Marian Koren’s review on Wu’s book
关键词 : Marian Koren Wu Jianzhong Classical Classical library buildings is the third volume in the series of library buildings of the world, initiated by dr. Jianzhong Wu, director of the Shanghai Library and member of the Governing Board 2001-2005) his enthusiasm for library buildings in its various shapes around the world, has this time inspired him to focus on classical library buildings, resulting in a fine and delicately designed publication.
As he states in the introduction: Library buildings are treasures of human civilisation. By studying existing library buildings we can experience its unique artistic styles and architectonic functions. On request of the IFLA/> Library/> Buildings/>/> and Equipment Section, in the preface represented by its chair, Andrew Cranfield, dr. Wu collected in cooperation with an international editorial board, (including advice from Stephen Parker, IFLA Journal) examples of constructions and designs from different countries and cultures. Buildings should be about 100 years of age. The editorial board was dependant upon willingness to contribute. As is know from experience, librarians are not spontaneous contributors. But with combined efforts dr. Wu and his team have managed to select 47 buildings from 22 countries spread all over the world. From the Neterlands: Artis, Ets Haim, Heerlen/>, Vredespaleis, Teylers/> Museum/>/> en de Librije uit Zutphen.The selected buildings include libraries of different types. For example libraries related to individuals, (Tianye Ge in Ning Bo/>, China/>), to a church (Librije in Zutphen/>, Netherlands/>): both (!) from 1561; to a religious order ( Zi-Ka-Wei library (Jesuits, in Shanghai/>), to the parliament (Canada/> and USA/>), to a society (Asian Society in India/>/>), to a workers’ movement (David Sassoon library in Mumbai) etc. Additionally, a number of national library buildings are presented of which collections date back many centuries. Most of those buildings are, about 200 years old. Compare the styles in Austria/>, Finland/>, Wales/> and e.g. Russia/>/>. Public library buildings demonstrate the access for everyone in different ways: Cleveland/>, Oslo/>, Prague/>, Warsaw/>, and Heerlen/> (Netherlands/>/>). All selected buildings have a short description in English and Chinese. Both exterior and interior photographs are presented, some in large format. That makes it such a pleasure to look at the City Library of Antwerpen, the special libraries in Amsterdam/> (Ets Haim (Unesco-listed), Artis-Zoo); university libraries in Japan/> and Spain/>, and the regional state library buildings of Bayern and Osaka/>/>. All these examples demonstrate in their own way the special heritage they materialise: buildings and collections of libraries still in use. More libraries could follow. As Dr. Wu himself writes: ‘because of poor communication and lack of time excellent buildings might not have been taken up; this book shows nevertheless the essential of classical buildings in the world.’ For general knowledge about library buildings from different cultures and times, this is a useful and beautiful book, which gives a taste for more. Libraries are part of a rich (building) history and should present themselves as such.