GEELONG REGIONAL LIBRARY CORPORATION Next Library

GEELONG REGIONAL LIBRARY CORPORATION
Next Library Conference and Library Study Tour Report
Itinerary
Thursday 13 June – Copenhagen Libraries Tour
Black Diamond Royal Library
Design Museum and Library
Friday 14 June - Tour of Copenhagen libraries
BIBLIOTEKET Rentemestervej 76
Main Copenhagen Library
Valby Kulturhus Fablab
Arrive Aarhus 9 pm
Saturday 15 June
Tour of Hjorring and Aalborg Libraries
Evening invitation at architects, Schmidt Hammer Lassen
Sunday 16 June
Library Building Masterclass 12 noon to 4pm
7pm to 10 pm Conference commencement get together
Monday 17 June
9am – 5pm Conference
7pm to 1 am Networking Dinner Party
Tuesday 18 June
Conference
Wednesday 19 June
6:20am Depart from Aarhus - Arrive Copenhagen. Train to Malmo
Tour Malmo Library, Malmö Stadsbibliotek
Tour Garaget (branch Library with a lot of civic activity)
7:20pm Depart Malmo
8:25pm Arrive Stockholm
Thursday 20 June - Stockholm
Stockholm Central Library
Kulturhuset
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Tiotretton (library for the 10 to 13 youngsters)
Rum for barn ( library for children 0 - 10)
Sture Bibliotek (Subway station library)
Friday 21 June
Midsummer Public Holiday
Visit cultural sites in Stockholm
Depart Stockholm – Arrive Amsterdam 8pm
Saturday 22 June
Amsterdam Public Library (OBA)
Almere Public Library – De Nieuwe Bibliotheek
Monday 24 June
Book Mountain, Spikjenisse
Delft University of Technology
Dok Library, Delft
Tuesday 25 June
11:15am Depart Amsterdam
Wednesday 26 June
7:15pm arrive Melbourne
Next Library Conference and Library Study Tour 13-25 June 2013
Background and purpose:
Supported by the Danish Library Association, European Bureau of Library, Information and
Documentation Associations, the Danish Agency for Culture and the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation the Next Library Conference is recognised for innovation, cutting edge themes
and topics, participatory approach and future libraries focus. As part of her involvement with
the International Network of Emerging Library Innovators (INELI), Patti Manolis was
supported to attend this conference, present a paper about the Geelong Library and
Heritage Centre at a Library Building Masterclass and co-present an interractive workshop
on the topic “Re-imagining future library buildings” with her INELI collaborative Project
Partner.
The opportunity to participate in, and for the CEO to present at, a recognised leading
international library conference presented a unique opportunity to explore the future of public
libraries as well as learn from visiting a carefully selected group of best practice libraries.
The learnings from the conference and the visits will benefit future library service planning
and delivery across the region as well as provide ideas for the Geelong Library and Heritage
Centre Project and its services. Cr Andy Richards (Chair, GRLC Library Board) and Alison
Katona (Executive Manager, Library & Learning Services) accompanied the CEO to the
conference and on the study tour.
The Next Library Conference occurred from 16-19 June 2013, in Aarhus, Denmark. It is
described as a world class conference for open-minded library innovators and decision
makers. The overall purpose for Next Library 2013 was to “inspire public libraries regarding
re-imagination, civic engagement and collaborative innovation with the perspective of
supporting equal access to technology, learning and active citizenship for all.”
(http://www.nextlibrary.net/). 384 people from 38 different countries attended the
conference.
Prior to the commencement of the conference, a number of guided visits to libraries of
significance were arranged. These included:
Copenhagen
13 June - The “Black Diamond” National Library
14 June - Public libraries
 Main Library
 Biblioteket Rentemestervej,
 Fablab.
