Oslo Public Library

Deichman Library [1]
General information
Type	Public Library
Architectural style	current: Neoclassical planned: Functionalism and Deconstructivism
Location	Oslo, Norway
Completed	current: 1933 planned:2014 (Expected)
Opening	current: 1933
Technical details
Structural system	planned: 3 see-through cubes in light grey/white with openings on the left and right sides on the two other ones.
Design and construction
Main contractor	Diagonale
Architect	current: Nils Reiersen planned: Lund Hagem Arkitekter AS

The current main library building

Oslo Public Library, formally known as the Deichman Library (Norwegian: Deichmanske bibliotek), is the municipal public library serving Oslo, Norway.

It is the country's first and largest library. In addition to the main office, it has sixteen branches throughout the city. It also contains several that serve the whole country, including The Multilingual Library. The institution has 300 employees and opened in 1785 after a bequest of 6,000 books and an endowment from Carl Deichman.^[1]

The current neoclassical main building, designed by Nils Reiersen,^[2][3] dates from 1933. A new building is to be constructed at Bjørvika;^[4] Lund Hagem Arkitekter AS won the competition to design the new Deichman Library.^[5]

References

1. ^ John Ansteinsson, "The Library History of Norway", The Library Journal 45 (1920) 19-24, 57-62, p. 22.
2. ^ Arne Arnesen, "The Deichman Library in Oslo," Scandinavian Review 20 (1932) p. 428.
3. ^ Nils Olaf Reiersen (1878-1950) at arc! 2009, accessed March 15, 2010: "Reiersens viktigste arbeid er utvilsomt hovedbygningen for det Deichmanske Bibliotek på Hammersborg i Oslo (1922-33, monumental nyklassisisme, østfløyen er tilføyet i 1973)." - "Reiersen's most important work is undoubtedly the main building of the Deichman Library at Hammersborg in Oslo (1922-33, monumental neoclassicism, the east wing was added in 1973)."
4. ^ "Welcome to Deichmanske bibliotek / Oslo Public Library" (in Norwegian). Oslo Public Library. http://www.deichmanske-bibliotek.oslo.kommune.no/english/. Retrieved 19 December 2009. 
5. ^ Deichman Library Competition Winner, archiCentral, May 4, 2009, accessed March 15, 2010.