Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam

Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam
English	Amsterdam Public Library
The central library
Country	Netherlands
Type	Public library
Established	1919[1]
Location	Amsterdam
Collection
Size	1.7M books[2]
Access and use
Circulation	5M books (2005)[3]
Members	175,000 (2007)[3]
Other information
Director	J.H.M. van Velzen[1]
Staff	326 employees[3]
Website	www.oba.nl
Phone number	[phone]

The Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam (Public Library Amsterdam) is a collective name for all public libraries in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The first library opened in 1919 at the Keizersgracht. As of 2007, there are 28 public libraries and 43 lending points, such as in hospitals. In 2005, OBA had 1.7 million books and 165,000 members and lent out 5 million books.

Central Library

The interior of the central library

The largest of these libraries, the Centrale Bibliotheek, moved to the Prinsengracht in 1977 and 30 years later, on 7 July 2007 (070707), to the Oosterdokseiland, just east of Amsterdam Centraal station. It is the largest public library in Europe. The complex has a floor surface of 28,500 m², spread out over 10 floors, 1200 seats, of which 600 with Internet-connected computers and a staff of 200. Also included are an auditorium, an exhibition room, the Library Museum, the Gerard Reve Museum and 2000 parking spaces for bicycles. On the seventh floor is a V&D La Place self-service restaurant with a south-facing terrace. The cost of the project was €80 million. The building was designed by Jo Coenen, the former state architect (Rijksbouwmeester) of the Netherlands, who also designed the nearby KNSM island, as well as the Central Library of Maastricht, and renovated the distinctive Glaspaleis in Heerlen, which houses its Central Library.

The Central Library is open 7 days per week from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and the lending and returning of books is fully automated.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} (Dutch) "Historie". www.oba.nl. Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam. http://www.oba.nl/index.cfm/t/Historie/vid/B2C1A028-FF73-32F2-79E581B09378F260. Retrieved 2008-08-22. 
2. ^ (Dutch) "Collectie". www.oba.nl. Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam. http://www.oba.nl/index.cfm/t/Collectie/vid/9E7E6079-C09F-296A-613DBB419D428E1C. Retrieved 2008-08-22. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} (Dutch) "Facts & figures". www.oba.nl. Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam. http://www.oba.nl/index.cfm/t/Facts___figures/vid/1DEE2C9A-17A4-A597-D914D4576433DC92. Retrieved 2008-08-22. 

External links

• Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam (official website)

Coordinates: 52°22′33″N 4°54′26″E / 52.37583°N 4.90722°E / 52.37583; 4.90722