Rockin' it at Alexanderplatz: Central Library Berlin's Shot at a Central Location
Opportunity for Alexanderplatz Main Library under Director Alexanderplatz - Central Library Development Chance at Alexanderplatz - Director Alexanderplatz
Jonas Fansa, the new big cheese at the Central and Regional Library Berlin (ZLB), sees a move to Alexanderplatz as a chance worth seizing: "Any solution that ends the division of the ZLB across two locations is a winner for me," he says. The Galeria department store at Alexanderplatz is a potential new home - boasting the required 35,000 square meters of space and direct connections to public transportation.
No plans for department store evictions
"Alexanderplatz has its problems - but also tremendous potential," explains Fansa. A library there could not only serve as a cornerstone of education and culture but also have a stabilizing social impact. "We'd draw a colorful mix of folks from across the city," says Fansa, stressing, "We're not gonna boot a department store out. It seems like there's a plan to keep this department store running, albeit in a trimmed-down version," says Fansa, hoping for political backing.
Fansa views Berlin's new Cultural Senator Sarah Wedl-Wilson as a pal of public libraries and has always experienced her support in chats. "However, she also admits that the project of moving hasn't received funding yet." Moreover, Fansa yearns for a Senate that pulls together for such a project at a central location.
Central location is number one on the wish list
A central location ranks high on Fansa's priorities. "With the technology we've got today, we can't show the world what a top-notch central library in Oslo or Helsinki does today," says Fansa. In his opinion, a central location is a must-have for reorganizing library work.
Libraries shouldn't just be hushed study halls
Fansa believes libraries should no longer be quiet reading rooms: "In Oslo or Helsinki, you'll find Makerspaces, IT labs, kitchens, music rooms - libraries are platforms for mediating cultural techniques and social exchange." He places a strong focus on the youth: "I see many younguns coming to us willingly to learn and support each other. That target demographic is our future." The ZLB needs to provide spaces they can't find elsewhere - free, open, and inspiring.
Libraries as social stages and innovation rooms
Libraries in Scandinavian countries are also forums for public debates. "We try our best to do that too in the Central and Regional Library," says Fansa. Behind the Amerika-Gedenkbibliothek, they built a pop-up space, 800 square meters in size, where a large hall often serves as a venue for events and also as a public coworking space. "And we have group workspaces there. There are seven of them, but they are really just dipping our toes into the water," says the General Director.
Financial constraints and downsizing staff threaten the ZLB
A challenge is the tight budgetary constraints, which affect all departments. According to Fansa, the ZLB must save 2.2 million euros annually, including the elimination of 30 positions over the next few years.
Amerika-Gedenkbibliothek is bursting at the seams
The current state of the two ZLB locations, as Fansa sees it, is grim. The Amerika-Gedenkbibliothek was designed in the 1950s to accommodate around 500 visitors per day, but now hosts up to 3,500. "The building is beyond stretched," he says. The situation at Breiten Straße is even more dire: "A hodgepodge of different buildings - including old horse stables and officers' quarters - hastily repurposed into a library." Renovating the two buildings would cost around 600 million euros, without addressing the root cause of the split locations.
- Alexanderplatz
- Berlin
- Oslo
- Boss
- Helsinki
- Education
- Sarah Wedl-Wilson
- Friend
Enrichment Data:
Libraries - Inspiring Hubs for Community Engagement
Libraries have evolved from quiet study rooms to bustling community hubs, providing a range of services beyond books. They serve as spaces for education, collaboration, innovation, and cultural exchange. These transformation movements are particularly notable in Scandinavian countries such as Oslo, Helsinki, and Amsterdam, where libraries have embraced modern technology and diverse activities to cater to the evolving needs of their communities.
The integration of Makerspaces, IT labs, kitchens, studios, and co-working spaces has brought libraries to the forefront of cultural and intellectual life, making them crucial platforms for learning and community engagement. By offering these resources, libraries enable individuals to engage in hands-on learning experiences, foster social connections, and contribute to innovative projects.
Libraries are also increasingly recognized as vital spaces for public debates, providing opportunities for community members to gather, discuss, and exchange ideas. Moreover, libraries serve as safe and accessible spaces for youth to learn, socialize, and collaborate, reinforcing their role as key pillars of thriving communities.
- The new General Director, Jonas Fansa, sees Alexanderplatz in Berlin as an opportunity to consolidate the Central and Regional Library Berlin (ZLB) from two locations.
- Libraries in Scandinavian countries, such as Oslo and Helsinki, have evolved beyond quiet reading rooms into hubs for education, collaboration, innovation, and cultural exchange, offering spaces like Makerspaces, IT labs, kitchens, studios, and co-working spaces.
- Fansa believes libraries should no longer be hushed study halls but platforms for mediating cultural techniques and social exchange, with a strong focus on youth as the future demographic.
- Libraries in Scandinavian countries, including Oslo and Helsinki, are also forums for public debates, and the Central and Regional Library Berlin attempts to follow suit.
- Fansa views Berlin's Cultural Senator Sarah Wedl-Wilson as a supporter of public libraries, although securing funding for the project and addressing financial concerns remain challenges.