15 June - Hjoerring Library and Aalborg Library in the north of Denmark
A library study tour of Sweden and the Netherlands was undertaken immediately following
the conference. Visits included:
Sweden
 Malmo library
 The Garaget Community Library
 Stockholm’s Asplund Central Library and several branch libraries
 The Stockholm Kulturhuset, with its ground-breaking Tio Tretton youth area and amazing
children’s area and creative space
The Netherlands
 Amsterdam Library (OBA)
 Almere Library
 The “Book mountain” at Spijkenisse
 TU Delft Library
 DOK, Library Concept Centre, Delft
Overall observations and findings
 Attended the Next Library 2013 conference and visited 17 libraries in 11 days.
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Nordic Libraries are at the forefront of library building and service design.
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Public Library provision is a legislated requirement in most Nordic countries.
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Major cities are increasingly constructing new libraries to provide town centre, iconic
architecture, placemaker function and civic identity and space.
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Public Libraries come in all shapes and sizes. There is no one size fits all template.
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Physical space is increasing as physical collections are decreasing due to the desire and
need for purposed designed people spaces.
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The role of public libraries has changed significantly from passive collection based
institutions to active, vibrant facilities offering easy access to collections, space to
engage in meeting and learning with others, reader development, cultural programs,
content creation activity and experimentation and digital era services.
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Public Libraries are a vital part of the learning and cultural ecosystems.
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The driver for successful library design must always be the intended community and the
outcome and impact of the library for its people.
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While excellent architectural design is desirable and indeed essential it must never take
precedence over community needs and functionality.
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There is an emerging trend of developing whole libraries specifically targeted to
particular demographic groups or objectives.
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The best outcomes both functionally and architecturally occur when all stakeholders are
engaged throughout the detailed research, planning and building process.
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Comprehensive community engagement and consultation is essential to ensuring that
library facilities meet the needs of the catchment population.
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Hardcopy print and multimedia collections are and will continue to be a vital component
of new libraries into the short and medium term.
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Best practice libraries are very flexible in design responding to rapid changes in societal
trends and especially in the way technology is used including mobile technology.
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Though still an emerging trend libraries are increasingly providing content creation
spaces such as maker spaces, workshops and other flexible programming spaces.
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New and emerging technologies require flexible and adaptable spaces and lots of power
points allowing for easy repurposing of technology spaces.
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The most common themes of public library vision statements are community and cultural
development.
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Best practice library buildings include significant Environmentally Sustainable Design
features.
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Contemporary libraries are co-located with other synergistic facilities including
community hubs, learning centres, civic and cultural precincts, recreation and
commercial hubs.
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Public libraries are important and safe community facilities are one of the few, if not the
only, facilities that provide access across all age groups, backgrounds and personal
circumstances.
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Designated spaces and technology attract young people and is particularly important in
communities experiencing disadvantage. Where this is well developed, libraries are an
attractor of young people.
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In designing a facility it is important that the architects and other design team members
work closely with library staff to ensure optimum functionality is given as much priority as
the architectural form.
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Cafes are becoming an essential component of a modern library enhancing the visitor
experience and the duration of stay.
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Local history and Heritage Centres can be successfully integrated in libraries. There is
an increasing interest in all things Heritage including local history and family history.
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Public art is used as an interpretative feature or design element and is becoming an
important component of a library project.
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Successful Libraries actively market and promote their services and programs.
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The Royal Library – Copenhagen, Denmark
Architects:
Cost:
Opened:
Size of library:
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Schmidt Hammer Lassen, Denmark
465,000,000 DKK / $90.5m AUD
15 September, 1999
21,500m² over 7 floors
The Royal Library in Copenhagen, Denmark, is the national library of Denmark and the
university library of the University of Copenhagen. It is the largest library in the Nordic
countries
“The Black Diamond” is the name given to the modern extension of the Royal Library.
The facilities include a 600-seat auditorium, the Queen's Hall, used for concerts—mainly
chamber music and jazz—literary events, theatrical performances and conferences.
There are also exhibition spaces, a bookshop, a restaurant, a café and a roof terrace.
Two museums are based in the Black Diamond, the National Museum of Photography
and a small museum dedicated to cartoon art. (source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Diamond_(library)
The exhibition spaces were particularly innovative and impressive utilising a combination
of traditional and contemporary practice including technology.
