Tænketanken Fremtidens Biblioteker

What Tænketanken Fremtidens Biblioteker does

Tænketanken Fremtidens Biblioteker (The Think Tank Libraries of the Future) is a Danish non-profit sector think tank established in October 2012 and administered under Danmarks Biblioteksforening (Danish Library Association). The organization is structurally anchored by four founding partners — Bibliotekschefforeningen, DM, Danmarks Biblioteksforening, and DFFU — and convenes approximately 40 public libraries, research libraries, library associations and library-adjacent private companies in active collaborative research. Its purpose is to produce evidence about the future role of libraries in Danish society, including digital transformation, reading culture, sustainability integration, and community development.

The think tank's portfolio consists of large-scale mixed-methods research studies (e.g., a children's reading study with ~9,000 respondents, a digital library strategies study with 6,500+ respondents, and segmentation analyses with 2,000+ participants), national multi-year projects (Sammen om Verdensmål launched 2021, Sammen om Fremtiden launched 2024, and Læsekultur i forandring running 2026-2028), adapted methodologies such as UNESCO Futures Literacy Labs for library contexts, professional networks (Next Generation, Publikumsudvikling, Sustainability Leadership, Everyday Leadership), and paid leadership development programs delivered by external consultants. Underlying intellectual property is methodological rather than technological, anchored in proprietary research datasets and sector-tailored frameworks rather than software products.

Revenue is generated through three streams: standardized membership fees of 12,500 DKK per year for participating public libraries (with other members contributing variable amounts); external project funding primarily from the Danish Agency for Culture (Slots- og Kulturstyrelsen); and fee-for-service leadership courses priced at 7,500-9,900 DKK per participant. The organization operates with a core team of five (daily manager, project managers, a project coordinator, and an external consultant) from offices at Vartov in central Copenhagen. Its go-to-market is community-led: projects are developed collaboratively with member institutions and disseminated through publications, events, networks, debates, conferences, podcasts, and direct member engagement.

Name

Tænketanken Fremtidens Biblioteker

Legal name

Tænketanken Fremtidens Biblioteker

Website

https://fremtidensbiblioteker.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tænketanken Fremtidens Biblioteker is a Danish non-profit think tank, established 2012 and hosted by the Danish Library Association, that produces research and runs national projects on library futures, reading culture, and sustainability for its ~40 member public and research libraries across Denmark.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Library Research and Policy

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC), Library, Reading Motivation & Independent Reading Programs (EDAMAJAO), Open Access Scholarly Journals & Monographs (EDAGAFAJ)

Keywords

• Library research
• Library innovation
• Library leadership development
• Cultural policy analysis
• Futures literacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Copenhagen

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Public libraries pay approximately 12,500 DKK per year as members. Other members contribute varying amounts depending on involvement level and means. The think tank represents approximately 40 folkebiblioteker, library organizations, research libraries and private companies.
2. Leadership Development Programs: The organization generates revenue through facilitation of leadership courses and programs. Leadership courses are offered at 7,500 DKK + VAT per participant (Hverdagsledelse) and 9,900 DKK (Skønlitteratur og ledelse). Programs run throughout 2026.
3. External Project Funding: Many activities are externally funded, primarily by the Danish Agency for Culture (Slots- og Kulturstyrelsen). Projects typically run 1.5-2 years and cover themes like children's reading, digital literacy, sustainability, and community building.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Tænketanken Fremtidens Biblioteker is an independent Danish non-profit think tank, established in 2012, that produces research, analyses, publications, podcasts, and leadership development programs aimed at strengthening the role, strategy, and societal impact of public libraries in Denmark. It operates as a member-based organization of approximately 40 Danish public libraries and library authorities, funded through membership fees and project grants, and acts as a knowledge and development partner to the Danish library sector.

Product overview

Tænketanken Fremtidens Biblioteker (Danish Think Tank – Libraries of the Future) is a project-based research organization established in 2012, not a traditional product company. The organization produces knowledge, analyses, and activities related to the future role of libraries in society. Its portfolio consists of research studies and publications, national initiatives (like Læsekultur i forandring 2026-2028), project programs (Sammen om Fremtiden, Sammen om Verdensmål), educational methodologies (Futures Literacy Labs), the Tank Op podcast series, professional development offerings (Skønlitteratur og ledelse), networking programs (Next Generation, Publikumsudvikling), and practical tools (Fremtidsbiblioteket exhibition, audience development tools). These offerings work together as a comprehensive approach to library innovation through research, community building, and practical tools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tank Op Podcast

