the cultural and democratic infrastructure was also emphasized by Antje Theise, head of the Rostock University Library.
The challenges facing the dbv include the creation of a library law as well as long-term financial planning and digital transformation. In order to promote young talent, training to become a specialist in media and information services (FAMI) is offered in the Lake District. The regional association represents around 100 libraries in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, including city, community, university and museum libraries, almost half of which are integrated into the Onleihe network.
Innovations in the library landscape
New offerings such as TechnoTheken and the so-called “libraries of things” show that libraries are trying to adapt to the needs of modern society. The re-election of Silvio Witt as chairman during the board election, supported by an all-female board team, is a further sign of a breath of fresh air in the organization.
Speaking of a breath of fresh air: Antje Theise did not stand for re-election because she was elected federal chairwoman of the German Library Association. There are several people in the industry who stand out for their innovative strength. This also applies to Pascale Paquot Servais, who works as a project manager at the Mar en Fean libraries and previously worked at various libraries in the Netherlands. Your experiences could be of interest for the development of future concepts in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Overall, the state meeting shows that libraries are more than just places to borrow books. They are cultural cogs that are essential for cohesion and education in society. It is all the more important that those responsible lead these institutions into the future, because there is something to be done.