Viborg Bibliotekerne

What Viborg Bibliotekerne does

Viborg Bibliotekerne is the public library system of Viborg Municipality in Denmark, operating since 1903 as a statutory municipal institution under the Danish Library Act (Biblioteksloven). The system comprises six physical branches across Viborg Municipality — one of Denmark's largest municipalities by area — including a main library in Viborg city and branches in Bjerringbro, Karup, Stoholm, Houlkær, and Møldrup, supplemented by a mobile activity house ('Aktivitetshus på hjul') that extends services into rural areas.

The technology stack is built on the DPL (Det Digitale Folkebibliotek) shared library website platform, which underpins both the main viborgbib.dk site and the dedicated children's portal go.viborgbib.dk. Digital service offerings include the Biblioteket mobile app, the Bibliobitterne children's app, and integrations with national digital infrastructure such as eReolen, eReolen Global, PressReader, Filmstriben, Comics Plus, Transparent Language Online, Lex.dk, and Det Kongelige Bibliotek's Digital Article Service. Physical services span traditional lending, Makerspace facilities, Repair Café, reading clubs (Læseklasser), community singing (Guidet fællessang), and cultural events.

The business model is principally tax-funded: Viborg Kommune provides core operating funding from public tax revenue, supplemented by grants from Slots- og Kulturstyrelsen, Nordea Fonden, and Lokale og Anlægsfonden. Core library services are free for all residents; modest fees are charged for a small subset of cultural events (e.g., 20 DKK for Feministisk Onsdag) and for overdue items. Strategic development priorities for 2024–2026 emphasize children's reading joy, youth engagement, democratic dialogue, and wellbeing programming. Customer segments are citizens of Viborg Municipality, segmented into children/youth, adults/seniors, families, and educational institutions (schools and Pædagogiske Læringscentre). Viborg Bibliotekerne operates with approximately 23 staff and reports into Viborg Kommune's Kultur & Udvikling division under leadership of Biblioteks- og Borgerservicechef Britta Thuun-Petersen.

Name

Viborg Bibliotekerne

Legal name

Viborg Kommune, Kultur & Udvikling, Viborg Bibliotekerne

Website

https://viborgbib.dk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Viborg Bibliotekerne is the public library system of Viborg Municipality, Denmark, operating six physical branches and a digital platform serving ~97,000 residents with free lending, digital resources, makerspace, and community cultural programming funded by municipal taxes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA), Library & Education Audiobook Distribution (Public Libraries, Schools, Academic) (MPAJAIAE)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Digital book lending
• Community reading programs
• Children's library platforms
• Maker space workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Viborg

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Municipal funding: Primary funding from Viborg Municipality through public tax revenue, operating under the framework of the Danish Library Act (Biblioteksloven)
2. User fees and fines: Small fees for overdue materials, lost item replacement, and some premium events. Standard fees apply for certain cultural events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Viborg Bibliotekerne provides free public library services to the residents of Viborg Municipality in Denmark across six branch locations and a suite of digital platforms. Its core offerings include physical lending of books and media, digital lending of e-books and audiobooks via the eReolen platform, dedicated children's services (GO platform and Bibliobitterne app), maker spaces, reading clubs, and cultural/community events for citizens of all ages.

Product overview

Viborg Bibliotekerne operates as a unified public library system offering both physical and digital services. The core offering includes physical library services (book lending, reading inspiration, events, reading clubs, Makerspace, Repair Café) across multiple branch locations. Digital services include the Biblioteket App, the Bibliobitterne children's app, the GO children's platform, and access to digital resources through eReolen, PressReader, eReolen Global, Qello Concerts, Medici.tv, Comics Plus, Filmstriben, Transparent Language Online, and Lex.dk. The portfolio is a platform of interconnected physical and digital services rather than a single unified software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bibliobitterne: An app designed to introduce children to the library in a fun, engaging, and playful way.
• eReolen
• Læseklasser
• Guidet fællessang

