UNCONVENTIONAL PUBLIC LIBRARIES
UNCONVENTIONAL PUBLIC LIBRARIES
FROM TELEPHONE-BOOTH PUBLIC LIBRARIES TO VENDING-MACHINE LIBRARIES, AND FLOATING BOOKS TO A CAMEL LIBRARY, THE WORLD IS FULL OF CREATIVE IDEAS TO CAPTIVATE READERS. HERE’S OUR LIST OF ULTIMATE PUBLIC LIBRARIES ACROSS THE GLOBE.
I recall the days of hanging out with my sister in the public library. My mom diligently took us to the community library as kids to stock up on our favourite books. It was an outing we loved and enjoyed. As we stepped into the library, a silent world unfolded with seemingly endless magazines and page-turners that lured us into a magical world.
As I had already expressed my wish to become a journalist, my father stressed that there was no way I could write if I did not read. Reading was so enshrined in my psyche, that I even volunteered to be a library prefect at school.Yet, in as much as I was intrigued by the sight of bookshelves, the reality is that the “typical library” setup can be a bit of a boring place – to many people, at least.
In a bid to destigmatise such spaces, weird and wonderful public libraries are springing up across the world to attract both young and old to fall in love with reading like never before – not to mention making books accessible to those who may not have had easy access to them. Here are the public libraries that are getting it right.
GERMANY: THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY FREIBURG
While travelling in Germany, I found myself in need of a quiet work environment to catch up on work.While this glass library building – surrounded by thousands of student bicycles – is spectacular to behold, stepping inside opened my perspective to knowledge like never before.The University Library Freiburg (Universitätsbibliothek Freiburg) is the academic and research library of the University of Freiburg. But not only does it cater for staff and students; it is also open to members of the public.
It houses many workspaces for both groups and individuals. Besides the typical silent spaces, there are also places for interaction, and you can even buy delicious, healthy snacks to sit and eat in the library.
With an inventory of over three million volumes, the University Library Freiburg is one of the largest libraries in the state of Baden-Württemberg. If ever you find yourself in the area, as unconventional as it may sound, you’ve got to add it to your bucket list of must-see places in Europe.
For more information, visit www.ub.uni-freiburg.de.
EUROPE: TELEPHONE BOOTH PUBLIC LIBRARIES
Telephone-booth public libraries are gaining traction in towns across Europe and the UK.They are completely unmanned, there aren’t any security guards guarding the books, and absolutely anyone can borrow a book – although the trend is to take a book and leave another behind in its place. It is refreshing to see
how information is freely passed from person to person this way.
The books in these makeshift libraries are not categorized according to genre, and range from war books and romance, to gardening, cartoons, and pretty much anything and everything that can be slotted into a telephone booth.The result is that you may end up reading something you may otherwise not have read, had you not been lured by these delightful library booths.
TAIWAN & CHINA: VENDING MACHINE LIBRARIES
Have you ever had the urge to delve into a good book late at night? Not the digital version, but a real page-turner that you can hold in your hands and smell. If you’re a night owl or someone who wants to borrow books without stepping into the library, then mechanical libraries could be just for you. Best of all, these library vending machines are available 24/7.
If you’re not a fan of the library scene with librarians monitoring your every move and shushing at you, then these vending machines may give you access to the books you want without the schlep. Best of all, they serve as ingenious ways to advertise books and get people reading.The machines are self-service and allow members of the public to both borrow and return books.
NORWAY: EPOS FLOATING LIBRARY SHIP
People who live in remote villages, tiny places and the outskirts of civilisation are often deprived of the facilities and infrastructures afforded to city dwellers. This includes access to libraries and books. It is against this backdrop that Epos, Norway’s floating boat library, goes all out to lend books to their more isolated communities.
Through aid from the national library authorities, this floating library has visited islands and islets in predominantly remote places along the fjords since 1959. It is said to visit about 150 remote communities during its touring season. As an added touch, in addition to the well-received books, the boat tours also captivate young readers with entertainment.
For more info, visit www.bokbaten.no/information-in-english/.