Sambiblioteket i Härnösand - The Combined Library of Härnösand

Background

In order to exploit to the full the library resources of Härnösand and create a high-class, future-oriented library, three library organizations were brought together under one roof. Together they form the Combined Library/Sambiblioteket.

The new library was completed in mid-December 1999 and opened in February 2000. The Combined Library/Sambiblioteket was awarded Library of the Year in Sweden later the same year.

Sambiblioteket is a coalition of three separate library organisations working together. The three partners are the county library, the municipal library and the university library. But to the visitor Sambiblioteket is one unit.

The Combined Library serves as a link between the municipality and the university, helping to remove any barriers between the two worlds. The library is a creative meeting place for all and a centre of knowledge for researchers, students at all levels as well as citizens in general.

Facts

Number of inhabitants: c. 25 000
Built: 1999/2000
Builder: Akademiska Hus, Umeå
Architect: FFNS Arkitekter AB/Hans Tirsén, Tirsén and Aili Architects
Interior design: Inredningsgruppen/Bertil Hagström
Building cost: c. 100 million crowns (c. 14 million $)
Total area: 8 650 sq m
Public area: 5 500 sq m
Group study rooms: 12
Individual study booths: c. 200
Computers for public use: c. 40
Stock: c. 280 000 volumes
Stock of periodicals: c. 600
Electronic periodicals: c. 20.000
Visitors: c. 350 000/year
Visitors (website): c. 290 000/year
Staff: c. 35 (public library: 20, university library: 11, county library: 7)
Hours of opening: 50,5 hours a week
Other facilities and services:

• Café
• Radio studio
• Learning resource center
• Conference rooms
• Consumer advice center

Organization

Sambiblioteket is a coalition of three separate library organisations working together. The three partners are the county library, the municipal library and the university library.

The cooperation between the libraries in the Combined Library is governed by contract. Each library organization concentrates mainly on its particular target group and has its own budget. However, the users experience the three as one single library: the book collections are integrated and the staff work together on the different information desks.

The Combined Library of Härnösand - articles, books, reports, researches... 71 kB

Some pictures

The Library Building viewed from the City Park
Main entrance		Computer tables, 4th floor
View from the 4th floor		4th floor
View over the church		Children playing in the Apple - Apple Library