In his book Palaces for the PeopleEric Klinenberg, sociologist, writes that the library is both one of the most essential pieces of social infrastructure we have and one of the most undervalued. Klinenberg claims that the library is founded on the principle that everyone should have free and unlimited access to their common cultural heritage. This contradicts the dominant consumer capital logic of today’s age.
Public libraries can be both a sanctuary from loneliness, violence, and cold weather and a place to learn and reflect. Below are the seven heads of important libraries in Europe, Americas, Asia, and the Americas. They discuss their projects and offer reasons to celebrate the eighth wonder of all: the true house of people.
Oodi Library, Helsinki, Finland
Seventy employees. Most-read authors: Satu Rämö, Miranda Cowley Heller and Meri Valkama. Equal Times Harri Annala, Librarian
“When we started planning the new central library, we didn’t approach it with any pre-conceived notions. We began with a blank canvas. We requested reports from consultants and travelled to other libraries to find out best practices. We also engaged with the public. Interesting was the lack of suggestions from the public about the collection. What they mostly talked about was the space itself, what you can do in it and what kind of atmosphere to create.”
The result was the ambitious and sprawling Oodi libray, spread across three floors: “The first floor has a restaurant, a cinema and a multi-purpose room. Its walls are used to project digital art on the public’s screens. The second story is dedicated learning. It has a workshop with 3D printing, vinyl cutters, or an embroidery machine, nine audio recording and editing studios, as well as a room with professional tools. [a welding station, a laser cutter and a UV printer, to name a few]. Finally, the third floor is an open space with bookshelves, living trees and a cloud-shaped ceiling”.
When asked about this unique approach to a library space, Annala has this to say: “At Oodi we work to make people active members of society by promoting programmes that emphasise democracy, freedom of expression and social concerns. We want the public active use of these spaces, to organize events and to share their knowledge. It’s what we do that is important, not how. Although many individuals and small groups have valuable things to offer, they may lack the funds or resources to spread awareness. That’s where we can help”.
India: Delhi Public Library
Seventeen employees. Munshi Premchand (S. Vivekananda), Paula Hawkins and S. Vivekananda were the most read authors. Director R. K. Sharma is also joining us.
Established in 1951 as a pilot project sponsored by UNESCO and the government of India, the Delhi Public Library (DPL) grew from a small library in old Delhi to one of the country’s premier library systems. “It consists of a central branch and multiple satellite branches, including the libraries in the resettlement colonies and the Braille library,” all of which provide free services to everyone regardless of gender, caste or religion.
“On a day-to-day basis, users are becoming dependent on online resources and access to information, which leads to a decrease in people reading physical media. There is a great need for information literacy and digital skills. Our staff is also under pressure from insufficient resources and employees. User expectations are too high and resources are insufficient.”
Despite these shortcomings, “the DPL acts as a community centre with book discussions, conferences, speech competitions and mobile library services for rural areas.”
Vancouver Public Library, Canada
Eighty-one employees. Robin Wall Kimmerer, Malcolm Gladwell and Malcolm Gladwell are the most popular authors.
We are currently speaking with Scott Fraser (director of communications).
“The Vancouver Public Library (VPL) plays an important role in supporting diversity and inclusion in our city. This includes literacy for seniors and children, as well as support for IBPOC. [Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour] LGBTIQ2+ [the ‘2’ stands for ‘two spirits,” a term used by Indigenous North Americans] communities and awareness of Indigenous Peoples’ history and cultures. With people housed in increasingly small spaces, the VPL is also a place to gather without the pressure of consumption.”
According to Fraser, Vancouver residents “hope that the library will alleviate the effects of social isolation, which were aggravated by the pandemic, and that it will be prepared to support the public in the event of a weather emergency. In addition, the VPL has removed barriers to library use by eliminating late fees, as these most affect people facing financial difficulties”.
In addition to this social support, Fraser highlights two services that the VPL provides: “Musical instrument loans, a collection of more than 100 instruments that users can take for free, and the Inspiration Lab, a space dedicated to digital creativity, collaboration and storytelling.”