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"BIBLIOTEKET Rentemestervej”
Architects:
COBE, Denmark
Cost:
Not available
Completed:
2011
Size of Library:
3,600m2
Catchment population:
all of Denmark and visitors
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BIBLIOTEKET Rentemestervej, an award winning neighbourhood branch library is
located in the north-western part of Copenhagen.
The building was extended and is a new architectural landmark - part old factory, part
new design, shaped like a pile of books and designed as an integrated house, containing
a library, concert hall, conference facilities and a local radio station.
In an area described as “a bit rough”, where 60 different nationalities live together.
At present, 30,000 people visit the library each month. Future plans include an outdoor
theatre and a second café.
Current staffing is 23 EFT.
There is a strong focus on youth. The community were promised the new library if they
allowed a self-managing youth space to be moved to co-locate next door.
Includes a graphic workshop space which is available for the public and is also used to
create their own publicity materials.
Also includes a staffed space designed to help bridge the gap between council and
community – KVIK Citizen Service
There are great synergies between program activities and services. A large space
upstairs provides access to all sorts of equipment and furniture, including sewing
machines and regular workshops. Nominal fees apply.
Hold concerts, literature readings, children’s theatre and many other cultural events.
The large hall is fitted with professional sound equipment.
On the top floor a local radio station, Bispebjerg Lokal TV & Radio, produces and
broadcasts daily programmes.
Copenhagen Main Library
Opened:
Repurposed as a library in 1993. Was a furniture store prior.
Cost:
Not available
Area:
10,000 m2
Collection size:
600,000
Catchment population: 560,000 (serviced by this main library and 19 branches.
City of Copenhagen has 20 public libraries, the main one and 19 branch libraries
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Main library receives 3,000 visitors a day and is bursting at the seams
Have had an automatic returns sorting machine for 10 years. 90 – 95% of loans and
returns are done by patrons.
Role of libraries becoming connections not collections. Moving from transactions to
transformation experiences
Supports 30 book clubs
120 staff (but lost 8 recently due to budget cuts)
Separate lab offering IT help is staffed all day
Space currently used to house CDs will soon be able to be used for another purpose due
to a decline in usage.
Building in serious need of repair, renovation, extension
Heavily used by community
Space available where musical instruments can be played silently
Copenhagen FabLab at Valby Kulturhus
A YouTube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCLfKi3Dcoc clearly explains the
concept of a FabLab.
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It is a new reality for sharing and use tools of digital fabrication, open and free to every
citizen’s need to create and develop a project.
FabLabs are designed to increase innovation.
The concept started in Massachusetts.
Everyone has to share ideas; there can be no commercial secrecy.
They encourage people to help each other and believe in the potential of the community.
The aim is to increase enrichment of people through technology and creativity, like a
library does; to democratise access to technology, like libraries do to knowledge.
Like PCs in libraries, now there are all these devices available for people to use.
To be classed as a FabLab you have to have a certain number and types of equipment,
eg laser cut machine, 3D printer, routers, cutters, sewing machines, etc.
The Valby FabLab also has ceramic and graphic labs.
Will soon be open 24 hrs.
Connections are encouraged between public libraries and the FabLab.
FabLabs are a great example of collaborative innovation where sharing is caring.
Sharing competences and knowledge creates a better product.
It is not allowed to manufacture in FabLabs, it is only possible to make prototypes.
FabSchool is a program designed to get Maker culture and technology into the
curriculum. Working in co-operation with a local school, they try to mix traditional
subjects with the FabLab.
Hjoerring Public Library, northern Denmark
Architects:
Interior designers:
Opened:
Area:
Cost:
Catchment Population:
Schmidt, Hammer, Lassen designed the Metropol Shopping
Centre, inside which the library is situated. Library has 30 year
lease. Shopping centre has 40 shops.
Rosan Bosch and Rune Fjord Jensen. “With a new interior
design of Hjøerring Central Library, Rosan Bosch has created
an innovative vision of the library of the future with an
emphasis on human interactions, experiences and user
involvement”
(http://www.rosanbosch.com/en/project/hj%C3%B8rringcentral-library#)
2008
5,090m2
1,750,000 Euros / $2.5m AUD
65,767 (25,000 in Hjoerring City)
View their promotional video clip at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVvwW31_TI0
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The library is connected through the long red “thread” that runs throughout the whole
space. Sometimes the “thread” is a shelf other times just at decoration. The whole idea
of the library is to encourage playfulness, surprises and most of all a place to be. The
furniture signals where to be quiet and where you can be loud.
