Gunnar Sahlin
Royal Library – National Library of Sweden
2005 - Governing Board, IFLA
2003- National Librarian, Kungl. biblioteket/National Library of Sweden. As of January 1, 2009, even head of the National Archive of Sound and Moving Images, now under the auspices of the library.
1996-2003 - University Librarian, Stockholm University
1994-1996 - Municipal Commissioner, Sollentuna
1989-1994 - Head, Circulation, Stockholm University Library; Head, Swedish Division, Uppsala University Library
1989 - Ph.D., Department of Literature, Stockholm University
Gunnar Sahlin is deeply engaged in the challenges of the digitization era and how they affect traditional library structures. He is often consulted as an expert advisor by educational and cultural institutions.
Presentation: Meeting boundless challenges with joint purpose – living up to the digital promise
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Abstract: By now, hardly anyone has been left unscathed by the complexity and multifariousness of the digital challenge. In Sweden, where materials are being digitized by a vast number of institutions, for a great number of purposes, using a wide variety of methods, it has been of the utmost importance not to lose sight of the joint purpose. This has involved creating structures which allow the various institutions to share their experiences and coordinate their efforts. Experience has shown that a precondition for success with large scale endeavors is consensus on questions regarding preservation issues, metadata and technical solutions. Consensus can be achieved only if the institutions cooperate closely with one another and show a readiness to change course for the sake of the joint purpose.