The University Library is the most famous building of KU Leuven Libraries (Leuven, Belgium). The first stone was laid in 1921, to replace the first university library which was burnt down during the First World War. The new library opened its doors to readers in 1928. It was itself partly destroyed by fire during the…
Category: European Libraries
Library tourism by Mark Dapin
One way to get a sense of a country’s cultural touchstones is to visit its libraries — both the famous and lesser-known ones. BY MARK DAPIN Some years ago I was at a conference of international thriller writers (no, I hadn’t known they were a thing either) when a fellow Australian author suggested we visit…
Friday essay: the library – humanist ideal, social glue and now, tourism hotspot
Stuart Kells, La Trobe University Last year two Danish librarians – Christian Lauersen and Marie Eiriksson – founded Library Planet: a worldwide, crowdsourced, online library travel guide. According to them, Library Planet is meant to inspire travellers “to open the awesome book that is our world of libraries, cities and countries”. The name of the…
A temple of knowledge and wisdom – The National and University Library of Ljubljana
Written by Joachim Hassel. For how to contribute to Library Planet look here: https://libraryplanet.net/contribute/ During our holiday in Slovenia in July 2019 we stayed for a couple of days in the capital Ljubljana. This is a really nice, atmospheric and lively city worth visiting. Right in the city center and only a short way back from…
The Manchester Central Library – a community hub in neoclassical surroundings
Written by Concetta La Spada, library tourist from Cambridge For how to contribute to Library Planet look here: https://libraryplanet.net/contribute/ In early July, I visited Manchester for the CILIP Conference. I had never been to Manchester and, during my free time, I could visit this city of such important history for the UK. During the Industrial Revolution…
Vejen public Library, Denmark – a toy Library and a roof garden
Written by Library Planet editor Marie Eiriksson, library consultant, Denmark. For how to contribute to Library Planet look here: https://libraryplanet.net/contribute/ Vejen Public Library is a newly built Danish Library and the main Library of the municipality of Vejen, Jutland. The municipality has three other locations. The new main Library opened in october 2019. Arriving by train…
Nørrebro Public Library – a new and buzzing community living room
Written by Library Planet editor Christian Lauersen, director of Libraries and Citizen Services in Roskilde Municipality, Denmark. For how to contribute to Library Planet look here: https://libraryplanetnet.wordpress.com/contribute/ I live on Nørrebro, a part of Copenhagen. It is a neighborhood what are characterized with a large amount of diversity when it comes to ethnical background, economic status and social…
The National Library of Greece – a classic collection in a shiny new home
Written by Laura Cagnazzo Twitter: @LauraFCagnazzo For how to contribute to Library Planet look here: https://libraryplanetnet.wordpress.com/contribute/ The new shiny home of the National Library of Greece was only completed last year. The Library has moved from the Vallianeio historic neoclassical building in downtown Athens to its new premises at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre…
Rikhardinkatu Library, Helsinki – the oldest public library in Finland
Written by Library Planet editor Marie Eiriksson, library consultant, Denmark. For how to contribute to Library Planet look here: https://libraryplanetnet.wordpress.com/contribute/ In march I had the great luck to be able to go on a study trip to Helsinki with a colleague. While there I made it a point to visit local Libraries and was lucky to…
Library Planet 