Named customers9 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Bibliotekschefforeningen (Library Managers Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the four founding partners of the think tank. Represents library managers/chief librarians and contributes to strategic direction and projects. Also partners on leadership networks.
• DM (formerly Kultur og Information)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the four founding partners of the think tank. Represents cultural and information professionals and contributes to strategic direction.
• Danmarks Biblioteksforening (Danish Library Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the four founding partners and administrative host of the think tank. Provides administrative infrastructure and contributes to strategic direction. Also known as DB.
• DFFU - Danske Fag-, Forsknings- og UddannelsesbibliotekercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the four founding partners representing subject, research and university libraries. Collaborates on projects about FFU library needs and services.
• Chora 2030majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with the think tank on the Sustainability Leadership network for middle managers. Chora 2030 facilitates the network while the think tank handles administration.
• ApplausmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners on the Audience Development network 'Fremtidens Biblioteker'. Applaus manages the network group while the think tank provides organizational anchoring.
• Bierbaum Human RessourcesmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartners on leadership networks. Ledelsesrådgiver Mikael Bierbaum facilitates leadership networks including Everyday Leadership and Fiction and Leadership programs.
• Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies / Instituttet for FremtidsforskningmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on 'Sammen om Fremtiden' project. Developed Futures Literacy Labs methodology adapted for library context. Provides training and materials for futures workshops.
• National Centre for ReadingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational knowledge center collaborating on children's reading habits research. Contributes expertise in reading development and literacy research.
• Lærermiddel.dkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch center partnering on children's reading habits study. Provides pedagogical expertise and research capabilities for understanding reading behaviors.
• Albertslund, Ballerup, Gladsaxe, Hillerød, Middelfart, and Aarhus LibrariesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner libraries developing the training program for 'Sammen om Fremtiden' project. Collaborate in developing educational content and methodologies.
• 8 Public Libraries in DenmarkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipating libraries for prototype testing of library roles and concepts in the 'Folkets Bibliotek' design anthropology project.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bibliotekschefforeningen: The Danish Library Managers Association is one of the four founding partners and represents library chief executives. It is a direct peer because it targets the same senior library leadership audience and operates in the same policy/advocacy space for Danish public libraries.
• DFFU - Danske Fag-, Forsknings- og Uddannelsesbiblioteker: The association of Danish subject, research, and education libraries is also a founding partner. It is a direct peer because it covers the academic/research library segment that Tænketanken serves through its research-library membership and studies.
• Chora 2030: The Danish sustainability advisory firm co-runs the Sustainability Leadership network with Tænketanken. It is a direct peer because it works on UN Sustainable Development Goals engagement — the same theme underpinning Tænketanken's 'Sammen om Verdensmål' and 'Sammen om Fremtiden' projects.
• Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies (Instituttet for Fremtidsforskning): The Danish futures research institute co-developed the Futures Literacy Labs methodology adapted by Tænketanken. It is a direct peer because it produces applied futures research and consulting using similar methodologies (though with broader corporate/policy clients).
• Danmarks Biblioteksforening: The Danish Library Association is the founding partner and administrative host of Tænketanken Fremtidens Biblioteker. It is the closest peer because it sits at the center of Danish library advocacy and policy, with overlapping member institutions and complementary (rather than duplicative) research output.
• Nationalt Videncenter for Læsning (National Centre for Reading): Denmark's national reading research center is a direct peer because it produces large-scale studies on Danish reading habits and literacy — overlapping substantially with Tænketanken's Children's Reading Habits research and Læsekultur i forandring initiative.
• Applaus: The Danish audience-development organization co-runs the Publikumsudvikling network with Tænketanken and co-published the 'Gardening' audience-development tool. It is a direct peer because it works on similar library and cultural-institution audience-research themes.

Regional players

• Bibliothek & Information Deutschland (BID): The German library association umbrella is a regional peer because it conducts analogous library advocacy, research, and policy work for the German library sector — the same template Tænketanken follows in Denmark, but in a different national market.
• The Reading Agency (UK): The UK charity focused on reading promotion and literacy is a regional peer because it runs national programs to engage children and adults in reading — a mission almost identical to Tænketanken's reading-culture work, though serving a UK rather than Danish audience.

Broad incumbents

• IFLA - International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions: The global umbrella body for library associations operates at a much larger scale than Tænketanken and produces comparable trend reports and policy guidance. It is a broad incumbent because it covers the same library-futures topic from a global rather than Danish perspective.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FremtidensBiblioteker
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/t-nketanken-fremtidens-biblioteker

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Tænketanken Fremtidens Biblioteker