| Amsterdam Public Library | |
|---|---|
| Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam | |
 The central library in 2007 | |
| Location | Amsterdam,Diemen,Ouder-Amstel,Netherlands |
| Type | Public library |
| Established | 8 February 1919 (1919-02-08)[1] |
| Branches | 26[1] |
| Collection | |
| Size | 1.3 million objects[1] |
| Access and use | |
| Circulation | c. 3 million objects[1] |
| Members | 177,000[1] |
| Other information | |
| Director | Martin Berendse (since 2014)[2] |
| Employees | 354 employees (2015)[3] |
| Website | www |
TheOpenbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam (Dutch pronunciation:[ˌoːpə(m)ˈbaːrəbiblijoːˈteːkˌɑmstərˈdɑm];OBA; English:Amsterdam Public Library) is an organisation ofpublic libraries inAmsterdam,Diemen andOuder-Amstel in theNetherlands. The first library opened in 1919 at theKeizersgracht in Amsterdam. As of 2018, the OBA had 26 branch libraries, 177,000 members, and 1.3 million objects in its collection.
The first public reading room and library of Amsterdam was opened at theKeizersgracht on 8 February 1919. The Central Library was opened at thePrinsengracht in 1977 and moved to theOosterdokseiland in 2007.[4]
The videopodcastThis Week in Libraries (2010–2014) was recorded in the Central Library.[5]
The OBA was selected as the best library of the Netherlands in 2012.[6]
As of 2018, the OBA has a general collection of 1.3 million books, CDs, and DVDs.[1] The library also has a number of special collections with books about the history of Amsterdam, children's books from the 17th–21st century, and books from the Dutch authorsGerard Reve,Hella Haasse, andBoudewijn Büch.[7]
The OBA has 26 branches inAmsterdam,Diemen,Duivendrecht, andOuderkerk aan de Amstel.[1] The largest branch is the Central Library or OBA Oosterdok at theOosterdokseiland, just east ofAmsterdam Centraal station.
The Central Library or OBA Oosterdok has a floor surface of 28,500 m2, spread out over 10 floors, 1200 seats, of which 600 with Internet-connected computers and a staff of 200. Also included are an auditorium, an exhibition room, the Library Museum, theGerard Reve Museum and 2000 parking spaces for bicycles. On the seventh floor is a restaurant with a south-facing terrace.
The cost of the project was€80 million. The building was designed byJo Coenen, the former state architect (Rijksbouwmeester) of the Netherlands, who also designed the nearbyKNSM Island, as well as the Central Library ofMaastricht, and renovated the distinctiveGlaspaleis inHeerlen, which houses its Central Library. Arup were selected to create the lighting design to create "a landscape with different zones" and a system for distributing fresh air which cools the building through drawing in the cold air outside.[8]
The Central Library is open 7 days per week from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and the lending and returning of books is fully automated. Not only does the OBA provide a large range of printing and copying facilities, but some other unusual features can be found in the library, such as two radio stations. AmsterdamFM is located on the first floor and OBA Live is on the fourth floor. Both radio stations have live broadcasts where the public is welcome to watch.
The library has an exposition area which features rotating expositions related to design, art and/or books. All the expositions are open to the public for free.
Besides the Central Library or OBA Oosterdok, there are 25 branches in various neighborhoods of Amsterdam and in the villages of Diemen, Duivendrecht, and Ouderkerk aan de Amstel:[9]
Geographic data related toOpenbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam atOpenStreetMap| By topic | |
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52°22′33″N4°54′26″E / 52.37583°N 4.90722°E /52.37583; 4.90722