Biblioteca Central de México, Mexico City
Two hundred and forty-three people. Most employees read books. Algebra and Arithmetic Aurelio Baldor One Hundred years of Solitude Gabriel Garcia Marquez Aura by Carlos Fuentes.
We speak with director José M. Leyva.
The Biblioteca Central has two sites, La Ciudadela and Buenavista, “both with different architectural characteristics, collections and services. Both are historical and both contemporary. It is the perfect balance. These spaces are among the most democratic in the city. They offer a place where workers, students, and housewives can all find endless knowledge. It is a ‘civilising’ institution in the deteriorating urban areas where they are located”.
“Our most basic project is also our most innovative: our reading programme, where we introduce children to their first books and support young people in awakening their curiosity to learn about the world. We also provide books on tape for those who can hear but cannot see, and public access to historical books that belonged to influential people in the cultural life of the country.”
After the closures caused by the pandemic, “many people realised that they could find information on the internet. As librarians, our role will be to help people critically evaluate the information they find online. The future will see a hybrid model in which technology and personal interaction can coexist. E-books will by no means displace paper books because paper books will still be accessible when the network fails.”
Los Angeles Public Library USA
One thousand, one hundred forty-three employees. The most popular authors are Stephen King, James Patterson and Danielle Steel. A fire destroyed over a million books in the Central Library of Downtown Los Angeles in 1986. Susan Orlean, journalist, details the tragedy. The Library Book: “You can still smell the smoke in some of the books.”
K. Malone, J. Interviews were conducted with Brown and K. Malone for this article.
“Orlean’s book renewed interest in our library and the tragic events that led to our rebuilding and expansion. We gained more visitors and patrons as a result. Our docents continue to receive requests for specialised tours highlighting the book and the fire.”
Beyond their history, “our libraries serve as spaces of engagement. Banned Books Week, an event celebrating the freedom to read, is one way we reinforce democratic values. We also have programs like the Source which aids homeless Angelenos, the New Americans which provides resources for immigrants, as well as ADA Services for persons with disabilities. These programmes help us to reach people and connect them with the resources they need.”
Ignasi Iglésias-Can Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
Nineteen workers. Most read authors: Irene Solà, Juan Gómez-Jurado, Dolores Redondo.
Gemma Domingo, director, is our guest.
The original location of the public library was in a different area. It survived the Spanish Civil War during its initial years. As librarian Francesca Farró wrote in her diary in February 1937: “The bombs don’t scare anyone, the reading rooms are still busy.” The library continued on even after Franco’s regime removed all of the books in Catalan. It moved to its current location in 2002. This was a former yarn factory, which provided half of the area’s work, and was converted to a library upon request from the neighborhood.
One of Can Fabra’s specialisations is the American Space, which focuses on North American culture. “In the 1960s, libraries were study rooms and storage spaces for books, but now we carry out 1,000 cultural activities a year. We provide support for vulnerable people and foster critical thinking. This makes us the second most valued municipal service after the fire brigade.”
“However, we have two challenges for the future: expanding the 3,700 square metres in order to integrate more workshops and getting more young people interested in the library”.
Biblioteca Piloto de Medellín, Colombia
Sixty-eight employees. Most read authors: Gabriel García Márquez, Mario Mendoza and Piedad Bonnett.
Carlos A. Montoya is our Deputy Director.
“Our aim is to give meaning to each of the collections and to facilitate the connection between knowledge, heritage and history for the new generations, something which often makes us a bridge between multiple eras. To this end, the Piloto works to be a living centre of information, thought and knowledge, to be custodians of the memory of Medellín, Antioquia and the whole of Colombia through the material we have collected over decades, which has now become our heritage; to be a laboratory for experimentation in literature, writing and speech, and to have a social and cultural impact beyond the walls of the library..
The Piloto library also provides a space for meeting and dialogue “which has made it into a safe and neutral space recognised by the community for armed actors. Our library participated in strengthening the Bibliotecas Populares y Comunitarias, which are located in areas marked by violence and lack of opportunities.”
Finally: “If we look to the future, this library constituted in Barrio Carlos E. Restrepo is committed to being a pioneer in the region in accordance with the strategic lines set out by UNESCO, which sponsored our project in 1952, as it had previously with the Delhi library.”
This article was translated from Spanish.