On a small island in Copenhagen you'll find the only diamond
Elizabeth Taylor (R.I.P.) never got her hands on (too soon?): The Black Diamond a.k.a. The Royal Library in Copenhagen.
Standing 24 meters above the harbour the 7 floor sculptural monoliths’
polished black granite sparkles reflecting the water below.[i]
The library extension is radically different in both form and function from the
former library, which is attached to the new building. The glass walls symbolize transparency and inclusiveness where the former library was thought of as elitist. [ii]
Tourist guides referred to the former Royal Library as
“…secluded and sheltered from the noise of the city, in a quiet garden, unknown
to the great public, you find the acropolis of learning, The Royal Library in a
stylish building where only scholars are allowed into the sacred halls.”[iii]
 |
| The Royal Danish Library: Viewed from the north-west |
Guide books have not been able to recycle that blurb
since the opening of the Black Diamond in September 1999. The Danes have created an entirely new
type of academic library, it is not just the design of the library that make it
so interesting it is really the function that makes the most impact.
The guiding principle is “that this is a working
library, but also that the building is accessible to the entire population.”[iv]
The library of course has to be a
functioning academic library but should also allow the general public to
experience and enjoy the nation’s cultural treasures. Apart from the typical book stacks, and reading room the
library also has meeting rooms, a large assembly and concert hall for 600
people, large exhibition areas, bookshop, and restaurant.[v]
 |
| Per Kirkeby's nameless fresco |
The library collection is one of the largest and oldest
in Europe. King Frederik III founded the collection which dates back to 1648 .[vi]
The Library’s extensive Music Department is put to the forefront with this design. The Library houses the national collection of music with a complete collection of Danish composers and a large collection of foreign music with over 3000 shelf meters of material. The Centre for Music and Theatre includes reading rooms, reference collection, digitalized collection and a unique concert hall, the Queen’s Hall. [vii]
The Library’s extensive Music Department is put to the forefront with this design. The Library houses the national collection of music with a complete collection of Danish composers and a large collection of foreign music with over 3000 shelf meters of material. The Centre for Music and Theatre includes reading rooms, reference collection, digitalized collection and a unique concert hall, the Queen’s Hall. [vii]
The Queen’s Hall is a combined concert and conference
hall which seats between 386 and 600 people depending on the stage arrangement.
The Hall hosts external concerts, and concerts arranged by the Library with the
house ensemble who perform rarely played and unknown works by both unknown and famous composers. The
following video[viii] is an April 2011 performance by
Dreamers & Circus and the Danish String Quartet.
Note the panels behind the
performers. They are specially made acoustic panels that adjust to suit the
performance and stage set up. The backcloth is a hand-woven rendering of the
handwriting of Hans Christian Andersen.[ix]
The Queen’s Hall is also a conference hall and hosts a
variety of interesting speakers. The library regularly hosts the feature “International Authors Stage”. On 14 May 2009 Salman Rushdie sat with Danish
author Carsten Jensen and discussed Rushdie’s book The Enchantress of Florence .[x]
And for “one magical night [the library] closed the reading
rooms, turned off the lights, opened the bar, and let the music, poetry, and
visuals fill The Black Diamond” for the Student’s Only! Start of Semester Party[xi]
This video is reason enough to write about The Black Diamond on this blog!
But it is not all fun and games at the coolest academic
library around; with approximately a quarter of a million visitors in the first
month of operation the Library has been more than a little overwhelmed. In the
first year of operation there was a 3 month waiting list for guided tours and a
booking conference rooms was more difficult than getting a reservation at Noma [xii] (which also happens to be in Copenhagen…coincidence or conspiracy??).
Library staff now has to contend with tourists and field questions about the building design, construction, and artwork. When the Library first opened to the public the issue of who should be allowed
to use the computers was hotly debated by Library staff. The Library now maintains a policy that
anyone with a serious purpose is allowed and this includes tourists writing
emails.[xiii]
Signage is posted and brochures are
provided to tourists pointing out that The Black Diamond is a working academic
library, this has
helped curtail frivolous questions and cut down on some noise.
helped curtail frivolous questions and cut down on some noise.
 |
| View over the Harbour from the Atrium most likely also distracting |
Noise complaints are common. One student wrote of babies
crying and children playing stating that there is “nearly always too much noise
for me to be able to concentrate…I think quietness is important in a library.
