For centuries, the KB, National Library of the Netherlands has been a source of inspiration and innovation. Since its foundation in 1798, the KB has developed into a broad-based, versatile organisation, which guarantees the visibility, usability and sustainability of the national library collection for all Dutch people, for any purpose, both now and in the future. The KB is responsible for the written word, particularly Dutch publications, and for ensuring that everyone is able to read, learn and conduct research. This is the way of contributing towards making the Netherlands smarter, more competent and more creative.

The Ministry has the following objectives:

• To ensure that everyone gets a good education
• To ensure that everyone is prepared for personal independance and responsibility
• To ensure that everyone has the opportunity to experience and enjoy culture
• To ensure that teachers, artists, and scientists are able to carry out their work

The partnership of university libraries and the National Library supports and accelerates scientific progress by distributing, concentrating, and connecting mutual expertise in national and international networks. It consists of thirteen university libraries and the National Library. The main collaboration takes place in the field of developing a shared vision of the library as a learning and working environment; the development of expertise in the field of educational support; securing sustainable access to information; facilitating open science; and where possible systems and infrastructure are shared.

The WSWB Libraries (Werkgroep speciale wetenschappelijke bibliotheken / Special scientific libraries working group) represents the interests of special scientific libraries. The foundation supports the 31 participating libraries in the management of their collections, which are of (great) importance for the promotion of both the sciences and the arts and culture in the Netherlands. The foundation does this by, among other things, concluding (license) contracts, granting access to the collections of the libraries participating in the WSWB to third parties, by making the (often unique) collections of the WSWB libraries visible within (international) networks and through the exchange of knowledge in areas specific to the specialized scientific libraries.

In 2015, a new law for the public library sector (Wsob) came into force. This law describes a.o. the core functions of libraries and the roles of parties involved. It also states that the highly decentralized library sector constitutes a network for which the national government, provincial governments and municipalities are jointly responsible. Municipalities and Provinces (represented by, respectively, VNG (Vereniging Nederlandse Gemeente) and IPO (Interprovinciaal Overleg) are responsible for the physical domain. The national government (Ministry for Education, Culture and Science – OCW) is responsible for the digital domain as well as the effectiveness and coherence of the library system as a whole. The execution of the OCW tasks is carried out by the National Library (KB).

According to the new law public libraries should give the general public access to information and culture, guided by principles such as independence, credibility, accessibility, pluralism and authenticity. Their concrete tasks are making available knowledge and information, facilitating learning, promoting reading and a taste of literature, promoting arts and culture, and organising social encounters and debate.

The new law also defines the scope of the digital library and arranges its funding.

Libraries, alongside educational establishments and museums open to the public, as well as cinematographic or audio-visual heritage archives and establishments which do not operate for a commercial purpose benefit from copyright exceptions for preservation and restoration. This provision is technology-neutral, allowing libraries to digitize its work if necessary, for preservation, and includes permission for copying to avoid format obsolescence. A library may also make works belonging to its own collection available digitally on site to the public, ie only within the walls of its building.

There are exceptions for copying for private study and for education, although with the possibility for remuneration. The Netherlands has also implemented the Marrakesh Treaty, although again with the possibility of remuneration.

Libraries can draw on an orphan works provision to copy and make available works in their collections where rightholders have not been identified and found after a careful examination (there is a long list of conditions), and if uses are then only for public interest goals. When making orphan works available, libraries and others may only generate income that serves to cover the costs of digitization and availability.
While the European Union Copyright Directive has yet to be implemented, there are already provisions allowing for the copying of works which are out-of-commerce, against remuneration.

The Netherlands does have a Public Lending Right scheme, although this does not apply to educational or research libraries, or to primarily publicly subsidised ones such as in parts of the Dutch Antilles. The Public Lending Rights Office (Stichting Leenrecht) collects payments from libraries, toy libraries, CD lenders and art leasing galleries and distributes these payments to organizations representing copyright owners.

Elsewhere, there are exceptions for quotation, parody and satire, incidental uses, and transitory copying (i.e. to allow for caching).

The full-time courses have been discontinued or merged with other courses in ICT, business administration and management into “broad” bachelors and masters. At present, there are only hands-on training and retraining activities available for the entire information field, ranging from a 1-day workshop to a course of several months at all levels. Some courses are also taught in English and Spanish.

IP is the independent online platform and printed magazine for information specialist of today and tomorrow. The main audience are professionals working in the information, library, archive and heritage world.

The printed magazine provides insight into all current developments in the field of documentary information provision, information management, management and organization and document management and the digital transition in which this field is located. It focuses on everyone who is concerned with keeping (government) information permanently accessible. It is published eight times a year.

If you want to stay informed of developments in public library work, subscribe to Bibliotheekblad. This printed professional magazine is full of opinion articles, interviews, reports, news, and background information. The magazine is published nine times a year. Each issue contains a file, which delves deeper into an interesting theme. The magazine focuses primarily on professionals in public libraries. It is also interesting for library boards, governments, the information sector, the cultural sector, and the book sector.

This annual event is organised by the National Library of the Netherlands, KB. Each year  a theme is chosen around with the knowledge and practices are shared in an effort to further the development of libraries.

“Smart Humanity” is a multi-year theme of an annual conference of the Royal Dutch Association of Information Professionals (Koninklijke Nederlandse Vereniging van Informatieprofessionals, KNVI). The KNVI has devoted three years to this theme. After being defined and introduced in January 2018, the concept of Smart Humanity is being further elaborated with various scientists and practitioners. The event is aimed at all information professionals.