Magdeburg Public Library

The Magdeburg open-air neighbourhood library is a great example of how a temporary facility can catalyse a more permanent one. In 2005 a 2-day temporary library was set up, made of beer crates and supplied with donated books. This short intervention led to the launch of a readers’ café in a nearby shop, where more books were collected while designers and residents developed plans and raised money for a permanent library. It was opened in June 2009: a 24-hour open-air library with a stage for performances and various seating areas offering a relaxed reading environment.