And it is otherwise such a lovely place…”[xiv] According to the Library Director the most common complaint in the first few
months was the lack of cheap coffee and food. The Library received so many
complaints vending machines were added to provide coffee and sandwiches. [xv]
One assumingly pleasant patron complained that the amount of natural light was
distracting. [xvi]
 |
| All that pesky sunlight in Reading Room West |
The Black Diamond was initially chosen for its architecture but the unique and creative library functions have won me over.
Copenhagen I am a fan, flaws and all!
[i] MacCarthy,
C. (1999, Dec 17). Diamond is jewel of master builders: ARCHITECTURE by Clare
MacCarthy: An arresting new building on the redeveloped Copenhagen waterfront
houses one of the worlds finest collections of books. Financial Times, pp.
04-04. Retrieved from
https://www.lib.uwo.ca/cgi-bin/ezpauthn.cgi/docview/248877723?accountid=15115
[ii] Krabbe, N.
(2000). The many facets of the black diamond. Nordic Sounds, (1), 15-19.
Retrieved from http://dvm.nu/periodical/ns/ns_2000/ns_2000_01/the-many-facets-of-the-black-diamond/
[iii] Larsen, S.
B. (2000). The turbulent totality and total experience: Culture activities at the
Black Diamond, the Royal Library in Copenhagen. Liber Quarterly, 10(2), 99-107.
[iv] Larsen,
S.B. (2000).
[v] Larsen, S.B.
(2000).
[vi] McCarthy,
C. (1999).
[vii] Krabbe, N.
(2000).
[viii] Kingferck. (2011) Dreamers Circus & The Danish String
Quartet in Concert [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW16J1zVQbY
[ix] Krabbe, N.
(2000)
[x]
DenSorteDiamant. (2010) Salman Rushdie – International Authors Stage – The
Black Diamond – The Royal Library – Copenhagen [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eg8gzbFro80
[xi] DenSorteDiamant. (2012) Student’s Only! Start of Semester Party [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zgMx20TiQU
[xii] http://www.delish.com/food/recalls-reviews/worlds-toughest-restaurant-reservations
[xiii] Larsen,
S.B. (2000).
[xiv] Larsen,
S.B. (2000).
[xv] Larsen,
S.B. (2000).
[xvi] McCarthy,
C. (1999).
Photo Credits:
1. Thue (Artist). (2005). The new building ("Black Diamond") of the Danish Royal Library on Slotsholmen in Copenhagen, viewed from the South-East. [Photo]. Retrieved March 15, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Den_Sorte_Diamant_1.jpg
2. Arne List (Artist). (2009). Det Kongelige Bibliotek. [Photo]. Retrieved March 15, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Det_Kongelige_Bibliotek.jpg
3. Thue (Artist). (2005). The Danish Royal Library. Retrieved March 15, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Det_Kongelige_Bibliotek.jpg
4. Kai Sender (Artist). (2009). The atrium of the Black Diamond extension to the Royal Danish Library in Copenhagen, Denmark. [Photo]. Retrieved March 15, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Black_Diamond_-_atrium.jpg
5. Langfidei (Artist). (2007). Iaesesal vest. [Photo]. Retrieved March 15, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Black_Diamond_-_atrium.jpg
6. zoned.dk (Artist). (2008). Christians Brygge - the quat of Slotsholmen towards the main harbour canal - with the Black Diamond. [Photo]. Retrieved March 15, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Christians_Bryggte_with_the_Black_Diamond.jpg
Photo Credits:
1. Thue (Artist). (2005). The new building ("Black Diamond") of the Danish Royal Library on Slotsholmen in Copenhagen, viewed from the South-East. [Photo]. Retrieved March 15, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Den_Sorte_Diamant_1.jpg
2. Arne List (Artist). (2009). Det Kongelige Bibliotek. [Photo]. Retrieved March 15, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Det_Kongelige_Bibliotek.jpg
3. Thue (Artist). (2005). The Danish Royal Library. Retrieved March 15, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Det_Kongelige_Bibliotek.jpg
4. Kai Sender (Artist). (2009). The atrium of the Black Diamond extension to the Royal Danish Library in Copenhagen, Denmark. [Photo]. Retrieved March 15, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Black_Diamond_-_atrium.jpg
5. Langfidei (Artist). (2007). Iaesesal vest. [Photo]. Retrieved March 15, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Black_Diamond_-_atrium.jpg
6. zoned.dk (Artist). (2008). Christians Brygge - the quat of Slotsholmen towards the main harbour canal - with the Black Diamond. [Photo]. Retrieved March 15, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Christians_Bryggte_with_the_Black_Diamond.jpg
This is so interesting. The idea of a library as a tourist attraction to this extent shows one example of a library changing its image away from the traditional. While arguments about noise and computer use are understandable given the nature of the library and its place in this society, I like to think that blending the roles of the library from traditional services, technological access and as a third space is where libraries are going. Without these steps towards becoming more popular places for the wider community the fear of what will happen to libraries will come true.
