Welcome

Dear Librarians, Dear Guests,

Welcome to the biggest annual international gathering of librarians in Germany which takes place in Mannheim from June 3 - 6, 2008 ; the "97. Deutsche Bibliothekartag". The motto this year is "Transporting Knowledge - Libraries in the Information Society".

Transporting knowledge, information and resources may seem self-evident taks of every librarian. Information, however,  is not knowledge but is the container, constructed from words and sights, for storing knowledge. It is used for transporting knowledge. Knowledge management, then, based on this particular definition for knowledge, is the art of creating, storing, and transmitting the information that contains knowledge, but not the knowledge itself. Books, journals, electronic means, etc., are the superstructure we deal for storing information in a systematic manner, much like container ships that transport containers.

Knowledge is always embodied in a person; carried by a person; created, augmented, or improved by a person; applied by a person; taught and passed on by a person; used or misused by a person. The shift to the knowledge society therefore puts the person in the center.

[Drucker, P.F. (2001) The Essential Drucker, pg. 287.]
Welcome to the Library - Welcome to an Informed Society.

This years motto will be met with in all  of the  numerous educational programs even though they cover a wide variety of hot topics, in all of the manny committee meetings and events as well as in the auditorium speakers series. Your registration will also include entrance to the exhibits as well as a number of guided tours through Heidelberg and Mannheim libraries, the latter partly housed in the recently renovated Mannheim Palatial Palace, one of the largest Baroque palaces in Europe. Furthermore, the charming region boasts fine wines and other palatable joys that will make Mannheim well worth a visit.

The venue is Mannheim's Congress Centre (Rosengarten) right in the centre of town where programs and meetings will take place and where the exhibits are held.

We'll see you in Mannheim, June 3-6, 2008.

Für den BIB                                    Für den VDB                               Für das Organisationsteam
Susanne Riedel                               Dr. Ulrich Hohoff                          Per Knudsen