The children’s area is designed for the whole body. The fact that it is OK to play in the
library is shown by the presence of a very popular playground slide. Unusual seating is
supplied via the orange and blue "reading tubes".
One of the amazing things about this library is that borrowers not only return their items
for themselves through the library system, but they also put the book back onto the most
relevant of about a dozen labelled trolleys nearby, thus doing the sorting work as well.
The library rents space in the shopping centre and has a 30 year lease. Costs for internal
building and fitout only.
Aalborg Library, northern Denmark
Architects:
Hans Dall and Torben Lindharsten, with shelving designed by
Arne Jacobsen
Opened:
September 1980
Area:
Building, 13,000 m2
Cost:
Not available
Catchment population:
201,142 (2012)
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Aalborg is a university city
Main library space conceived as a square surrounded by “shops” with various profiles
Besides the library, the building also houses the city council hall, conference rooms and
a café
The children’s area is very spacious and includes pinball machines, tabletop football and
an underground cavern of children’s books with graffiti-decorated winding staircase.
In-house displays are common and well presented. The current theme was “travel” and
it was represented in many different and imaginative ways in all sections of the library.
The library is not staffed from 8 – 10 am, but is open to the public.This “open library”
concept is becoming common and started when the financial crisis reduced budgets.
Access is via library card/social security card using a swipe system.
81 municipalities have taken up the “open library” model, all with positive reports.
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Next Library Conference – Buildings master class, Sunday 16 June 2013
An invitation-only session where presentations and discussion occurred about three major
library building projects – Oslo, Aarhus and Geelong Library & Heritage Centre
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Oslo’s new library will be 5 floors and a basement
Expecting a threefold increase in visitors
Serendipity identified as key factor in visiting the library – possible and desirable to
stumble upon something new at each visit
New library experience described as being “an edited meeting between user and
content”
Innovative thinking behind the layout of collection and facilities on each floor. Not
traditional.
Aarhus getting a whole new waterfront development, completion date late 2014
28,000 m2, three storey library and citizens’ services facility
Community competition resulted in the new name of Dokk1 for the whole area.
Basement parking for 1,000 cars (robot operated)
500 bicycle parking spaces
Major challenges seen as being how far do they go with rethinking the library without
going too far?; what is too far?; will it alienate traditional library users or can they bring
them along too?
Message is not to build libraries rooted in last century
The City has endorsed 7 core values for the project:
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The citizen as key factor
Lifelong learning and unity
Diversity, co-operation and network
Culture and experience
Bridging citizen, technology and knowledge
Flexible and professional organisation
A sustainable icon for Aarhus
The CEO presented information about the new Geelong Library and Heritage Centre. The
Powerpoint including notes is attached at end of report.
Next Library Conference 2013
“Re-imagination – Civic Engagement – Collaborative Innovation”
Keynote Speakers:
The first Keynote Speaker was - Gerfried Stocker, Artistic Director of ARS Electronica Interactive Art & Technology for Society of the Future. (http://www.aec.at/about/en/)
Highlights from Gerfried’s fascinating presentation were:
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“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance!”
Apparently Ralph Waldo Emerson said “Whenever I see a railroad, I look for a
republic”. Gerfried says “Whenever I see a library, I look for a democracy”
He spoke about the 1895 project by Belgian lawyers Paul Otlet and Henri La
Fontaine, which became the Universal Decimal Classification Scheme (UDC). Some
even consider it the forerunner of the internet, or at least Wikipedia.
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mundaneum
Robots are becoming more and more like humans
Libraries will always need physical space, no matter what is within them
The second Keynote Speaker was Mark Jones from IDEO, a global design consultancy.
Mark spoke about “Using design thinking to drive innovation in libraries”.
