Some institutions rise and fall over time, but there is one that endures: the public library. In fact, in response to an increasing demand for information, knowledge and community gathering places, cities are reinventing their central library to be in the forefront of a modern day information renaissance.
Around the world, public libraries are taking immeasurable pride in constructing architectural masterpieces to serve as vibrant and dynamic symbols of the new information age. State-of-the-art facilities are being developed to add to the image and vitality of a city and are resulting in significant community and economic benefits. These new libraries are not just designed to contain collections, but are statements of the innovation and ingenuity of flourishing cities in the 21st century.
As noted in Architecture magazine (April 2005) "Libraries are becoming the last bulwarks of a culture of acculturation: they are places where you learn, and in learning, become part of a larger world."
The development of new central libraries in cities as diverse as Alexandria (Egypt), Montreal and Sendai (Japan) demonstrates the important role libraries play in communities. At a time when technology might call into question the future of the book, these new landmarks reinforce the social and communal aspects of reading, and provide an engaging alternative to the isolation of cyberspace.
Jorge Luis Borges, Argentina's great poet and director of the country's Biblioteca Nacional, once wrote, "I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library." We are confident that Calgary's new central library will provide Calgarians and the many visitors to this city with an impressive architectural landmark and a vibrant place of imagination and enchantment, in short a paradise.
One of the marvels of the 21st century is that the world's greatest library and history's most celebrated centre of learning has been rebuilt after being destroyed more than 1600 years ago. The architects of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina described the project as recapturing a myth and giving it physical form. Perched dramatically on the Mediterranean shore with a grand circular design intended to evoke the rising and setting of the sun, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina includes a planetarium, two museums, two permanent exhibitions, a conference center, a performing arts center, and seven research centers. This magnificent building pays homage to the past, while providing a centre for community dialogue and understanding, and the timeless pursuit of knowledge.
Library main page: http://www.bibalex.org
Heralded as one of Canada's exceptional cultural salons, the Grande Bibliothèque brings together two remarkable collections in a user-friendly public library and a resource-rich national library. The inspiration for the warm birch wood interior comes from Quebec writer Anne Hebert's famous novel, Les Chambres de Bois (The Silent Rooms). The level of detail in both the architecture and the furniture contributes to an inviting and much loved community gathering place, with over 8,000 visitors per day. As a civic anchor in downtown Montreal, the Grande Bibliothèque preserves the past while simultaneously providing knowledge for the future.
Library main page: http://www.banq.qc.ca
Seattle's new downtown library is so striking and unpredictable in its design that it has set a new architectural standard for libraries. By discarding all preconceptions of the public library, a revolutionary civic structure has been created. The Seattle community has embraced this distinctive structure because above all the library is designed to be an inviting, exciting and intuitive community place. Vibrant colours and a dazzling combination of glass and steel challenge any outdated notions of the library as a boring or dull place, and celebrate the library's role as a place of imagination.
Library main page: http://www.spl.org
Salt Lake City's new central library has established itself as the community's town square. Library staff speak of the city block, now called Library Square, as the place where "citizens practice democracy". Renowned architect, Moshe Safdie, said his goal was to create a "sense of openness, a building that feels accessible". The library, designed to reflect the idea of an open mind with its 360 degree views of the city and the ability to look outward from every direction, is linked to City Hall with a public plaza that encourages and supports civic engagement. Natural light is introduced into all of the spaces where people sit and work, adding to the appeal and comfort of this dynamic community gathering place.
Library main page: http://www.slcpl.lib.ut.us
This "21st century cultural center" brings together a library, a gallery, and an image media centre. With its innovative structural system, Mediatheque raises the bar for civic architecture: it is monumental yet inviting, technologically sophisticated, yet warm and engaging. The design reflects the guiding principle that the facility be free of barriers. The building's transparent skin showcases interior animation, and glows like a modern hive of activity at night. Inside, floors seem to be floating in space connected only by 13 vertical tube steel lattice columns. One of Mediatheque's principles is to connect the able-bodied with the disabled, service users with service providers, and surmount the impediments of language and culture. The innovative design reflects this accessibility and encourages discovery and creativity.
Library main page: http://www.smt.city.sendai.jp/en/