Vereniging van Openbare Bibliotheken

What Vereniging van Openbare Bibliotheken does

Vereniging van Openbare Bibliotheken (VOB), commonly referred to as the Association of Public Libraries, is a Dutch non-profit membership association (vereniging) founded in 1908 and headquartered at Hamburgerstraat 28A in Utrecht, Netherlands. VOB serves approximately 160 member organizations comprising 146 public library organizations, 9 Provincial Support Institutions (POI's), and 9 national organizations operating in the Dutch public library sector. The association operates through three core pillars: belangenbehartiging (advocacy) at national level with ministries, VNG, and IPO; werkgeverschap (employer practices) including the collective labor agreement cao OB; and organizing dialogue and knowledge exchange across the network. Its revenue model is built on recurring membership fees from member libraries, complemented by administrative margins on collective purchasing arrangements (e.g., TechSoup software, print and copy contracts, insurance) and fees from training programs.

VOB's product portfolio consists of sectoral services rather than technology products. Core offerings include the cao Openbare Bibliotheken (collective labor agreement covering the sector, with cao OB 2024-2026 and a negotiated result for cao OB 2026-2028), the Bibliotheekcampus learning platform, the Handreiking GRC (Governance, Risk & Compliance framework covering approximately 65 laws), the RI&E Instrument for risk inventories, the Meterkastkaart cybersecurity crisis guide, the MATT online portal for financial administration and HR support, and the Referentiekader Goed en Aantrekkelijk Werkgeverschap framework. Member benefits include preferential software licensing through TechSoup, free criminal background checks (VOG) for volunteers, and collective purchasing advantages. The organization distributes these services directly to enterprise-level library members via its own staff of approximately 49 personnel, with marketing handled through its website (debibliotheken.nl), the VOBerichten newsletter, member interviews, and events including the National Library Congress.

The organization's market position is reinforced by formal participation in the Bibliotheekconvenant 2024-2027 alongside VNG, IPO, the Ministry of Education Culture and Science (OCW), KB, and Stichting Samenwerkende POI's Nederland. VOB negotiates labor conditions with social partners FNV and CNV, collaborates with sector peers Probiblio, KB, CBCT, and Federatie Cultuur, and develops compliance resources jointly with member libraries such as Bibliotheek Zuid-Kennemerland. Documented outcomes include €700,000+ in collective OZB (property tax) savings for library branches and up to 48% savings on print and copy contracts. The organization is led by Klaas Gravesteijn as Director and Cees van Eijk as Chairman, with a board composed primarily of representatives from member libraries.

Name

Vereniging van Openbare Bibliotheken

Legal name

Vereniging van Openbare Bibliotheken

Website

https://debibliotheken.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vereniging van Openbare Bibliotheken (VOB) is the Dutch non-profit membership association for public libraries, serving approximately 160 member organizations through national advocacy, the cao OB collective labor agreement, training via Bibliotheekcampus, and collective purchasing services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Library Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Business Associations (81391)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Open Educational Resources (OER) & Open Access Academic Publishing (MPAJABAG)

Keywords

• Public library advocacy
• Membership association services
• Collective labor agreements
• Sector training programs
• Employer support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Utrecht

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: VOB operates as a membership organization with contributions from its members consisting of 146 public library organizations, 9 Provincial Support Institutions (POI's), and 9 national organizations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Vereniging van Openbare Bibliotheken (VOB) is the Dutch national membership association for public libraries, supporting 146 public library organizations, 9 Provincial Support Institutions, and 9 national organizations through advocacy, employer services, and knowledge exchange. Its core deliverables include a sectoral collective labor agreement (Cao OB), the Bibliotheekcampus training platform, compliance and risk management frameworks, HR and legal advisory services, and collective purchasing arrangements for its members.

