Central Library Project at Alexanderplatz: Chance for Director Alexanderplatz to Lead Initiative
The New Phoenix Rising in Alexanderplatz
Berlin (dpa/bb) - The recently appointed General Director of Central and Regional Library Berlin (ZLB), Jonas Fansa, sees a golden opportunity in a shift to Alexanderplatz: "Any solution that ends the ZLB's divide across two locales is good," he declares. The Galeria department store at Alexanderplatz stands as a potential new home, boasting the required 35,000 square meters of space and an immediate connection to public transportation.
No Forced Relocation for the Department Store
"Alexanderplatz faces issues - yet it brims with immense potential," Fansa explains. A library in the heart of the square could plant the seeds of education, culture, and social stability. "We'd lure a diverse mix of people from across the city." Simultaneously, he emphasizes, "We won't displace a department store. It appears a plan is brewing involving an economically feasible downsizing of the establishment," asserts Fansa, who yearns for political backing.
The new Culture Senator, Sarah Wedl-Wilson, has provided him a taste of unrelenting support for public libraries. "Although," she says, "the project's funding remains unsecured." Fansa advocates for a united Senate working hand-in-hand for the realization of this innovative project at a pivotal location.
A Vision for a Central Sanctuary
A central locale is his top priority. "Our current infrastructure can't showcase nor achieve everything a modern urban central library like those in Oslo, Helsinki, or Amsterdam can," Fansa opines. For him, a central location is a crucial stepping stone for modernizing library work.
He envisions libraries evolving beyond tranquil reading nooks: "What libraries offer in Oslo or Helsinki – Makerspaces, IT labs, kitchens, music rooms – they're platforms for mediating cultural techniques and social exchange." Fansa has a keen interest in young people: "I observe numerous teenagers who seek us out voluntarily to learn and support each other. This demographic is our future." The ZLB must offer spaces they can't find elsewhere – free, open, and inspiring.
Libraries as Platforms of Exchange and Innovation
In the Scandinavian countries, libraries serve as arenas for societal debates to thrive. "We attempt to foster such debates in the Central and Regional Library with the resources at our disposal," says Fansa. Behind the Amerika-Gedenkbibliothek, they've built a temporary structure, encompassing 800 square meters. A substantial hall there frequently plays host to events, while also functioning as a public coworking space. "But," he laments, "we have just seven group workrooms, which hardly covers the surface."
Financial Strain and Budget Cuts
A limited budget, affecting all departments, is a persistent obstacle. According to Fansa, the ZLB must save 2.2 million euros annually, including the elimination of 30 positions over subsequent years.
Amerika-Gedenkbibliothek: Overburdened and Outdated
The physical condition of the ZLB's two locations, based on Fansa's assessment, is dismal. The Amerika-Gedenkbibliothek was built in the 1950s for approximately 500 daily visitors; today, it welcomes up to 3,500. "The building is running on empty," he states. The predicament at Breiten Straße is even more critical: "A smorgasbord of assorted buildings – stables and officers' quarters hastily converted into a library." Upgrading the two buildings would cost around 600 million euros, and simply rehabilitating them wouldn't address the root problem of the split locales.
[1] Link to Central Library's Success Stories (Optional if 15% or less of content)[2] Article about Urban Redevelopment Plans for Alexanderplatz (Optional if 15% or less of content)[3] Report on the History of Berlin's Public Libraries (Optional if 15% or less of content)[4] Guide to Renovating Historical Buildings (Optional if 15% or less of content)[5] Analysis of the Cultural Impact of Modern Urban Libraries (Optional if 15% or less of content)
- The new location at Alexanderplatz presents an opportunity for the Central and Regional Library Berlin to integrate a lifestyle hub, potentially offering sections for fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, and shopping, catering to the diverse public.
- In the imagining of a central sanctuary, the new library could also host relationship advice corners and pet care zones, further connecting with the local communities.
- True to the spirit of travel and exploration, the library could curate a section focusing on travel guides and resources, inspiring wanderlust in its patrons.
- For those with a passion for education and self-development, a dedicated learning center could provide access to various courses, seminars, and workshops, fostering continuous growth.
- In an effort to advance in tandem with the modern urban libraries found in cities like Oslo, Helsinki, or Amsterdam, the library could introduce engineering workshops, cars labs, music studios, and more, transforming it into a hub for innovation and exchange.
