Norway: Oslo’s New Main Library Opens This Week

UPDATE June 18, 2020 New Central Library Opens in Oslo (Official Announcement, in English)

From the City of Oslo:

The library of the future is finally ready to open for the public of Oslo and all visitors to the Norwegian capital. Located between Oslo Central Station and the Oslo Opera House, Deichman Bjørvika is an extension of the 235 year history of the public library of Oslo. It will also be an exploration of what a library can be.

Stretching over six floors and 13, 500 square meters (approx. 1,4 millon square feet) you will find books – 450,000 of them – but also other offers and activities.

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The original plan was to open Deichman Bjørvika to the public on March 28th 2020. However, Covid-19 and the national lockdown in March put a stop to that.

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Deichman Bjørvika’s ambition is to host two million visitors each year, in a Covid- free situation. Among the safety measures in regards to infection control is a limit on the number of visitors who can be present in the library at the same time: 1,000, compared to the usual limit of 3,000. This limit has been set in consultation with local infection control authorities.

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Whoever finds libraries old-fashioned will have to think again. People enjoy libraries. From 2013 to 2019 Deichman experienced a 43 percent increase of the number of visitors. The reasons for these percentages are extended opening hours, upgraded and modernized facilities and a wide range of activities.

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Learn More, Read the Complete Announcement

See Also: Library Information (in English)

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