The Rolling Library

When students don't come to the library, the library comes to the students. In the hallways of Campusvej, Odense, Britta and Bjarne tour with a cart, coffee, and offer an informal chat. The concept is called #HappyLibrary and the focus is study techniques and the library's many offerings.

"Many of those we talk to start by saying they don't need the library, so the concept aims to challenge and expand the often somewhat narrow understanding of the library and open their eyes to how much the library can and has," says learning consultant Bjarne Lind Christensen.

"We shouldn't take it for granted that students come to us. If we always stay within our own framework at the library, then we will only talk to those who are already here," says librarian Britta Toftgaard Holton

• What is #HappyLibrary?
  The concept consists very practically of a stall (commonly called the 'banana cart') loaded with coffee, snacks, a screen, a welcoming attitude, and well-prepared vocal cords from the library staff who roll out. They can have conversations with up to 100 students in two hours.
   
• Want a visit?
  Do your students need a visit from #HappyLibrary? Feel free to contact Bjarne Lind Christensen or Britta Toftgaard Holton, who are happy to tell more about #HappyLibrary themes - it can be general library information or specific focus on Endnote, subject-specific databases, and much more.
  

• Read more?
  More about #HappyLibrary and the thoughts behind the concept in the article "Bogbus uden bøger" (only in Danish) from the journal Revy, Vol. 48 No. 1 (2025). Revy is a journal from DFFU, Danish Professional, Research, and Educational Libraries. Article on LinkedIn (only in Danish) by librarians Britta Toftgaard Holton and Anja Pedersen about different ways to communicate the library to students.