ReplyDeleteI love this entry Heather! It is awesome how literary haunts are becoming such a popular draw for tourists. The September 2011 issue of National Geographic Traveller (which I borrowed from the library :) has a whole article about the Top 10 Literary Cities in the world http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/top-10/literary-cities/#page=2 and they mention some great libraries
ReplyDeleteI love the combination with this library of old and new! A collection from the 17th century housed in a very contemporary space is so cool. I also love that there is a performance hall right on sight- what a better way to showcase that you have an extensive music collection than to participate in the art itself!
ReplyDeleteThe building itself though raises a really interesting question about the role of a librarian here. Should they be answering questions about the architecture? Should there be a separate reference desk for this with an architectural historian working? I don't know if that would be within the library's budget but it may help to alleviate some of the strain on the librarians and it could be more of a proper tourist attraction in a way that is less disruptive of library service.
I loved the comment about there being too much natural light- really?? I am currently trying to position myself more the right from where I am sitting so that I can actually see the outside and get some of that wonderful natural light! I guess it just goes to show that no matter how innovative and amazing your library is, patrons always have complaints.
Great post Heather! The video of the beginning of semester party was especially interesting. I really need to visit now and somehow pass myself off as a student! While I watched that video I thought about what it would be like to go back later in the year to get some intense study sessions done and how weird that would feel, but it seems like everyday is a bit chaotic. I'm not sure how I'd feel if Weldon suddenly became a tourist hot spot with screaming and crying children running through the halls and no access to a computer since all the tourists are sending home emails. I absolutely love this library and hope to one day be that annoying tourist, but if I was a student there I'd probably be heading to an alternate library or finding a hidden nook where I can get work done.
ReplyDeleteP.S the Danes are just so darn attractive - there's another draw to this country and city in particular. ;)
AMAZING!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI also love the detail you put into your blogs . . . I think we should plan a trip to go there lol Honestly it is the COOLEST library I've ever seen, I don't think anything could top this one :)
Very interesting post Heather! Seems like this library has everything in one. The most interesting thing about the library is the fact that it has the Centre for Music and Theatre that includes the concert hall: Queen's Hall. I've never heard of any library to have a hall where they play concerts and plays. Like previous posts, it does seem like this is stemming away from our traditional views of the library where everyone must be quiet. I also like how it is a tourist hot spot, but then again, some disadvantages may come with that, like noise levels increasing and people working in the library becoming distracted with all the tourist. Nevertheless, this is a super awesome library :)
ReplyDeleteIt definitely sounds like a place I would love to visit, which I guess is part of the problem for the academic patrons who complain about all the tourists. It is interesting the combination of the library, music, theatre, exhibition space, bookstore and restaurant. It seems that it is a trend for libraries not just to be one single thing anymore; they have to attract a whole range of people and be a one stop shop for all people's intellectual and cultural needs.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteOopsies, made a mistake in my first comment, sorry!
ReplyDeleteAnyways, so first of all I want to say that I love that there is an extensive music department WITH a performance hall. I may be biased, but I think the whole focus on music, beyond a collection, is great! Even the British Library doesn't have this(I had to stand on the main stairwell to listen to a performance by the Tallis Scholars). Although some may dislike the idea of having the library no longer simply as a place for reading and research, through making it a venue of different entities, those who may not regularly enter a library may then do so, and possibly return to use one or more of its attractions, including the books! Although I generally consider myself a traditionalist when it comes to libraries where I generally like quiet. However, this library is a great example of adapting to the changing needs of society in combining the old and new, as well as providing a variety of services to the community (yay music hall!). Thanks Heather, you have just provided me with another great library to add to my list of libraries that I need to check out for myself!