The Most Innovative Libraries Around the World創意圖書館世界之最

勞拉·鮑爾斯 譯/毛思玉

Some libraries use unique architecture to encourage visitors to explore the racks and settle down with a new book， or use roving libraries to bring books to hard-to-reach populations. No matter how they achieve it， these novel libraries are keeping the magic of reading alive.

1. Kansas City Library （Kansas City， Missouri）

Along the south wall of this parking garage’s exterior， visitors are treated to what looks like a huge shelf of books. The building originally served as a bank， which is readily apparent when the library has screenings in its Vault Theater， inside an actual 1925 bank vault.

2. Biblioteca Vasconcelos （Mexico City， Mexico）

Known as the mega library， the interior of this library is more akin to a massive storage facility than a library. The open interior has towering flooring of open grates that create a labyrinth effect， and surrounds the “Matrix Mobile” by Gabriel Orozco—a sculpture transformed from the skeleton of a gray whale. The exterior is surrounded by almost 6? acres of lush gardens devoted to plants endemic to Mexico.

3. Stuttgart City Library （Stuttgart， Germany）

Opened in 2011， this nine-story public library designed by Eun Young Yi is characterized by its stunning white-on-white color scheme （lit by blue light at night）， its bold cubic shape and its cavernous interior. This cultural center for the city， designed to feel open and full of light， can be entered from any of its four sides， and patrons can borrow artwork as well as books.

4. Biblioteca Sandro Penna （Perugia， Italy）

In a country known for classical architecture and historical buildings， Biblioteca Sandro Penna stands out for its modern aesthetic. Housing books and multimedia， this library was built in 2004， is named after a local poet and it is easily identifiable by its circular pink glass top reminiscent of a flying saucer.

5. Beach Library （Albena， Bulgaria）

Reading a book on the beach is a classic， and in Bulgaria， one library encourages tourists to do just that. The white， weather-resistant shelves lined up not far from the surf feature 6，000 books in 15 languages so every visitor can find the perfect beach read to enjoy while soaking up the sun’s rays.

6. The Camel Library Service （North Eastern Province， Kenya）

To combat low literacy rates in the desert of Kenya， the government created a roaming library composed of nine camels bringing books to villages. The library travels four days a week serving the region’s nomadic people. Currently the service focuses on children， but with more funding they plan to increase their reach both in distance and the titles they carry.

7. Bishan Library （Singapore）

Built in 2006， this library with skylights and trellises， is meant to invoke a modern glass treehouse. Glass pods of varying colors stick out of the building randomly to create cozy yet airy nooks for reading throughout the building. At the same time， a more open-plan children’s room on the basement level invites interaction while preventing noise from filtering upward and disturbing those concentrating in the lofty perches above.

8. Seikei University Library （Tokyo， Japan）

Libraries are usually known for their quiet atmosphere， but this one encourages conversation. Pritzker Prize-winner Shigeru Ban designed the library with space-age， free-standing soundproofed pods to respect those who need uninterrupted study， while also being conducive to other methods of learning; they serve as perfect spots for study groups and lively discussions.

9. Macquarie University Library （Sydney， Australia）

A stunning combination of cutting-edge and sustainable， this building was made from recycled materials， features a green roof， and was designed to emulate the look of a eucalyptus tree. It is also state of the art， using robot cranes to bring requested books to the front desk.

有些圖書館以獨特的建筑外觀吸引游客在書架間探索、專心閱讀一本新書，或通過流動圖書館服務，將書籍帶給不便于到館的讀者。無論方式如何，這些別具一格的圖書館都讓閱讀的魔力經久不衰。

1. 堪薩斯市公共圖書館（堪薩斯城，美國密蘇里州）

停車場外部的南墻裝扮成一個巨大的書架。很明顯這座建筑起初用作銀行，因為放映影片的金庫劇場所在地其實是1925年的銀行金庫。

2. 巴斯孔塞洛斯圖書館（墨西哥城，墨西哥）

該圖書館以體型巨大著稱，與其說是一家圖書館，它的內部更像是一個大型倉儲設施。開闊的內部樓層聳立，每一層都安置著開放的柵格書架，營造出迷宮般的氛圍，中心置有加布里埃爾·奧羅斯科的作品“移動矩陣”——一個由灰鯨骨架改造而成的雕塑。圖書館外部環繞著近6.5英畝郁郁蔥蔥的花園，專門種植墨西哥特有的植物。

3. 斯圖加特市圖書館（斯圖加特市，德國）

這座9層的公共圖書館于2011年對外開放，由建筑師李恩永設計。建筑通體呈白色（夜晚打上藍色燈光），令人稱嘆，其立方體結構醒目，內部空曠，頗具特色。該館是斯圖加特市的文化中心，讓人感到寬敞亮堂，四個方向皆有入口，人們既可以借書，也可以借藝術品。

4. 桑德羅·彭納圖書館（佩魯賈，意大利）

意大利素以古典建筑和歷史建筑聞名，桑德羅·彭納圖書館則因其現代美而與眾不同。這座圖書館建于2004年，以當地一位詩人的名字命名，內有藏書和多媒體。其環形粉紅色玻璃頂好似一艘飛碟，極具識別性。

5. 海灘圖書館（阿爾貝納，保加利亞）

在海灘上看書從古至今都是件美事，保加利亞的一家圖書館鼓勵訪客這樣做。距離沖浪場不遠的一排排白色書架能防風擋雨，上面擺放著6000本書，涉及15種語言，因此每位讀者都可以在享受陽光的同時找到完美的海灘讀物。

6. 駱駝圖書館服務（東北省，肯尼亞）

為了提高肯尼亞沙漠地區的識字率，政府建立了一個由9頭駱駝組成的移動圖書館，將書籍送到村莊。圖書館每周有4天的時間為該地區的牧民服務。目前，這項服務的重點是兒童，但隨著資金的增加，他們計劃延長距離、增加書目。

7. 碧山圖書館（新加坡）

這座圖書館建于2006年，建筑運用天窗、格架，旨在營造現代玻璃樹屋設計感。不同顏色的玻璃吊艙無規則地懸挑而出，在館內外形成舒適而通風的角落以供閱讀。同時，地下一層的大開間兒童閱讀區利于互動，又避免了吵鬧聲向上傳遞，打擾高處潛心閱讀的人。

8. 成蹊大學圖書館（東京，日本）

圖書館通常以安靜的氛圍而聞名，但這座圖書館卻鼓勵交談。普利茲克建筑獎得主坂茂為圖書館設計了極為先進的獨立隔音吊艙，以照顧那些需要不受打擾學習的人，也方便其他學習方式;這些吊艙是學習小組和活躍討論的絕佳場所。

9. 麥考里大學圖書館（悉尼，澳大利亞）

這座建筑實現了尖端技術和可持續理念的驚人結合，由可回收材料建成，有綠色屋頂，設計模仿桉樹的外觀。該館也利用了最先進的技術，借由機器人起重機將所需書籍送到前臺。□

（譯者為“《英語世界》杯”翻譯大賽獲獎者;單位：北京理工大學）