The origin of the project "2020 Mars Express" was a study tour to some dutch libraries, in which we, three library consultants from Skåne, Västra Götaland and the county of Jönköping participated. Inspired by the dutch project "2040 Bibliotheeken" and by Howard Gardner?s theories on multiple intelligences, we wanted to create a project, where we could develop methods of letting children create their own library environment. We trust in the knowledge of children and we want to give them an opportunity to express themselves. Children often see possibilities where adults don?t, and they are not restricted by the limitations of the world of the grown ups. 

The project has got altogether 625 000 SEK (roughly  ? 60 000 or US$ 90 000) for two years from The Swedish Council of Cultural Affairs. Some 15 children?s librarians and a couple of library directors are participating in the project. Us three library consultants are sharing the leadership of the the project. The Regional Library of Jönköping is responsible of the project.

We have listened to professional futurists and trend analysts. We have used vocational categories that are not quite obvious in connection to libraries, e.g. exhibition pedagogues, architecture consultants, stage designers, scenery painters, a student at the industrial design programme and interaction designers.  

The first year we have been concentrating on the look of the children?s and young adult?s libraries. In Skåne they have consulted The Pedagogic Centre of Culture. Workshops led by pedagogues of drama, art and film have taken place. About 100 children of different ages and from different types of communities took part in the workshops, who's topic was "The library of the future". This resulted in a report and an analysis based on the perspective of Gardiner´s theories on multiple intelligences. Around ten interiors will be produced as grafic models from the children?s proposals in the report.  

In Mölndal and Skövde in Västra Götaland for example, Sweden?s only architecture consultant for children and one interior decorator held workshops together with children, teachers and librarians. In Mölndal the children built ?the library of their dreams?, based on an enquiry with local residents. ?The library of our dreams? is about the library of the future in a new context; library and museum; library and cinema, library and gymnasium, library and shopping center, library and amusement park. 

In Skövde the pupils made an analysis of the library and decided what parts of it they wanted to change. They were given free hands to plan and build models, their imagination limited only by the actual amount of space available in the building. They came up with e.g. study rooms, rooms for roll playing games / fantasy, a Japanese room and a jungle room. The models of the children show new and limitless ways of shaping a library room where many different forms of culture meet and where there is a broad variety of activities. A meeting point for experiences, information and knowledge, where the visitors become active participants.  

In Alingsås a large number of young people contribute by writing articles on the library of the future and they are also being interviewed about their thoughts on the library room. Working closely with pre-school teachers, art pedagogues, special pedagogues and pre-school children the children?s librarians of Alingsås, Kungälv and Mölndal have developed ideas about what a library could be. 

One library, the library of Råslätt, Jönköping, did not stop at drawings or models ? a stage designer and a scenery painter have worked together with three school classes (8th grade). The library was previously a typical library of the seventies in need of renovation, so funds were supplied to do a ?complete makeover? of the entire library. The stage designer made a sketch and a model based on the pupils? different models. Pupils have then worked in the library together with the stage designer, the scenery painter, craftsmen and pedagogues in order to make the model real. The mixture of new and "second hand"-things and concepts turned out to be both exciting and successful.  

Another library in the project, The library of Vaggeryd, is integrated with an upper secondary school. The school librarian is now working one day a week with a class in the first grade on the subject "The Library of the future". This subject is integrated in all other subjects from physical training to mathematics. In computer class, they will create a virtual model of the library of the future and a photo book about what a library is or could be. During the second year of the project, we will work more on the function of the library room.  

We will also work a lot on how to use modern technology and how to make the library more fun and attractive to children and young adults, by using the new technology in may new ways. A small project that at the moment is planned in Skåne may be a beginning. A group of students at the master program of interaction design at Malmö University are studying Malmö public library?s department of ?children & teenagers?. They want to see what could be done when you look upon the library from the user?s needs, perspectives and expectations and how to use modern technology.  

The project group meet a couple of times every semester. Among the methods used are discussions with inspiring persons and experts and a method called pedagogic tables. We are getting inspiration from other activities than libraries, even if we also try to find outstanding libraries to visit.  

On the project's web site, http://www.barnensbibliotek.se/2020marsexpress, we collect facts about the project, but also other interesting web sites and articles, concerning library development and future library as well. There is also a data base with pictures of furniture and different inspiring rooms and environments. 

So what do we want to attain / what is the purpouse of this project?

• A number of community libraries have found new methods in letting children and young adults influence and form their library - a clear user influence shall remain.
• An on-going work to bring the best of the technology that young people use into the library
• Open new prospects, new sources of inspiration and co-operators locally and regionally.
•  A lively, lasting network locally, regionally and between the counties. 
• A bank of ideas for making children?s and young adults? libraries more attractive.

   
Lo Claesson, The Regional Library of Jönköping
Elisabeth Håkansson, The Regional Library of Skåne
Ewa Kollberg, The Regional Library of Västra Götaland