News
A new database with the finest library buildings in Europe opens today at http://www.librarybuildings.info
The libraries are changing rapidly throughout Europe. Today people don?t visit the library only to borrow books. Many also go there to read newspapers and magazines, use the internet, work and do their homework, meet, look at exhibitions or attend a cultural event. In Denmark nearly every other visitor to the public libraries uses the library for something other than borrowing a book.
"The new library is a place of learning and a place of being, and this is reflected in library building design, both when new buildings are being constructed or when the existing design is being altered. A good example is Hjørring Public Library, which was inaugurated this year. Here there is plenty of space for books - but also lots of room for experience and learning. And this tendency can be observed all over Europe. The changed role of the library has caused a markedly increased demand for new library concepts and ideas. With this database we hope to be able to offer inspiration and create a platform for discussion on how to create inspiring and challenging library spaces," says Jens Thorhauge, director general at the Danish Agency for Libraries and Media and instigator of the database.
It is in fact NAPLE, the European network of library agencies - or equivalent national authorities - which has decided to establish the database with ?best practice? in library design. The idea is for each country to select the five most inspirational libraries and ask them to feed photos and information into the base.
The concept has now been developed by the library at the Royal School of Library and Information Science, and it has been agreed that the school will host the site. So far the base only covers a few libraries, but a large number of countries have announced their wish to contribute. The project has a Nordic steering committee and is supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers
Contact
Jens Thorhauge
Director General
Danish Agency for Libraries and Media
Phone: +45 33 73 33 67
Mobile: +41 42 67 97
jth@bibliotekogmedier.dk
Photos
NAPLE Forum Secretariat
Subdirección General de Coordinación Bibliotecaria, Ministerio de Cultura,
Plaza del Rey, 1, 28004, Madrid, Spain.
Phone: + (00) 34 91 701 72 65 - Fax: (00) 34 91 701 73