Products and services

• Biblioteket Mobile App

Quantifiable outcome

• Seven dimensions of library's role in wellbeing documented in 'Biblioteker fremmer trivsel' research project
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Herning BibliotekernecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024AGORA project - 'Biblioteket i midten af demokratiet' (The Library at the Center of Democracy). Libraries in 8 municipalities collaborate to explore the democratic space that public libraries can provide. Project owned by Herning Bibliotekerne and supported by Slots- og Kulturstyrelsens Udviklingspulje.
• Aarhus UniversitetcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Research partnership in 'Biblioteker fremmer trivsel' (Libraries Promote Wellbeing) project conducted 2024-2025, examining libraries' role in citizen wellbeing and social cohesion.
• Holstebro BibliotekercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaborative research partnership in 'Biblioteker fremmer trivsel' project examining libraries' role in citizen wellbeing and social cohesion.
• Randers BibliotekcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaborative research partnership in 'Biblioteker fremmer trivsel' project examining libraries' role in citizen wellbeing and social cohesion.
• Randers BibliotekcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of 'Guidet fællessang' (Guided Community Singing) methodology combining singing with conversation, developed collaboratively across multiple library systems.
• Horsens Kommunes BibliotekercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of 'Guidet fællessang' methodology combining singing with conversation.
• Sangens Hus Nordjysk Center for Sundhed og KulturcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in development of 'Guidet fællessang' methodology, bringing expertise in health and cultural community building.
• Slots- og KulturstyrelsencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment agency providing development funding for multiple projects including AGORA, national reading initiatives, and Bibliobitter app development.
• Tænketanken Fremtidens BibliotekercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThink tank leading the National Initiative for Children's and Youth Reading Joy in which Viborg participates.
• Lokale og AnlægsfondenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation providing funding for the transformation project turning the oldest part of Main Library into a combined library and cultural meeting place for children, families and youth.
• Nordea FondenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation funding the mobile activity house project 'Aktivitetshus på hjul' bringing culture and climate activities to children and families across the municipality.
• Viborg KommunecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent municipality providing core funding and co-sponsoring various development projects including children's cultural center transformation.
• UNESCO Creative City networkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerViborg's status as UNESCO Creative City influences library services with visual creativity integrated into programming, facilities, and activities.
• Grønne Sammen Viborg KommuneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on mobile activity house project combining children's culture and climate activities.
• VibLandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on mobile activity house project to engage local communities in rural areas.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Københavns Biblioteker: Copenhagen's public library system, the largest in Denmark. Direct peer operating under the same legal framework with a multi-branch network, DPL digital platform, Bibliobitterne app, and similar community program portfolio. Most relevant national benchmark for digital and community programming.
• Aarhus Kommunes Biblioteker: Public library system in Aarhus Municipality, Denmark. Direct peer operating under the same Danish Library Act framework with comparable municipal funding, multi-branch networks, digital lending (eReolen), and children's services. Functions as the largest comparable Danish municipal library system.
• Odense Bibliotekerne: Public library system in Odense Municipality. Direct peer in size and structure, operating branches, children's reading programs, and maker spaces under the same Danish Library Act. Comparable citizen-services model and digital lending integration.
• Herning Bibliotekerne: Public library system in Herning Municipality and the lead partner of the AGORA democratic-space project involving Viborg. Direct peer in scale and operating model, and an active strategic co-development partner.
• Aalborg Bibliotekerne: Public library system serving Aalborg Municipality, the third-largest city in Denmark. Direct peer with multi-branch operations, DPL digital platform use, and similar eReolen/Biblioteket app integration. Similar sized municipality-scale operation.
• Randers Bibliotek: Public library in Randers Municipality. Direct peer and confirmed collaborative partner in both the 'Biblioteker fremmer trivsel' research project and the 'Guidet fællessang' methodology development. Comparable in scale and operations.
• Horsens Kommunes Biblioteker: Public library system in Horsens Municipality. Direct peer and co-developer of the 'Guidet fællessang' methodology with Viborg. Comparable mid-sized Danish municipal library operation.
• Holstebro Biblioteker: Public library system in Holstebro Municipality. Direct peer and confirmed research partner in the Aarhus Universitet wellbeing study. Similar Danish municipal library structure and service scope.

Regional players

• Gentofte Biblioteker: High-resource suburban Copenhagen public library system. Comparable in digital and programming sophistication but operates in a much higher-income, higher-density context than Viborg's mix of urban and rural coverage. Useful benchmark for service differentiation rather than direct scale.

Others

• Det Digitale Folkebibliotek (DPL): Shared digital platform consortium used by Danish public libraries including Viborg. Enabling technology provider, not a competitor. The platform underpins viborgbib.dk and many peer libraries' websites.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/viborgbib
• Instagraminstagram.com/viborgbibliotekerne
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/viborg-bibliotekerne

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Viborg Bibliotekerne