Being, learning, doing: A palace for the children? A Tween’s Library Seen from the User’s Perspectives

Abstract

In this chapter we investigate the library’s empowering aspects within the context of Biblo Tøyen, a library designed and open only for children between ten and fifteen. It is unique in a Norwegian context, but inspired by TioTretton in Stockholm, and the Library of 100 talents in Holland. Both these libraries have been designed and developed with the involvement of users – the children themselves (Mosch and Bertrams 2009; Bayliss 2015). Most libraries put a special emphasis on creating services for children, but traditionally these have been centered around books and reading. At Biblo, the goal is to create a third place (Oldenburg 1989) for children and make them active contributors and participants in the library. Learning, knowledge, and culture still take center stage, but literature does not underpin the activities in the library. Cooking, playing games, or creating things are the most visible activities at Biblo.