Key points included:
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experience, judgement and intuition = innovation.
Observe people using “stuff”, don’t just ask them what they want if you are trying to
find out how to design or what to offer.
Ask why? Why do people like things / do stuff? Notice anything odd. Look for
emotional behaviours.
Ideas generation works best when ideas build off each other. Brainstorm. Build on
the ideas of others.
Prototype your ideas in order to expose the flaws early.
OpenIdeo is an open innovation platform. The global community is invited to
contribute ideas to solve big challenges for social good.
The third Keynote Speaker was Pat Losinski, CEO of Columbus Metropolitan Library, Ohio.
Pat spoke about “Re-imagining the roles of public libraries”
Key points included:
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Public libraries now being described as “community” rather than “books”
Traditional measures of success are all about outputs. Community based outcomes
should be the measures nowadays.
The digital divide is becoming the content divide.
Bill Gates said we overestimate the change in technology in the short term but
underestimate it into the future.
Libraries are becoming “timely” not “timeless”
How much can the definition of a library be altered and still be able to be called a
library?
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Libraries should avoid rushing to consider what they should be doing without enough
thinking about WHY.
There were three sets of parallel Interactive Sessions
Observations from these follow:
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www.legende-familier.dk "Families at play in the library" – about creativity and
imagination in the library.
Adding more to an existing thing is not innovation.
www.ekurser.nu is a Danish website containing everything about etraining.
Denmark will have total egovernance by 2015.
Danish council meetings are filmed.
Aarhus library hosted local politicians in the lead up to the last election. Citizens had
a maximum of 5 minutes time with each one. The politicians sat at tables in the
library all day.
Chattanooga, Tennessee has the fastest internet in the US. They call themselves
“GIG City”
Chattanooga library staff using wireless devices on the service floor. No longer
anchored to a desk with PC
They have a Prototyping lab on the newly available 4th floor. It is a Beta space for
trying new things which may then move into the rest of the organisation. Also serves
as a maker space for the public and a small business incubator space
If your organisation structure is too rigid it will be harder to effect change and get it
accepted.
=== End of Conference ===
GARAGET – Malmo, Sweden
Architects:
Local Community
Opened:
2009
Area:
1,500m2
Cost:
Not available
Catchment population:
all of Malmo and also serviced by Malmo Library and
branches.
http://slq.nu/?article=sweden-garaget-all-this-and-books-too)
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Garaget is a 100-year old garage at the intersection of three city districts in Malmo.
Malmo has a population of 300,000 and a very diverse community.
When the building became available, a library was always going to be the central
occupancy, but what else did the community want in the space?
Focus groups consisting of Garaget’s future patrons were invited to the empty factory to
take part in a dialogue. 7 workshops were held and in total, 250 attended. Citizens
voted for their favourite amongst all suggestions.
The community decided they wanted an “extra living room”.
Garaget includes a library, a café, comfortable retro furniture, meeting spaces and a
stage area which is also available after hours for events that have to be free and not for
restricted audiences. The library don’t arrange anything, it is all done by the community.
Activities include poetry, circus workshops, clothes swap, etc. The library staff make
sure there is a variety of offerings. There is music playing all day and they try to take
away any barriers to community usage.
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Creative workshops are held after school and people can borrow sewing machines and
tools. About 40 people regularly attend a “language café”, there is a separate room with
computers for children to use, and you can even borrow clothes.
Malmo Public Library – Malmo, Sweden
Architects:
Original building 1901: John Smedberg
Extension and rebuilding: Henning Larsen Tegnestue A/S
Completed:
The two new parts were opened in the spring of 1997,
the old “Castle” was refurbished and reopened in the autumn of 1999.
Area:
15,300m²
Cost:
22M Euros / $32m AUD
Catchment Population: 300,000
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50% of population are under 35 years old.
Pronounced multicultural and multilingual population.
950,000 visits per year. One third of visitors borrow something, two-thirds use the library
in other ways.
15,000 "super users" borrow 50% of total loans. The building is an amalgam of old and
new structures.
