Library Director: A Shot at Alexanderplatz for the Central Library
Redevelopment Venture at Alexanderplatz: Central Library Upgrade and Renovation Project - Central Library Project at Alexanderplatz: Opening Opportunity
Hey there! Listen up, 'cause I've got some exciting news for you. The new chief hounddog of the Central and Regional Library Berlin (ZLB), Jonas Fansa, sees a potential goldmine in moving operations to Alexanderplatz: "Anything that puts a stop to the split of the ZLB across two locations is good in my books," he bellows. The Galeria department store at Alexanderplatz could potentially welcome us with its spacious 35,000 square meters and direct transportation links.
No eviction of the department store on the cards
"The Alexanderplatz may have its share of problems, but it's got bags of potential," explains Fansa. A library there could anchor education and culture and help stabilize the social fabric. "We'd attract a diverse mix of folks from every corner of the city," he exclaims. Although there's a new idea for keeping the department store running, albeit in a smaller size, he stresses: "We're not going to bulldoze a department store. It looks like there's a plan in place to keep this baby operational in a downsized form," says Fansa, crossing his fingers for political backing.
The new Culture Senator Sarah Wedl-Wilson seems keen on libraries and has shown strong support during their chats. "But she also says the funding for moving hasn't been secured yet," Adds Fansa. On top of that, he's hopeful for a Senate that sticks together for such an ambitious project in a prime location.
Central location is top priority
A central location is a non-negotiable for Fansa. "With the infrastructure we've got today, we can't put on a show and demonstrate everything that a public central library in cities like Oslo, Helsinki, or Amsterdam can do today," he states. A central location is crucial for redefining library work, says Fansa.
In his opinion, libraries should no longer just be silent studies: "In Oslo or Helsinki, there are Makerspaces, IT labs, kitchens, music studios - libraries are playgrounds for experimenting with cultural techniques and social exchange," Fansa emphasizes, focusing on the youth: "I see heaps of teenagers who come to us voluntarily to learn and help each other out. This lot are our hope for the future," tells Fansa. The ZLB needs to provide spaces they can't find elsewhere - open, inspiring, and free.
Libraries as platforms for debate and innovation
Libraries in Scandinavian countries are also gathering spaces for social debates. "We try to do the same in the Central and Regional Library, using the resources we have. Behind the Amerika-Gedenkbibliothek, we've built a pop-up building, 800 square meters," says Fansa. The large hall there is often used for events and also as a public coworking area. "We've got group workrooms there, but they're just the tip of the iceberg," admits the General Director.
Financial constraints and job cuts put pressure on the ZLB
A snag is the limitation on funds, which affects all departments. According to Fansa, the ZLB needs to save around 2.2 million euros annually, including chopping off 30 jobs over the next few years.
The Amerika-Gedenkbibliothek is beyond capacity
The current state of the two locations of the ZLB, in Fansa's estimation, is grim. The Amerika-Gedenkbibliothek from the '50s was designed to handle around 500 visitors daily - today, it sees up to 3,500. "The place is swamped," he says. The situation at Breiten Straße isn't much better: "A chaotic mix of different buildings - including old carriage houses and officers' quarters - hastily converted into a library," reveals Fansa. Renovating the two buildings would cost around 600 million euros, but it doesn't solve the root problem of the split locations.
- Alexanderplatz
- Berlin
- Oslo
- Central Library
- Sarah Wedl-Wilson
- Innovation Hub
- Helsinki
- Youth Focus
Fun Fact: Not every library in Europe is as cutting-edge as the ones I mentioned. Plenty still offer quiet corners for reading, but the goal is to create libraries as platforms for exchanging ideas and fostering innovation. Keep your eyes peeled for these new-age libraries popping up near you! 📚💻🌟💡🎓🎧🗂️📝
- The Central and Regional Library Berlin (ZLB) is considering a move to Alexanderplatz, with the library director, Jonas Fansa, expressing enthusiasm for a central location that could serve as an anchor for education and culture.
- Fansa noted that while the Galeria department store at Alexanderplatz could potentially accommodate the library, there is a plan in place to keep the department store operational in a downsized form.
- The new Culture Senator, Sarah Wedl-Wilson, has shown strong support for libraries and is potentially a key ally for securing funding for the move.
- Fansa emphasized the importance of a central location for the library, citing examples in Oslo, Helsinki, and Amsterdam where libraries have evolved into hubs for cultural techniques, social exchange, and innovation, particularly for the youth.
