{"id":38,"date":"2026-07-04T19:50:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-04T19:50:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/nancylee\/?p=38"},"modified":"2026-07-04T19:57:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-04T19:57:14","slug":"hyperlinked-environments-international-libraries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/nancylee\/2026\/07\/04\/hyperlinked-environments-international-libraries\/","title":{"rendered":"Hyperlinked Environments: International Libraries"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

For my reflection post on <\/span>Hyperlinked Environments<\/span>, I chose to focus on international libraries that were recently awarded the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Public Library of the Year. This award requires not only a new building, expansion, or renovation, but also a thoughtful combination of functional and technological innovation. The Deichman Public Library in Oslo, Norway (2021 winner) and the Beijing Library in Beijing, China (2024 winner) serve as more than book repositories or venues for library programming. These buildings connect people to information, technology, services, community, and location\u2014playing an important, holistic civic role for residents and visitors in Oslo and Beijing. The library provides a flexible yet socially cohesive public space, a hyperlinked environment that empowers users.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Photo: Erik Thallaug \/ Deichman Bjorvika<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Photo: Maria Bagtas \/ Deichman Bjorvika<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\n

The Deichman Library is Oslo\u2019s main library and a true civic hub. Six light-filled floors offer typical library features like books, reading and study areas, meeting rooms, and a children\u2019s zone (an entire floor), as well as atypical amenities like a cinema, restaurant, caf\u00e9, and auditorium. In addition, the workshop and media resources include 3D printers, sewing machines, music studios, and other creative tools. Together, the building encourages movement, browsing, and gathering\u2014an architectural counterpart to the resources offered within that provide access to many information pathways.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Beijing Library<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\n
\"\"

Beijing Library (interior)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

The Beijing Library is similarly expansive and inviting. The grand architecture reflects the surrounding river and landscape in the terraced exterior, while the interior houses the world\u2019s largest climatized reading space, along with modular areas for conferences, exhibitions, performances, and even the restoration of ancient books. It also features the latest green building technologies like climate control, lighting, acoustics, and rainwater collection. As a result, the scale of the Beijing Library is impressive and appropriate for the large urban center that it serves.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

A citizen uses a book delivering robot at a library in Xiong’an New Area, north China’s Hebei Province, March 25, 2026. (Xinhua\/Zhu Xudong)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Among the finalists for the 2026 IFLA Public Library of the Year award is another Chinese public library, the Xiong\u2019An Library in Hebei Province, China. Like the other shortlisted libraries, Xiong\u2019An shares the best qualities of a hyperlinked environment: open layouts, adaptable rooms, strong digital services and technology offerings, and a clear connection to local needs. What\u2019s unique is Xiong\u2019An\u2019s robots, part of the fabric of this high-tech \u201ccity of the future\u201d and present in the library spaces. Book-sorting carts and humanoid service robots interact with and assist library patrons. These photos from Xiong\u2019An strike me as novel now, but will this become a common sight in libraries throughout the world?<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\"\"

A child interacts with a robot at a library in Xiong’an New Area, north China’s Hebei Province, March 25, 2026. (Xinhua\/Zhu Xudong)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u200bNot all libraries have robots, but all hyperlinked environments incorporate technology. Digital catalogs, public computers, Wi-Fi, and self-service checkout are widely available. Many libraries offer makerspaces, media tools, and spaces. Interactive kiosks and robots may be the cutting-edge technology now, but all technology supports a library\u2019s role as a connector. These IFLA award-winning libraries are the best examples of a hyperlinked environment where users can get what they need from the library to support their individual and collective lives and well-being. These thriving information hubs and community spaces expand my ideas about what is possible at the public library.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

References<\/strong><\/p>\n

Croissant, M. (2021, September 21). <\/span>This library was just named the best in the world<\/span><\/i>. Matador Network.<\/span> https:\/\/matadornetwork.com\/read\/best-library-world\/<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. (2026, June 19). <\/span>Shortlisted applicants for IFLA\/James Bennett Public Library of the Year Award 2026<\/span><\/i>. IFLA.<\/span> https:\/\/www.ifla.org\/news\/shortlist-ploty-2026\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. (2024, October 7). <\/span>IFLA\/Baker & Taylor Public Library of the Year Award 2024 announced<\/span><\/i>. IFLA.<\/span> https:\/\/www.ifla.org\/news\/winner-announced-for-the-ifla-baker-taylor-public-library-of-the-year-award-2024\/<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Xinhua News Agency. (2026, March 31). <\/span>EconomyInFocus: Xiong\u2019an New Area dedicated to innovation-driven development<\/span><\/i>. Xinhua English News.<\/span> https:\/\/english.news.cn\/20260331\/294401df1eda4d75955da66699dd7eac\/c.html<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For my reflection post on Hyperlinked Environments, I chose to focus on international libraries that were recently awarded the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Public Library of the Year. This award requires not only a new building, expansion, or renovation, but also a thoughtful combination of functional […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":832,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/nancylee\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/nancylee\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/nancylee\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/nancylee\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/832"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/nancylee\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/nancylee\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/nancylee\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38\/revisions\/46"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/nancylee\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/nancylee\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/nancylee\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}