The two building sections are known as “The Castle” and “The Calendar of Light”
The philosophy is that the area between the shelves is just as important as the shelves
themselves.
Focus is on the creation of a welcoming environment that is flexible and can be used in
many different ways,
Developed the experience-based part of the library’s activities,
Aim to increase user participation and to create conditions for closely following the digital
development.
Future developments include a new restaurant, and aspirations to use the outside area
more effectively.
The Calendar of Light space can seat 400 but will stretch to 600 if necessary. All
shelving and furniture able to be moved
Balagan is a separate space for 8-13 year olds. The design was created by architectural
students who consulted with local teens. The library then bought the design and realised
it.
Conclusions after the past three years:
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The traditional collection-oriented library is no longer enough to attract the attention of
people
It is important to admit that the library is much more than books and loans if the library is
to continue to touch on people’s lives.
The library should introduce something new – not acquire more of the already known.
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Stockholm Public Library – Stockholm, Sweden
Architect:
Gunar Asplund
Area:
5,000m2
Date opened:
1928
Catchment population:
2,000,000 and visitors
http://www.archdaily.com/92320/ad-classics-stockholm-public-library-gunnar-asplund/
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Gunar Asplund the architect also designed aall the furnishings for their specific positions
and purposes as well as the surrounding gardens.
The city paid half of the cost of the original building, with a local rich family paying the
other half.
The collection is 600,000 items but the building was built to hold 200,000.
There is a definite need for expansion of some kind.
In 2006 the city held an international competition for the design of a new library, which
was won by a little known German architect, Heike Hanada.
Unfortunately the extension was put on hold in late 2009
The amount of time staff spent at desks was measured and determined to be 11%.
They have now instigated a system of hot-desking, where staff keep all their papers in a
secure trolley, cleverly stored underneath a workbench. If in need of a desk to work at,
staff take their trolley, find an empty desk and then work from there with all their files and
papers at their side in the trolley.
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Kulturhuset – Stockholm, Sweden
Architect:
Peter Celsing, Swedish modernist
Area:
Opened:
1974
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Regarded as a controversial symbol for Stockholm and the growth of modernism in
Sweden.
A total “house of culture” which happens to include library spaces.
Been described as one of the main inspirations for the Centre Georges Pompidou in
Paris.
The two main attractions for this study tour were to visit and experience the spaces known
as Tio Tretton and Rum for Barn.
TIO TRETTON (en.kulturhuset.stockholm.se/Tio Tretton) means TenThirteen – the age
group it is designed for, and it was opened in February 2011.
 The website describes it as “a library for all five senses.
 You are only allowed in the space if you are aged between 10 and 13. Morning activities
are reserved for schools, afternoons are open for all kids aged 10 – 13.
 Tio Tretton has 5 staff, with 2 on duty at any time. The staff are not librarians. They have
position titles like " body and soul". The “music and film” staff member is a journalist.
 Staff in this area must have previous experience with the age group, but not necessarily
with books or libraries.
 Tio Tretton is open every day of the year. Last Christmas maximum attendance was 90 100 kids.
 Homework help is available once a week, and the whole place is based on trust.
 The mantra is “don’t think of what might go wrong and make rules just in case it does”.
 The Tio Tretton concept is the first of its kind in Sweden.
RUM FOR BARN (room for kids) is on the fourth floor of the Kulturhuset.
 Said to be Kulturhuset’s most visited attraction, with around 250,000 visitors a year.
 Prams and strollers are parked outside, along with shoes.
 The Yellow Room is for toddlers 0-3 years old and has books, play areas and toys.
 The Brown Room (with wood finishes) is for 4-7 year olds and has picture books and
some educational ones.
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The White Room is for 8-12 year olds and contains fiction, comics and educational
material. There are fabulous nooks and crannies for exploring, playing or just quietly
reading.
The accompanying Art Studio offers painting, sculpting and other creative activities (for a
small cost), all with the help of an artist staff member.
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Sture ‘Subway Library’ – Stockholm, Sweden
Opened:
2009
Cost:
6,344,000 SEK / $1.1m AUD
Area
188m2
Catchment population: Metro users
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“If you get to the point where you have to show your ticket, you have gone too far…. turn
round and you will see the library”.
