ABOUT
Region: Western Europe
Population: 582,972
Area: 2,590
GDP per capita, PPP: 102,389
(current international $)
Major Languages: Luxembourgish (official administrative and judicial language and national language (spoken vernacular)) 55.8%, Portuguese 15.7%, French (official administrative, judicial, and legislative language) 12.1%, German (official administrative and judicial language) 3.1%, Italian 2.9%, English 2.1%, other 8.4% (2011 est.)

Library Location Resources

No information available
LIBRARIES IN

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).



SDG STORIES: Stories Available
PERFORMANCE METRICS

SELECT METRIC VIEW

Totals Per 1M People*

Number of Libraries

Total Libraries with Internet Access

Total Staff

Volunteers

Registered Users

Total Visits

Total Physical Loans

Total Electronic Loans
CONTEXTUAL INDICATORS
Population and Geography
39 224.7
Median Age Population Density
people per sq km
Information and Infrastructure
98.1% 1.6%
Internet UsersInternet Gender Gap
Poverty and Employment
0.2% 6.3%
Poverty Rate
2011 PPP
Unemployment
% of labor force
Education and Literacy
No Data Available 4%
Adult Literacy Rate
% of people age 15+
Education Spending
% of GDP
Innovation and Skills
74.6% 1.3%
ICT Skills:
Transfering Files
Research Spending
% of GDP
Organisations
National Library Associations
National Library
Policy Making Institutions
Library Support Organisations
Policy & Legislation
National Policy for Libraries
Library Law
Legal Deposit Law
Copyright Law
Library Exceptions & Limitations
Education & Events
Professional Qualification Requirements
Education
Professional Publications
Professional Events
PERFORMANCE METRICS
Learn more about the performance metrics
SELECT METRIC VIEW
Totals Per 1 M People
LEGEND
N/A' Not Applicable '-' No Data '0' Zero
Total National Academic Public Community School Other

Total Libraries

-
-
-
-
-
-
-

Libraries with Internet Access

-
-
-
-
-
-
-

Full-Time Staff

-
-
-
-
-
-
-

Volunteers

-
-
-
-
-
-
-

Registered User

-
-
-
-
-
-
-

Physical Visits

-
-
-
-
-
-
-

Physical Loans

-
-
-
-
-
-
-

Electronic Loans

-
-
-
-
-
-
-
CONTEXTUAL INDICATORS
Learn more about the contextual indicators
LEGEND
N/A' Not Applicable '-' No Data '0' Zero
Population Luxembourg Region World
Population Density
people per sq km
224.7
2016
33.2
2016
57.4
2016
Urban Population (World Bank) 90.4%
2016
71.1%
2016
54.3%
2016
Median Age (CIA) 39
2017
-
30
2017
Age Dependency Ratio, Youth (World Bank)
% of working age people
23.7%
2017
27.1%
2017
39.7%
2017
Age Dependency Ratio, Elderly (ITU World Telecoms Database)
% of working age people
20.7%
2017
24.5%
2017
13.3%
2017
Information Infrastructure Luxembourg Region World
Internet Users (ITU World Telecoms Database)
% of population
98.1%
2016
-
-
Broadband Cost (ITU World Telecoms Database)
in USD
$45.4
2016
$14.6
2016
$20.1
2016
Phone Subscription Cost (ITU World Telecoms Database)
in USD
$22.8
2016
$9.5
2016
$9.5
2016
Internet Gender Gap (ITU World Telecoms Database)
% of Men Internet Users - % of Women Internet Users
1.6%
2016
-
11.6%
2017
Access to Electricity (World Bank)
100%
2016
100%
2016
87.4%
2016
Economy, Poverty, and Employment Luxembourg Region World
GDP per Capita (World Bank)
current international $
102,389
2016
31,362
2016
16,215
2016
Poverty Rate (World Bank)
at $1.90 a Day, 2011 PPP
0.2%
2014
1.6%
2013
10.9%
2013
Inequality Index (World Bank)
0 is perfect equality, 100 is the complete inequality
31
2014
-
-
Unemployment (World Bank)
% of labor force
6.3%
2016
8.2%
2016
5.9%
2014
Inactive Youth (World Bank)
% of youth
5.4%
2016
13.8%
2016
-
Education and Literacy Luxembourg Region World
Students per Teacher (World Bank)
Ratio
8
2015
15
2016
24
2016
Adult Literacy Rate (World Bank)
% of people age 15+
-
99.1%
2016
86.2%
2016
Education Spending (World Bank)
% of GDP
4%
2014
5.1%
2014
4.9%
2014
Innovation and Skills Luxembourg Region World
Research Spending (World Bank)
% of GDP
1.3%
2015
1.9%
2015
2.2%
2015
ICT Skills: Programming (International Telecommunication Union)
% of Population
12.8%
2015
-
-
ICT Skills: Creating Presentations (International Telecommunication Union)
% of Population
62.7%
2015
-
-
ICT Skills: Finding, Downloading, Installing Software (International Telecommunication Union)
% of Population
69.8%
2015
-
-
ICT Skills: Transferring Files (International Telecommunication Union)
% of Population
74.6%
2015
-
-
ICT Skills: Sending Emails
% of Population
-
-
-
ICT Skills: Using Copy/Paste
% of Population
-
-
-
ICT Skills: Connect/Install Devices
% of Population
-
-
-
ICT Skills: Using Math in Spreadsheets
% of Population
-
-
-
Organisations

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.

Policy & Legislation

National Policy for Libraries

There are no national policy documents for libraries in Luxembourg.

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.

Education & Events

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 are no institutions or programmes for library education in Luxembourg.

Professional Publications

There are no professional publications for librarians in Luxembourg.

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.