Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate what democratic challenges the digitisation of thepublic libraries in Denmark has entailed. Using the concepts from a national library professional strategyfrom 2012, an analysis of 9 librarians’ experiences with digital dissemination in practice is conducted.

Design/methodology/approach – The paper is a part of a larger research project called “If digitisationis the answer, then what was the question?”. This sub study builds on the semi-structured interviews withlibrary staff members, case-descriptions of two central providers of digital public library materials, as well asliterature studies of missions, vision and strategies from different public library policy institutions. To framethe study, a literature review has been conducted.

Findings – The author detects the presence of several incompatible conditions in digital dissemination.These conditions are predominantly of an organisational nature, potentially containing major consequencesfor citizens’ free and equal access to information, knowledge and culture. Among other things, the Danishpublic libraries risk substantiating an already existing and problematic polarisation between technologicallycapable and incapacitated groups of people.

Originality/value – The digital transformation of society has only just begun. Therefore, it is important toexamine the consequences of the transition to digital media types for central cultural institution such as thepublic libraries. The present study is an early and minor contribution to the illumination of a processrequiring many more and large-scale studies.