The word “Bibliotek” is reflected onto the concrete of the subway floor - a very effective
signage method.
The library was designed for all the people using the metro station. The surrounding
community is much of a business and shopping area with a lot of people passing by
every day. The metro station in which the library is located is one of the central ones,
and therefore used by far more people than the ones living in the area. For example
there are a lot of students passing by as the University of Stockholm and the Royal
Institute of Technology is on the same metro line.
Stockholm has 4 subway libraries.
This one has been open 4 years and is a clever amalgam of bookshop and library.
4,000 stock allocated, but 2,000 are always out
Stock has to be easy to read and has to move.
All the furniture is moveable.
Even with the small space, programs are still offered, including book chats and even a
children’s storytime in the far end nook.
It is open 7 days a week.
There is studying, sitting and reading space and the glass windows are used for display.
“Inspiration bags” hang off hooks, offering ‘quick-pick’ type books. They each had catchy
topic names – “Pizza” means short, simple, page turners. “Small bites” are short stories.
There are 6 staff but only 2 on duty at a time.
All staff work at least 3 sites of the library service.
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Amsterdam Public Library – Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam (OBA),
The Netherlands
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Jo Coenen
07 July 2007 (070707, and the birthday of the Library Director)
28,000 m2 over seven floors
80M Euros / $116m AUD
820,654 (May 2012) and visitors
Designed as an urban meeting space
2.5 million visitors annually
The largest of all public libraries in the Netherlands, and (they claim) Europe.
Open from 10am – 10 pm every day of the week.
Awarded “Most sustainable public building in Amsterdam” in 2008.
Special lower ground children’s library is a wonderful, generous and inspiring space.
Large exhibition spaces throughout
Many different and varied zones for different purposes.
Over 250 public access PCs mostly grouped around the central escalators
Top floor is an extensive fresh food café with indoor and outdoor seating
The library houses an internationally renowned gay and lesbian area and collection
Local radio station broadcast from the library on a regular basis.
Café on top level
“The wailing wall of lost socks”! (art installation)
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Almere Public Library – Almere, The Netherlands. De nieuwe bibliotheek (the new
library)
(www.design.nl/item/new_library_in_almere)
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Meyer & Van Schooten (MVSA)
Concrete (www.concretamsterdam.nl)
March 2010
10,000,000 Euros / $15m AUD
11,000 m2
196,000
This innovative library has contributed much discussion and argument to the modern
debate of “library versus bookstore?”
Ten years ago in a time of dwindling usage, library staff decided to look at how retail
stores appeal to their customers and used this as inspiration for how to organise their
forthcoming new library into zones, how to display books to make them more browser
friendly and how to create displays targeted to their frequent visitors.
On a sloped site with a 19 foot difference in height from one end to the other of the
building. But you don’t realise you are experiencing a change in level as you wander
through winding contour lines and bookshelves, from one zone to the other via a series
of stepped terraces.
There is a single, gently sloping pathway for wheelchairs and prams if required, which
runs alongside the windows.
Zones all have identification specific to the materials you find within them. “High
Tension” (with graphics of electricity pylons) is a zone which caters to those looking for
fast sources of information . . . or rugged mysteries.
It is also possible to live in the library complex, as there are apartments available for rent
across the enclosed open space in the centre.
Some Almere and De nieuwe bibliotheek facts:
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Most of Almere is built on reclaimed land.
The road is 6.5m below sea level
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130 different countries are represented in Almere.
Almere have three libraries, and are planning a fourth one for a new area being
constructed
The nieuwe bibliotheek serves as the central library
There are (only) 200,000 items in all three libraries.
A youth space on the top floor includes a gaming circle, where inside the circle, people
sit at desks/PCs while the outside perimeter of the circle is used for Wii gaming.
Large numbers of desks and cubicles for study or group work.
18,000 people visited in the first two days of opening.
Local media students produced a video about the opening of the library
Some cuts have occurred to opening hours as result of The (financial)Crisis.
