Almedalsbiblioteket - Gotland University and Public Library

Background

This library is for all people. It is a meeting place for people who need information as well as people who want to read books and newspapers. It is a meeting place for children and grown-ups and a link between the university and the society. One important task is to support the life long learning. The library offers everyone a full scale service and is a centre for knowledge, information and culture.

Within the library the different competences cooperate. Developing the different activities is a prioritized issue. The library is the main library of Gotland.

Almedalsbiblioteket is designed as an open and free building. In the library-building there are different areas for studying, reading and using computers as well as attending lectures and cultural debates.

Facts

Number of inhabitants: 57 000
Built: 2001
Architect: Christer Malmström & Anders Grape
Interior design: Annika Tengstrand & Olle Salmonsson
Total area:
Computer for public use: 44
Stock: 244 938 volumes
Stock of periodicals: published papers 410 / electronic 3060
Visitors: 328 885 (2006)
Loans: 231 255 (2006)
Staff:
Hours of opening: 60,5 hours a week
Days of opening: 304 a year

Other facilities and services: Café, restaurant, Learning resource center
The county library is situated in Almedalsbiblioteket.

Organization

Almedalsbiblioteket in Visby is a complete coalition of two separate library organisations working together – the university library and the municipal library. The staff work together and serves children, adults as well as students of all levels. The cooperation between the two libraries is governed by contract.