About Luxembourg
Region: Europe
Area: 2,590 km²
Population: 677,012
Libraries (Service Points): 131
Libraries in Luxembourg
43% of the total population of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (610,000 inhabitants) is not Luxembourgish. The official languages of the Grand Duchy are: the national language, Luxembourgish (Lëtzebuergesch), as well as foreign languages, German and French. Since the Eastern enlargement of the European Union in 2004, English is more and more frequently used. This diversity has of course an impact on the production of the books and periodicals, as well as on library collections and services.
In public libraries, especially parents and their heavy readers, their children, are borrowing books, because it’s too expensive to buy enough books for them in private. Regarding adults, the country’s wealth allows the expansion of private libraries. The percentage of persons (50% in 2006) that confirmed to possess more than 100 books in their family library is one of the highest in the European Union. Only 5% claim that they do not have any books at home at all.
Scientific libraries in general have small collections. Currently only 13 libraries have more than 50,000 volumes. According to the law of August 10, 1912, the establishment of school libraries in elementary education is mandatory. Since the Act of June 25, 2004, this commitment exists for secondary school libraries too.
Since the national elections of 2004, the Association of Luxembourgish Librarians, Archivists and Documentalists (Albad) is regularly very successful by advocating in putting libraries on the governmental agenda. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Culture did not consult with qualified librarians about library legislation.
As a small country, the Grand Duchy was and is influenced by trends in librarianship from the neighbouring countries. They are always implemented with a certain delay. Fully qualified librarians are rare and have to study abroad, especially in Germany and Belgium.
New library buildings, open to the public, are the Public Library of Luxembourg-City (inaugurated the 25.09.2008), the University Library in Esch/Belval (22.09.2018) and the National Library (30.09.2019).
Library data (Totals)
|
Library type |
Total |
National |
Academic |
Public |
Community |
School |
Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Libraries (Service Points)
Library service point is a fixed or mobile facility through which library provides a service to its users. Central libraries, branch libraries, mobile libraries, and external service points located in different geographical locations and managed by one administrative unit are all each individual service points. Number of libraries is the total number of central/main libraries, branch libraries, external service points and mobile libraries. 131 |
131 2020 |
1 2020 |
2 2020 |
7 2020 |
13 2020 |
51 2020 |
57 2020 |
|
Main Libraries
Central/main library is usually part or those parts of an administrative unit where the main administrative functions and the important parts of the library collection and services are located. An administrative unit comprising several branch libraries does not necessarily include a central library. — |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Branch Libraries
Branch library is a part of a larger administrative unit providing, in separate quarters, a service for a particular user group (e.g. children, faculties) or for a locally defined clientele. Institute, departmental and other affiliated libraries are included. Mobile libraries and external service points are excluded. — |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
External Service Points
External service point is a point away from library premises at which a certain service is regularly offered to users. This includes places within a locality at which library material is deposited for informal circulation to a restricted group of users but without other library services, for example, old people’s homes, community centres, collections for hospital patients. Mobile libraries and their stops are not counted as external service points. — |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Mobile Libraries
Mobile library is a library, sometimes a division of a public library, using transport means to provide documents and services directly to users as an alternative to access on library premises. — |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Libraries (Administrative Units)
Administrative unit is any independent library, or group of libraries, under a single directorate or a single administration. The term “independent” does not imply legal or financial independence but only that the library is a recognisably separate unit, typically within a larger organisation. The administrative unit can be a single library or a larger organisation, typically containing a central/main library, branch libraries and administrative functions. — |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Libraries with Internet Access
Libraries (Service Points) that provides internet access from at least one workstation available to the public regardless of whether access is free, and/or provides a wireless network allowing users to connect to the Internet. 130 |
130 2020 |
1 2020 |
2 2020 |
6 2020 |
13 2020 |
51 2020 |
57 2020 |
|
Full-Time Staff
Full-time equivalent (FTE) staff are all library employees who work for the library in return for payment. It includes professional staff, qualified staff, project staff and assistants. Other staff (library employees who work in security and on domestic duties, for example, cleaners, porters, caretakers and catering staff) and volunteers are excluded. 118 |
