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Helsinki Central Library chosen as the best new public library

oodihelsinki.fi

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Re: Helsinki Central Library chosen as the best new public library

#21

Post by ghaff »

SolaceQuantum wrote: post #9
tenaciousDaniel wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is how I felt about the New York Public Library. It's famous; everyone goes there. There's even a Gutenberg Bible there. But I've been 2-3 times and I never found a book. It's like the books are all deliberately hidden, it's infuriating.

The NYPL In Bryant Park? Basement floor hallway past the bathrooms. There’s a separate entrance for it also on 42nd st? I go there all the time for books and free public restrooms. The big NYPL space is for all the other things libraries do, like workspaces, meeting spaces, etc. I think there’s also a very rare book section but that requires special permission.

The renovated Rose Reading Room is really beautiful. Great place to work for a couple hours. (So is Bryant Park on a nice day of course.)

Re: Helsinki Central Library chosen as the best new public library

#22

Post by zaroth »

This is absolutely the new definition of “library”, and honestly though I came here to criticize an egotistical architectural exercise, after reading more about Oodi I am suitably impressed.

$100 million is an extremely good deal for what they got, and they say that includes the equipment? I don’t quite believe they built it for that little.

My town (population ~15,000) wanted to build a new library last year — it was voted down as unnecessary — at a cost of almost ~$30 million for a two story 30,000 sq. ft building.

Oodi’s 185,000 square feet is an exquisite leisure center, and with up to 20,000 visitors a day sounds like a fantastic investment for Helsinki.

Re: Helsinki Central Library chosen as the best new public library

#23

Post by WilTimSon »

ghaff wrote: post #16
ceejayoz wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, and that's what a lot of smart libraries are evolving towards. One of ours locally has a tool library and 3D printing, which I think is awesome. Performance spaces for poetry, music, etc.

I like physical books as much as the next person. And providing access to and/or lending out physical books, journals, references, etc. is certainly an important library function. But, at the same time, it's important not to fetishize the value of a library as being defined by how much dead tree storage it has.

Absolutely true but it's important to make sure that if the library does have a rich collection of works they're all properly catalogued, sorted, easy to access, and easy to check out. If you already have the books available, make sure you're giving people a chance to check them out. Sure, most might go to the library for events and hangouts but some might be happy to borrow a novel or a scientific text. It's about resource usage.

Re: Helsinki Central Library chosen as the best new public library

#24

Post by davepeck »

_dw7s wrote: post #18
tow21 wrote: post #4

Weird. I think it’s rubbish as a public library. I mean, it’s an interesting building, and a nice place for a cup of coffee, but it’s absolutely useless if you want to go and browse some shelves and borrow some books; it’s like it’s been actively designed to make that hard to do.

Heh... that's my take on the Seattle public library. First time I visited it, It gave me anxiety. I fucking hate it and refuse to visit it. Part of it feels like some Eastern European communist polytechnic institute, other parts feel like it's a scene from blade runner. Grabbing a book and reading it by the shelf is the last thing I want to do. It's a weird building with a weird vibe designed to be anything but a lib…

I have a lot of friends who are in your camp. Me? I love the Seattle Central library and have found some happy nooks where I can comfortably read for hours. By far my most favorite part of the library is level 8: endless sheet music and a couple of piano practice rooms nearby.

Re: Helsinki Central Library chosen as the best new public library

#25

Post by simplecomplex »

It’s cold and uninviting, not a warm and relaxing environment for reading and pondering. You’d think it was a museum not a library.

What’s with the recent trend of libraries and coffee shops that look like modern art museums (cold, bright, lack of wood, metal, sharp acoustics..)? I can’t be the only one who notices this.

Re: Helsinki Central Library chosen as the best new public library

#26

Post by groundlogic »

clarkmoody wrote: post #7
trm42 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually, it’s awesome that they have realized that the definition of library is changing from a store of media into place where people can meet and hang around and do stuff together. There isn’t that much of public space for people unless you’re attending some school. And in case somebody asks, hanging outside in Finnish winter is not that fun all the time ;D I’ve visited Oodi a lot more than traditional libraries a…

What you've described is a community center, not a library...

These new "libraries" should be called something else. I do like your "community center" terminology.

Re: Helsinki Central Library chosen as the best new public library

#27

Post by carapace »

ghaff wrote: post #16
ceejayoz wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, and that's what a lot of smart libraries are evolving towards. One of ours locally has a tool library and 3D printing, which I think is awesome. Performance spaces for poetry, music, etc.

I like physical books as much as the next person. And providing access to and/or lending out physical books, journals, references, etc. is certainly an important library function. But, at the same time, it's important not to fetishize the value of a library as being defined by how much dead tree storage it has.

Whoa there, bibliophilia is a fetish now? Should I feel naughty? I do feel pleasure when I go to a library and see all the books on the shelves.

Re: Helsinki Central Library chosen as the best new public library

#28

Post by jhbadger »

simplecomplex wrote: post #25

It’s cold and uninviting, not a warm and relaxing environment for reading and pondering. You’d think it was a museum not a library. What’s with the recent trend of libraries and coffee shops that look like modern art museums (cold, bright, lack of wood, metal, sharp acoustics..)? I can’t be the only one who notices this.

At least in the US, the minimalistic design style where things are "cold and bright" is called "Scandinavian Design", which makes it rather appropriate for Helsinki. Personally, I like the style and find it more cheerful than the dark wood and stone "Victorian" style that is traditional to libraries.

Re: Helsinki Central Library chosen as the best new public library

#29

Post by pembrook »

clarkmoody wrote: post #7
trm42 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually, it’s awesome that they have realized that the definition of library is changing from a store of media into place where people can meet and hang around and do stuff together. There isn’t that much of public space for people unless you’re attending some school. And in case somebody asks, hanging outside in Finnish winter is not that fun all the time ;D I’ve visited Oodi a lot more than traditional libraries a…

What you've described is a community center, not a library...

I'm involved with my local library, and if you could see the trend line on how many people are checking out books...you'd realize that every library will eventually become a community center.

It's important to not let our personal nostalgia for the past hold back the next generation from getting the resources they need from local government.

This is clearly a well-thought evolution of what a library of the future should be.

Re: Helsinki Central Library chosen as the best new public library

#30

Post by enra »

I'm a Finn but been living in SF for the last few years. Went to Oodi couple of weeks ago was impressed by the facilities and the building. In addition to books, there were workstations, 3D printers, large format printers, sewing machines, video games, board games, kids play area, restaurant, and a cafe. Our startup also worked there for one day. There is free Wifi, a lot of chairs and places to sit and even meeting rooms you can book. Noise levels are also quite low that you can read or work, much better than in a regular cafe even in the large open spaces. They have seemed to have worked a lot on the acoustics.

There are also books you can read, borrow and return. The book selection seemed more recent/popular, not a lot of old books (still it has 100k books). To those that comment on the how little books there are: There are several other libraries in Helsinki that house old and vast amounts of books. Helsinki has nearly 40 public libraries and numerous scholarly libraries: https://www.myhelsinki.fi/en/see-and-do/sights/helsinki%E2%8...

Overall it feels like a great place for people to go outside of their home or office to read, meet with people, take their kids to, and for free.

I uploaded a few mobile photos and videos if anyone is interested: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/z7ez8rhisktpaac/AAD7xd6xsCESP6LhJ...

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