When Sunday opening was cut, local shops tried to convince them not to, because of the
flow-on effect upon their own businesses if the library was not attracting people to the
area.
There is a separate website for kids
There are 8 information points scattered over the building, but not all are staffed all the
time.
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Spijkenisse “Book Mountain” Library - Spijkenisse, The Netherlands
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MVRDV, Rotterdam
2012
3,500m2
30m Euros / $43.5m AUD
75,000
Planning for the library took 12 years
Features a 480 metre route, lined with bookshelves, that wraps around a stacked,
pyramidal form as it is showcased through the library’s glass structure.
Designed as an advertisement for reading, its visible presence and invitation holding
great significance for a community with 10 percent illiteracy.
Part of a larger plan to strengthen and intensify the town centre.
Besides the library the building houses the environmental education centre, a chess
club, auditorium, meeting rooms, commercial offices and retail.
Planning for the library took about 12 years
The tender had to be open to all Europe. Three designs were submitted.
The City said the library had to be able to be reused for a different purpose, if necessary
in the future.
The main focus of the library has changed from lending books to being community
usage.
Areas within the library are available for people to rent.
Local small business people rent desk space in order to be amongst people as well as to
be available for potential customers.
The impact of the economic crisis is very evident
It is not uncommon for Dutch cities to go bankrupt.
The bookshelves are recycled plastic, expensive and not able to be changed
All inside spaces, the theatrette and meeting rooms are black interior.
There are small, thin old fashioned bricks on the walls and floors
A lot of the “wall decoration” is actually deselected library books.
People have weddings in the upstairs space / terrace.
All glass is double glazed. The building uses glasshouse technology. Screens filter the
amount of heat coming through the windows. The Crystal Palace principle is used for
exhausting hot air, by opening appropriate windows at different levels to suck hot air out.
The building is pressure ventilated during the night in summer.
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Delft University of Technology Library - Delft, The Netherlands
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Mecanoo architecten
1998
15,000 m2
$30million
Envisioned to be more like a train station or airport than a traditional library
An amazing building of glass and grass, semi submerged underground at one end,
with huge glass windows at the other.
A large conical centre provides hundreds of study spaces on four decreasingly sized
floors up to the point of the cone.
A huge bookwall has an electric blue wall as a feature.
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DOK Library Concept Centre – Delft, The Netherlands
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Dok Architecten
21 May 2007
8M Euros / $11.7m AUD
5,000m2
100,000
DOK’s mission is to become and remain the most advanced library in the world.
Using creativity, technical innovation, and advancing scientific understanding, DOK
endeavours to be an indispensable source of inspiration for its members, visitors, and
partners in the city of Delft, in the Netherlands, and in the world.
In this way, DOK hopes to safeguard access to the independent, objective, free flow of
information that is essential for democracy now and in the future.
Using screens in the library, it is possible to present an exhibition of whatever people
think is important and of value to the community.
With support from a national grant, DOK was able to buy equipment for a mobile studio,
which includes: cameras, sound systems, editing programs to make documentaries and
do videocasts for the library website.
DOK employees take the studio to high schools, allowing students to film their stories, or
produce videos for campaigns, for instance, against teenage alcohol abuse.
This places DOK in the middle of society and gives a boost to the image the teens have
of the library.
(http://libraryarchitecture.wikispaces.com/DOK+Library,+Delft,+Netherlands+(repurpose,+expansi
on)
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One of the very earliest of the ground-breaking, “new media” libraries when it opened in
May 2007.
The building is part of a renovated and expanded existing building previously a blast
furnace factory, which now includes offices, apartments, retail shops and bicycle parking.
The DOK library provides opportunities for combining technology and community.
The DOK collection includes music and film, literature and art – it is possible to borrow
pieces of art to hang on your own walls.
The interior design is full of colour which is used to denote different zones of usage.
Furniture is modern, colourful and funky.
The building itself is full of light and environmentally sustainable features.
A lot of experimental media is trialled within the library
There is a piano, and will soon be a guitar, a violin and a cello available for people try
before they buy.
Local music teachers offer introductory lessons.
A huge screen on one of the walls is actually 32 separate screens.
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