Product overview

Vereniging van Openbare Bibliotheken (VOB) is the umbrella organization for Dutch public libraries, serving as a membership association rather than a technology product company. The VOB facilitates its approximately 160 members (146 public library organizations, 9 Provincial Support Institutions, and 9 national organizations) through three core pillars: advocacy (belangenbehartiging), good employer practices (werkgeverschap), and organizing dialogue and knowledge exchange. The product portfolio consists of sectoral services including the cao openbare bibliotheken (collective labor agreement for public libraries), the Bibliotheekcampus training platform, GRC Handreiking (Governance, Risk & Compliance guidance), RI&E instrument (Risk Inventory & Evaluation tool), cybersecurity resources, and various member benefit programs through partners like TechSoup, EnergieLive, and others.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cao Openbare Bibliotheken (Cao OB) Collective labor agreement for the Dutch public library sector, establishing employment conditions applicable to all member libraries and their staff, negotiated with social partners FNV and CNV; the current term is April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2026, with a negotiation result achieved for the Cao OB 2026-2028.
• Bibliotheekcampus Sectoral learning platform providing access to branch training (branch opleidingen), MBO choice parts, HBO programs, and strategic training policy resources for library employees and member organizations.
• Handreiking GRC (Governance, Risk & Compliance) Guidance document developed collaboratively with Probiblio, KB, CBCT, and Bibliotheek Zuid-Kennemerland that provides an overview of all laws and regulations libraries must comply with, including introduction, model policy plan, risk management presentation, risk management tools, a compliance management tool covering approximately 65 laws, and a Wbtr checklist.
• RI&E Instrument Openbare Bibliotheken Digital instrument for conducting the statutory Risk Inventory and Evaluation (Risico-Inventarisatie en -Evaluatie) required of employers, developed by VOB and trade unions and recognized by Steunpunt RI&E, with exemption from on-site assessment for organizations with up to 25 employees.
• Meterkastkaart Cybersecurity Checklist Crisis guide for cyber incidents containing the first necessary actions when a library faces cybercrime, including a manual (handleiding) and a handreiking cyberincident for preparation and response.
• Referentiekader Goed en Aantrekkelijk Werkgeverschap Framework document developed by VOB addressing good and attractive employer practices, including diversity, inclusion, and equality themes for public library organizations.
• Branchetraining en Opleiding Branch-specific training programs including the MBO-keuzedeel 'Service en informatie in de bibliotheek', the HBO-leergang Informatieprofessional, and the Bibliotheekcampus programs for library staff and member organizations.
• MATT (Financiële Administratie en HR) Business operations support service providing financial administration and advice, personnel and payroll administration, and other secondary business processes through an online portal (@MATT) with modules for scheduling, time registration, and volunteer management.
• TechSoup Software Program Member benefit through TechSoup Nederland enabling libraries to obtain software from Adobe, Cisco, Microsoft, Symantec, and Google for a small administrative donation or at high discount, with administrative costs averaging 5% of list price.
• Gratis VOG (Verklaring Omtrent Gedrag) Free criminal background checks for library volunteers under certain conditions, facilitated by VOB for its members through the CIBG.
• Inclusief Leiderschapstraject (Inclusive Leadership Trajectory) Three-day learning journey (leerreis) for library directors and managers focused on Diversity, Inclusion and Equality, combining personal inclusive leadership, strategic leadership, organization/society anchoring, and sustainability; delivered via blended physical meetings, online reflection, and practical application with the first cohort starting January 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% of libraries are working on digital accessibility
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ProbibliocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProbiblio collaborates with VOB on various initiatives including the development of Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) resources for libraries. They work together on sector-wide improvements and knowledge sharing.
• KB (Koninklijke Bibliotheek)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKB collaborates with VOB and other partners on the GRC (Governance, Risk & Compliance) handreiking, developing guidance documents for the library sector.
• CBCT (Centrum voor Boek en Cultuur)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBCT participates in the collaborative GRC initiative with VOB, Probiblio, KB, and Bibliotheek Zuid-Kennemerland.
• Bibliotheek Zuid-KennemerlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with VOB on developing GRC resources and shares expertise in governance and risk management.
• VNG (Vereniging van Nederlandse Gemeenten)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVNG is a key partner in the Bibliotheekconvenant 2024-2027, making agreements about public library contributions to societal challenges.
• IPO (Interprovinciaal Overleg)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPO collaborates with VOB in the Bibliotheekconvenant framework for provincial library coordination.
• Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ministry is a key partner in the Bibliotheekconvenant, providing funding and policy framework for public libraries.
• Stichting Samenwerkende POI's NederlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPOI is a partner in the Bibliotheekconvenant, representing provincial support institutions.
• FNVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFNV is a social partner in the CAO OB negotiations alongside VOB and CNV.
• CNVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNV is a social partner in the CAO OB negotiations alongside VOB and FNV.
• Federatie CultuurminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVOB has a collective agreement with Federatie Cultuur for training programs through the Academie voor Cultuurmanagement.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Koninklijke Bibliotheek (KB): KB is the Dutch national library and a strategic partner of VOB under the Bibliotheekconvenant — comparable as a Dutch library-sector institution but a public national library rather than a membership association.
• Stichting CPNB (Collectieve Propaganda van het Nederlandse Boek): CPNB is a Dutch foundation that promotes reading and books, coordinating campaigns like Children's Book Week — adjacent to VOB's library mission but focused on book promotion rather than library operations and employer affairs.

Direct peers

• Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP): CILIP is the UK membership body for library and information professionals, offering advocacy, professional standards, training, and policy representation — the closest functional analogue to VOB in another national market.
• Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA): ALIA is the Australian national association for library and information professionals, providing advocacy, standards, training, and member services — a near-perfect role and structural analogue to VOB.
• Bibliothek & Information Deutschland (BID): BID is the German umbrella organization of library associations, advocating for libraries at federal level and coordinating sector policy — comparable role to VOB in a neighbouring country.
• Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa (LIANZA): LIANZA is the New Zealand national membership association for libraries, providing advocacy, professional development, and standards — directly comparable to VOB in scope and structure.
• Swedish Library Association (Svensk biblioteksförening): The Swedish Library Association is the Nordic counterpart to VOB, advocating for public libraries and providing professional development — directly comparable in mission, structure, and single-country membership model.

Regional players

• EBLIDA (European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Associations): EBLIDA represents national library associations (including VOB-adjacent bodies) at the EU level on copyright, digital, and cultural policy — comparable as a regional-level association, with VOB as a potential constituent member.

Broad incumbents

• American Library Association: ALA is the largest national library membership association in the US, providing advocacy, professional development, standards, and publications to libraries and information professionals — directly comparable to VOB's role in the Netherlands, just at significantly larger scale.
• IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions): IFLA is the global umbrella body for national library associations and institutions, including advocacy at UN and UNESCO level — comparable to VOB but operating internationally rather than within a single country.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vereniging-van-openbare-bibliotheken

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vereniging van Openbare Bibliotheken