118 2020 |
118 2020 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Volunteers
Volunteer is a person working on library tasks without payment. In counting volunteers, the concept of headcount is used. 0 |
0 2017 |
0 2017 |
0 2014 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Registered Users
Registered user is a person or organisation registered with a library in order to use its collection and/or services within or away from the library. Users may be registered upon their request or automatically when enrolling in the institutions. 30,711 |
30,711 2020 |
30,711 2020 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Physical Visits
Physical visit is a person (individual) entering the library premises. 71,734 |
71,734 2020 |
55,782 2020 |
15,952 2014 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Physical Loans
Physical loan is a direct lending or delivery transaction of an item in physical form. Physical loans include loans of items in non-electronic form (e.g. books) and loans electronic documents on a physical carrier (e.g. CD-ROM). 32,573 |
32,573 2020 |
32,573 2020 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
eBook Loans
eBook is a non-serial digital document, licenced or not, where searchable text is prevalent, and similar to a print book (monograph). eBooks can be lent to users either on portable devices (eBook readers) or by transmitting the contents to the user’s PC or other device for a limited time period. 44,042 |
44,042 2020 |
44,042 2020 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Audio Book Loans
Audio book (or talking book) is a sound recording of readings of a book, magazine, or newspaper, usually designed for use by visually impaired people. Audio books can be lent to users either on a physical carrier or other device, or by transmitting the content to the user’s PC or other device for a limited time period. 3,837 |
3,837 2020 |
3,837 2020 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Downloads
Download is a content unit that is successfully requested from a library-provided online service or other internet service (e.g. database, electronic serial or digital document). 52,859 |
52,859 2014 |
— |
52,859 2014 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Library data (Per 1M People)
|
Library type |
Total |
National |
Academic |
Public |
Community |
School |
Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Libraries (Service Points)
131
Library service point is a fixed or mobile facility through which library provides a service to its users. Central libraries, branch libraries, mobile libraries, and external service points located in different geographical locations and managed by one administrative unit are all each individual service points. Number of libraries is the total number of central/main libraries, branch libraries, external service points and mobile libraries. |
193.5 2020 |
1.5 2020 |
3 2020 |
10.3 2020 |
19.2 2020 |
75.3 2020 |
84.2 2020 |
|
Main Libraries
—
Central/main library is usually part or those parts of an administrative unit where the main administrative functions and the important parts of the library collection and services are located. An administrative unit comprising several branch libraries does not necessarily include a central library. |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Branch Libraries
—
Branch library is a part of a larger administrative unit providing, in separate quarters, a service for a particular user group (e.g. children, faculties) or for a locally defined clientele. Institute, departmental and other affiliated libraries are included. Mobile libraries and external service points are excluded. |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
External Service Points
—
External service point is a point away from library premises at which a certain service is regularly offered to users. This includes places within a locality at which library material is deposited for informal circulation to a restricted group of users but without other library services, for example, old people’s homes, community centres, collections for hospital patients. Mobile libraries and their stops are not counted as external service points. |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Mobile Libraries
—
Mobile library is a library, sometimes a division of a public library, using transport means to provide documents and services directly to users as an alternative to access on library premises. |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Libraries (Administrative Units)
—
Administrative unit is any independent library, or group of libraries, under a single directorate or a single administration. The term “independent” does not imply legal or financial independence but only that the library is a recognisably separate unit, typically within a larger organisation. The administrative unit can be a single library or a larger organisation, typically containing a central/main library, branch libraries and administrative functions. |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Libraries with Internet Access
130
Libraries (Service Points) that provides internet access from at least one workstation available to the public regardless of whether access is free, and/or provides a wireless network allowing users to connect to the Internet. |
192 2020 |
1.5 2020 |
3 2020 |
8.9 2020 |
19.2 2020 |
75.3 2020 |
84.2 2020 |
|
Full-Time Staff
118
Full-time equivalent (FTE) staff are all library employees who work for the library in return for payment. It includes professional staff, qualified staff, project staff and assistants. Other staff (library employees who work in security and on domestic duties, for example, cleaners, porters, caretakers and catering staff) and volunteers are excluded. |
