Further reading: library sources local stock and talent

Magdeburg, Germany – A library that operates a no-fee, no-card policy has become the heart of a neglected community.

When residents in Magdeburg, near Berlin, became disgruntled with the lack of facilities in their town, they asked local architects Karo to build a temporary structure using 1,000 recycled crates from the Hasseröder brewery, and stocked its shelves with donated books. The pop-up library lasted just two days but the seed had been sown and Karo was commissioned to design a permanent structure.

The library’s unusual façade was constructed from modernist concrete blocks salvaged from an abandoned warehouse. Local participation includes musical events and readings.

Civic branding has grown in popularity in recent years, as brands focus on the local rather than the global. By involving local enterprises and citizens, Leipzig’s library has become a model of successful community engagement.