More Than Just Books: On Libraries and Third Places

What is so special about the Public Library’s temporary premises at Gasteig HP8?

What’s interesting about the HP8 is that you don’t actually see the library at first. I find myself having to explain time and again that it spans several floors in Hall E and is open to everyone all of the time. Everything here feels very airy, with plenty of open shelves and cosy seating areas. And lots of people study and work there, fully focused on whatever they’re doing. Every now and then, we have short art events. You might, for example, suddenly find people singing or doing a dance performance.

What is the idea behind this concept of openness?

The library regards itself as a place that bridges culture and leisure. We want to bring about a shift from the expectation of a silent, perhaps somewhat museum-like space to a meeting place where people can open up and gain inspiration. At the Gasteig HP8 and Motorama, we have tried to achieve this with seating areas and upholstered furniture that encourage people to linger and chat. We have a wide range of items available that are free to use. You can simply flick through them and see what takes your fancy at that moment. We also hold language cafés, children’s events, creative activities, information sessions and panel discussions.

What exactly is a “third place”?

The third place is an addition to the place where I usually work and my home. It’s a place that’s public, yet still feels private; a place where I enjoy spending time and don’t have to buy anything. These days, people don’t go to libraries merely to study and work, as they have plenty of other enjoyable leisure activities on offer. From a social perspective, it is particularly important today that this third place encourages people to meet up and that you’ll also meet people there who are not already part of your circle of friends; people you can strike up a conversation with to find out how they’re getting on and what’s on their minds.

What significance does a place like this have for urban society?

It is becoming ever more important to create third places, not least as a shout-out to the residents of a city like Munich. To let them know: “this is your place”. Society is diverse; everyone is welcome here. And because this place is funded by taxpayers’ money, it should benefit everyone in the city, not just a small, select group.

There aren’t that many spaces free from consumerism that are open to everyone …

That is why we have consciously made our temporary sites very much accessible. The Gasteig Motorama, housed in a former shopping centre, with its large glass façades facing Rosenheimer Straße, is a case in point. You can see straight away what’s going on inside, and there’s a ground-level entrance. It’s all very inviting. You realise straight away: I’m allowed in there; the library is my place, and I can use it. There’s culture here for children and for people who might not otherwise come into contact with it very much in their everyday lives – that’s very important to us. In addition, we have occasional small art installations there. This makes culture more tangible, more accessible and more enjoyable.

Is it fair to say that libraries are places where people from all walks of life meet?

Perhaps not quite yet, but we’ve become much more open and accessible. Plenty of people spend whole days here. Working people have been coming to the library more often since we introduced our Open Library at HP8, which is open until 11 PM every day. However, surveys show that there are still people who are not familiar with the library and don’t use it. These include, for example, people from migrant households, where there is still a barrier to them using these services. We’re trying to change that by organising lots of activities which, for example, whole school classes can take part in.

What challenges does a place like this present?

Nowadays, facilitating interactions is an increasingly integral part of a librarian’s role. There are people who come to the library looking for peace and quiet, people who are looking to socialise, and those who want to do group work, play on consoles or just use the computers. Balancing these different interests is a major challenge and is not yet adequately covered in current training programmes. It all comes down to how we treat people and how we actually ensure that this open space remains open.

How can you ensure that visitors’ differing needs are met?

With tact and plenty of discussion within the team. Difficult encounters do sometimes occur. Time and again, there are people who do things in the library that we absolutely do not want. In each case, we must define what constitutes disruptive behaviour, and what does not. We don’t mind in itself if someone comes in with a large bag.  But if the room is full and someone else can’t find a seat because of this bag, then it does become an issue. It’s tricky to develop a reasonably consistent sense of what’s acceptable within the team. Another example would be: When is loud too loud? As a general rule, nobody has to face a situation on their own; everyone can seek help. But really, it’s only a very small proportion of encounters that go wrong – most of the time, it all works a treat.