174.3 2020 |
174.3 2020 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Volunteers
0
Volunteer is a person working on library tasks without payment. In counting volunteers, the concept of headcount is used. |
0 2017 |
0 2017 |
0 2014 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Registered Users
30,711
Registered user is a person or organisation registered with a library in order to use its collection and/or services within or away from the library. Users may be registered upon their request or automatically when enrolling in the institutions. |
45,362.6 2020 |
45,362.6 2020 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Physical Visits
71,734
Physical visit is a person (individual) entering the library premises. |
105,956.8 2020 |
82,394.4 2020 |
23,562.4 2014 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Physical Loans
32,573
Physical loan is a direct lending or delivery transaction of an item in physical form. Physical loans include loans of items in non-electronic form (e.g. books) and loans electronic documents on a physical carrier (e.g. CD-ROM). |
48,112.9 2020 |
48,112.9 2020 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
eBook Loans
44,042
eBook is a non-serial digital document, licenced or not, where searchable text is prevalent, and similar to a print book (monograph). eBooks can be lent to users either on portable devices (eBook readers) or by transmitting the contents to the user’s PC or other device for a limited time period. |
65,053.5 2020 |
65,053.5 2020 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Audio Book Loans
3,837
Audio book (or talking book) is a sound recording of readings of a book, magazine, or newspaper, usually designed for use by visually impaired people. Audio books can be lent to users either on a physical carrier or other device, or by transmitting the content to the user’s PC or other device for a limited time period. |
5,667.6 2020 |
5,667.6 2020 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Downloads
52,859
Download is a content unit that is successfully requested from a library-provided online service or other internet service (e.g. database, electronic serial or digital document). |
78,076.9 2014 |
— |
78,076.9 2014 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Contextual data
|
Population |
Luxembourg |
Region |
World |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Population Total population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship. The values shown are midyear estimates. |
677,012 2024 |
928,263,208 2024 |
8,141,808,945 2024 |
|
Proportion of Population Younger than 15 Age dependency ratio, young, is the ratio of younger dependents--people younger than 15--to the working-age population--those ages 15-64. Data are shown as the proportion of dependents per 100 working-age population. |
22.9% 2024 |
27.0% 2024 |
38.0% 2024 |
|
Proportion of Population Older than 64 Age dependency ratio, old, is the ratio of older dependents--people older than 64--to the working-age population--those ages 15-64. Data are shown as the proportion of dependents per 100 working-age population. |
22.5% 2024 |
28.1% 2024 |
15.7% 2024 |
|
Population Growth Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship. |
1.6% 2024 |
0 2024 |
1.0% 2024 |
|
Population Density Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes. |
258.9% 2023 |
33.7% 2022 |
61.6% 2022 |
|
Urban Population Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division. |
94.8% 2024 |
74.0% 2024 |
57.6% 2024 |
|
Information Infrastructure |
Luxembourg |
Region |
World |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet Users Internet users are individuals who have used the Internet (from any location) in the last 3 months. The Internet can be used via a computer, mobile phone, personal digital assistant, games machine, digital TV etc. |
98.8% 2024 |
90.9% 2024 |
71.2% 2024 |
|
Female Internet Users This indicator refers to female individuals who have used the Internet (from any location) in the last 3 months. The Internet can be used via a computer, mobile phone, personal digital assistant, games machine, digital TV etc. |
99.3% 2023 |
90.0% 2024 |
68.2% 2024 |
|
Male Internet Users This indicator refers to male individuals who have used the Internet (from any location) in the last 3 months. The Internet can be used via a computer, mobile phone, personal digital assistant, games machine, digital TV etc. |
- |
90.0% |
- |
|
Access to Electricity Access to electricity is the percentage of population with access to electricity. Electrification data are collected from industry, national surveys and international sources. |
100.0% 2023 |
100.0% 2023 |
91.6% 2023 |
|
Economy, Poverty, and Employment |
Luxembourg |
Region |
World |
|---|---|---|---|
|
GDP per Capita This indicator provides values for gross domestic product (GDP) expressed in current international dollars, converted by purchasing power parities (PPPs). PPPs account for the different price levels across countries and thus PPP-based comparisons of economic output are more appropriate for comparing the output of economies and the average material well-being of their inhabitants than exchange-rate based comparisons. Gross domestic product is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period. It can be measured in three different ways: using either the expenditure approach, the income approach, or the production approach. This series has been linked to produce a consistent time series to counteract breaks in series over time due to changes in base years, source data and methodologies. Thus, it may not be comparable with other national accounts series in the database for historical years. The core indicator has been divided by the general population to achieve a per capita estimate. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. The PPP conversion factor is a currency conversion factor and a spatial price deflator. PPPs convert different currencies to a common currency and, in the process of conversion, equalize their purchasing power by eliminating the differences in price levels between countries, thereby allowing volume or output comparisons of GDP and its expenditure components. |
