Marie Bjørnskov Engberg

‍“It takes more than just the door to be open before everyone can participate. “

Professional background

MarieBjørnskov Engberg holds a Master of Scient.Bibl. from the Danish Library School (2009) and holds a master's degree in Accessibility and Universal Design from Aalborg University (2021). In addition, she has followed diploma courses in reading guidance for adults with written language difficulties, as well as change and project management.

From 2009 to 2019 Marie has worked at several Danish public libraries, primarily as a team and project manager. She has also had an active role in international library work as a member of IFLA's Standing Committee, focusing on library offerings for people with disabilities, people in homelessness and prison users. During the same period, she was the project manager for the international award Public Library of the Year Award.

In a Danish context, she has been a member of the Swedish Cultural Agency's expert panel “Culture for All” and has served as a special advisor to the Danish Library Association — especially in relation to the Danish IFLA collaboration. Since 2013 she has also been a board member of the New Danish Literature Society, which publishes literature in large print and reading-processed versions for people with visual or reading difficulties.

Experience and practice

Marie has initiated and led a number of national library projects focusing on equal access to culture and information. During the Swedish Culture Agency, she was behind the projects “Make it easier” — about library service for adults with dyslexia — and “Det folkbibliotek”, which focused on library service for people with different functional abilities.

Both projects were nationwide and focused on skills development among library staff, with particular focus on service, physical layout and dissemination to audiences with different needs and prerequisites.

Knowledge in practice

Marie has many years of experience in putting knowledge into practice through presentations, teaching and project development. She has lectured and delivered presentations both nationally and internationally with a focus on accessibility, universal design and the World Goals.

She has also written scholarly articles, debate papers and reports that shed light on the work of inclusive culture and information practices.

Contact Marie about

Marie can be contacted regarding:

• Bevica Scholarship Programme
• Universal design of events and cultural offerings
• Accessibility in libraries and cultural institutions
• Inclusion in access to information and learning
• Implementation of universal design in practice and organization

Universal Design — Perspective and Contribution

Marie was introduced to universal design through her international work at IFLA, particularly in connection with the report IFLA Guidelines for Making Libraries Accessible for People with Disabilities in 2018.

Since then, she has worked purposefully with universal design in both project development, teaching and organizational development. In the work of the Bevica Foundation, she brings her knowledge into play especially in connection with the development and facilitation of learning courses, workshops and guidance of students and lecturers in the Bevica Scholarship Programme. She actively works to integrate the principles of universal design into the education and cultural sector.

Role in Bevica Foundation's Universal Design Hub

Marie has helped to establish the Bevica Foundation's Universal Design Hub when it was launched in 2020. She has had a key role in building the foundation's digital knowledge bank and communication platforms and has helped shape the foundation of the Bevica Scholarship Programme.

She brings her interdisciplinary knowledge and library professional experience into play in the development of learning materials and communication, and she works to create links between research, dissemination and practice.

Responsibilities in the Hub

Marie is the project manager for the Bevica Scholarship Programme, which under the heading “How do we create an inclusive society for all?” invites students and lecturers at Danish educational institutions to use universal design as a method to create new knowledge and concrete solutions in their respective fields of study.

She is also part of the Hub's communications team and is responsible for disseminating the Hub's activities and knowledge, including networking activities, research academic input, thematic work and the work with scholarship participants. She is active in editorial work and in the development of dissemination and learning formats that support HUB's goal of strengthening the dissemination and understanding of universal design in Denmark.

Office of Trust

• Board member of the New Danish Literature Society
• Member of Standing Committee Library Services to People with Special Needs International Association of Libraries and Library Associations (LSN/IFLA)

Read more from Marie

Universal design — introduction to a design principle that challenges the idea of being humanUniversal design — introduction to a design principle that challenges the idea of being human, Universal Design Hub — Bevica Foundation · Aug 1, 2021 Universal Design — Universal Design Hub

Culture is for everyone, but is everyone equal?

Danish Libraries, 04 2020 · Aug 1, 2020