Type of initiative

• Project or service
• Award scheme

Case Abstract

The Organization and its view on local society

The municipality of The Hague strives to play an important role in developing innovative multimedia communication systems for and together with its citizens. Hague city dwellers are explicitly urged to play an active role since the municipality holds the view that true citizenship never condones sitting on the sideline: every resident, institution or organization is required to join. Policy makers have written everything down in a plan of action under the name 'Lokaal Verbinden' (Connecting People Locally) which envisions the participation of all eight city districts. The municipality of The Hague introduces innovative forms of digital communication to its residents via the eighteen neighbourhood branch libraries of The Hague Public Library in order to:

• connect people to local city life and other city residents;
• increase people's independent thinking and critical attitude;
• enable people to participate in a continuing and permanent learning process;
• teach people and organizations how to use ICT-oriented means of communication;
• make the city and city life transparent to Hague residents and local government representatives;
• stimulate creativity for the common good in 'digital breeding grounds'.

The Hague Public Library, incorporated in the municipal organization, is widely considered to be the pre-eminent party to house innovative and publicly available media since it has proven the most accessible representation of local government, frequented by members of all layers and subcultures of local society. With its eighteen branches scattered over eight city districts, it can therefore truly be called the local community's living room. By enabling new innovative digital media to become an integral part of the library services, The Hague Public Library also attracts formerly virtually unreachable target groups like youngsters in the ages twelve to twenty-five.