150,929 2024 |
51,720.6 2024 |
24,405 2024 |
|
Poverty Rate Poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $3.00 a day at 2021 purchasing power adjusted prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions. |
0.1% 2023 |
0.5% 2024 |
10.3% 2024 |
|
Inequality Gini index measures the extent to which the distribution of income (or, in some cases, consumption expenditure) among individuals or households within an economy deviates from a perfectly equal distribution. A Lorenz curve plots the cumulative percentages of total income received against the cumulative number of recipients, starting with the poorest individual or household. The Gini index measures the area between the Lorenz curve and a hypothetical line of absolute equality, expressed as a percentage of the maximum area under the line. Thus a Gini index of 0 represents perfect equality, while an index of 100 implies perfect inequality. |
33.6% 2023 |
0.0% |
- |
|
Unemployment Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country. |
6.4% 2024 |
5.3% 2024 |
6.2% 2021 |
|
Inactive Youth The share of youth not in education, employment or training (also known as “the NEET rate”) conveys the number of young persons not in education, employment or training as a percentage of the total youth population. Youth not in education are those who were neither enrolled in school nor in a formal training program (e.g. vocational training). For the purposes of this indicator, youth is defined as all persons between the ages of 15 and 24 (inclusive). percentage of youth population |
9.5% 2024 |
11.7% 2024 |
- |
|
Education and Literacy |
Luxembourg |
Region |
World |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Education Spending General government expenditure on education (current, capital, and transfers) is expressed as a percentage of GDP. It includes expenditure funded by transfers from international sources to government. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments. percentage of GDP |
3.7% 2022 |
4.6% 2022 |
3.5% 2023 |
|
Adult Literacy Rate Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life. percentage of people ages 15 and above |
- |
4.6% 2022 |
87.7% 2024 |
|
Female Adult Literacy Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life. percentage of females ages 15 and above |
- |
98.5% 2024 |
84.6% 2024 |
|
Male Adult Literacy Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life. percentage of males ages 15 and above |
- |
99.1% 2023 |
90.9% 2024 |
|
Female Youth Literacy Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life. percentage of females ages 15-24 |
- |
99.8% 2023 |
92.0% 2024 |
|
Male Youth Literacy Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life. percentage of males ages 15-24 |
- |
99.8% 2023 |
94.1% 2024 |
|
Research and Innovation |
Luxembourg |
Region |
World |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Research Spending Gross domestic expenditures on research and development (R&D), expressed as a percent of GDP. They include both capital and current expenditures in the four main sectors: Business enterprise, Government, Higher education and Private non-profit. R&D covers basic research, applied research, and experimental development. percentage of GDP |
1.0% 2022 |
2.0% 2022 |
2.7% 2022 |
|
Researchers The number of researchers engaged in Research &Development (R&D), expressed as per million. Researchers are professionals who conduct research and improve or develop concepts, theories, models techniques instrumentation, software of operational methods. R&D covers basic research, applied research, and experimental development. per million people |
4,879 2022 |
3,466.1 2022 |
1,516 2018 |
|
Scientific Articles Article counts refer to publications from a selection of conference proceedings and peer-reviewed journals from Scopus in science and engineering fields, according to the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics Taxonomy of Disciplines. fractional count |
1,171 2022 |
913,901.4 2022 |
3,338,192 2022 |
National Library Associations
Luxembourgish Librarians’, Archivists’ and Documentalists’ Association (ALBAD) / Associatioun vun de Lëtzebuerger Bibliothekären, Archivisten an Dokumentalisten (ALBAD)
ALBAD is a professional association, mainly acting for individuals, with about 150 members. Main objectives are advocacy, training and social events.
Luxembourgish Public Libraries’ Union (ULBP) / Union Luxembourgeoise des Bibliothèques Publiques (ULBP)
ULBP is composed by institutions and associations. The majority of public libraries (16) and 2 associations (ALBAD & FëBLux) are members. The ULBP president is always a politician, a member of Parliament. Their main goal is advocacy.
National Library
National Library of Luxembourg / Bibliothèque nationale du Luxembourg (BNL)
The BNL collects all edited and printed publications at national level (legal deposit) as well as acts as university library with a larger collection of not Luxembourgish media. Furthermore the BNL is the center of the national union catalogue Bibnet.lu, run by the State.
