Whilst the Stuttgart City Library consists of 17 branch libraries, the mobile library and the elibrary; it is the central library at the Mailänder Platz that we will focus on in this article.
Often hailed as the most modern library in Europe and a tourist attraction in its own right, the award-winning central library was described by Architectural Digest shortly after its opening in October 2011, as:
“A stunning, though at first glance, simple, library has risen in the German city of Stuttgart. Designed by Eun Young Yi, principal of the Cologne-based firm Yi Architects, the building presents itself as a single cubic volume. But what appears to be an unremarkable shell of glass bricks and concrete is, in fact, a second skin enclosing promenades that circumscribe the entire structure. Come nightfall the façade glows from deep within. More magical still is the interior, which features two atria, one stacked above the other. The lower is a soaring ascetic chamber, empty but for a small fountain. (The cavernous room’s scheme was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome.) Upstairs, a five-story space, shown, gleams with natural light, thanks to a glass ceiling, polished white surfaces, and stepped balconies.”
The library’s RFID system with security, automatic check-out and return, and a unique sorting facility enhances the customer experience and allows library staff to dedicate their time to more pro-active, customer-facing tasks. Laptop loans are available on every floor of the library and allow access to a total of 140 netbooks and laptops via self-service cabinets.
For more information about the Stuttgart Central Library visit: http://www1.stuttgart.de/stadtbibliothek/ and to find out how D-Tech International products can help improve efficiency and modernise your library call us on 01394 420077 or contact us here.
