Public libraries do not work on their own but (ideally) in cooperation with other educational and cultural institutions. In future it will become even more important for public libraries to set up strategic partnerships. Often it is not possible for a public library any more to fulfill its mission without partners.

Moreover, libraries are influenced by political structures. An understanding of political processes is therefore of paramount importance for successful library work. E-Government makes it possible for libraries to strengthen their role as information providers for their community.

In the near future the concept of the library as a place will undergo a radical change of meaning: physical and virtual spaces will exist side by side and complement each other in their functions.