Policy Making Institutions
Ministry of Culture / Ministère de la Culture
Finance the national library and distribute subsidies to public libraries.
Library Support Organisations
For public libraries, Luxembourg / Fir ëffentlech Bibliothéiken, Lëtzebuerg (FëBLux)
Non-governmental non-profit national fundraising organization for the creation, development and perpetuation of public libraries.
National Policy for Libraries
There is no information available.
Library Law
Law of the 24th of June 2010 regarding public libraries / Loi du 24 juin 2010 relative aux bibliothèques publiques
The law is aimed at maintaining existing strong public libraries (not creating new ones and not support weak ones).
Law of 6 February 2009 on the organization of basic education / Loi du 6 février 2009 portant organisation de l'enseignement fondamental
Since 1912 (the law of the 10.08.1912 was abolished by the one of the 06.02.2009) libraries in primary schools are compulsory.
Law of 25 June 2004 on the organization of high schools and technical schools / Loi du 25 juin 2004 portant organisation des lycées et lycées techniques
The current state before the law of the 25.06.2004 was that almost every secondary school already owned a library. Since 2004, for every old and new establishment, a library is compulsory.
Grand-Ducal Regulation of 3 December 1970 concerning the administration and the internal regime of penitentiary establishments / Règlement grand-ducal du 3 décembre 1970 concernant l'administration et le régime interne des établissements pénitentiaires
Since 1970 a library in every penitentiary establishment is compulsory and access to the collections is guaranteed.
Legal Deposit Law
Law of the 25th of June 2004 regarding the reorganization of the cultural institutions of the State / Loi du 25 juin 2004 portant réorganisation des instituts culturels de l'Etat
All published materials published, put on sale, distributed, rented out, or otherwise made available for reproduction, in any form (analogue/virtual, including databases, software, and the products of artificial intelligence), are concerned by legal deposit, with up to five copies being deposited with the National Library. In the case of audio-visual works, these are deposited, following specific rules on technical format, at the National Centre for Audiovisual Media. In the case of publications in the Luxembourgish language, or dealing with Luxembourgish culture, at least one copy should be deposited with the National Centre for Literature. The Library also has a responsibility to collect as wide a selection as possible of materials published elsewhere. The National Library is charged with providing the widest possible access to its collections, including through loan and remote access, and can play the role of a university library. More specific details (including on the precise number of copies) are listed in a separate decree, which can change regularly.
The National Library also has a role in coordinating the network of libraries in Luxembourg, and hosts the national ISBN and ISSN centres.
Copyright Law & Library Exceptions and Limitations
Law of the 18th of April 2001 regarding the author’s rights, neighboring rights and databases / Loi du 18 avril 2001 sur les droits d'auteur, les droits voisins et les bases de données
Exceptions and limitations for libraries
Copies in for preservation/conservation can be made without copyright infringement, and access can be given on the premises of a recognised library. There is no restriction on the technology or format of such copies.
Libraries in the education sector can produce copies without paying royalties. Libraries open to the general public (such as public libraries) do need to pay royalties for public copying, via collecting societies. There are frequent amendments to the law.
Library lending is conditional on payment of public lending right. This, as well as the institutions to which it applied, is determined through secondary legislation. School, university and research libraries are not affected. The sums payable for any given library are calculated at 2EUR per registered user having borrowed a book in the past year. Money comes from the local authority budget in the case of public libraries, the state for national ones, or the library itself in other cases.
There are also exceptions for quotation, teaching, research, use of orphan works. Temporary storage (caching), caricature, pastiche, parody, and for making copies of works in formats for people with visual or hearing impairments. Luxembourg has yet to implement properly EU rules relating to the Marrakesh Treaty. It appears not to have implemented provisions on technological protection measures (including how to circumvent these when they prevent enjoyment of exceptions and limitations).
Luxembourg will need to implement the EU Copyright Directive, which will bring in new rules on text and data mining, digital teaching and out-of-commerce works.
Professional Qualification Requirements
Professional Qualification Requirements
A minimum Bachelor degree in librarianship is only required for state civil servants (not: employees) in the cultural and education sector.
Education
There is no information available.
Professional Publications
There is no information available.
Professional Events
National book days
This national regular event organised by all public and privte book sector actors together takes place on 3-4 days around the UNESCO book day (23rd of April). All interested libraries can join it.
Library Location Resources
No information available