| The Main Library on Vienna's inner-city ring | | | | which was renovated a few years ago - it |
| road, the G?rtel, was built in line with | | | | conveys a cosmopolitan feeling and signals |
| structural principles completely new in | | | | free access to the knowledge stored in the |
| Austria's library landscape, a concept known | | | | library. The caf?s in the glass rotunda |
| as the "fractal library". The so-called | | | | represent casual and communicative urbanity. |
| college model, consisting of six spatially | | | | The library, 150 meters long and 26 meters |
| separate departmental areas, forms the core | | | | wide, offers a usable area of 6,000 square |
| of the Main Library. The six college teams | | | | meters and provides access to 240,000 pieces |
| are independently responsible for the | | | | of print as well as to 60,000 electronic |
| administration of their respective areas in | | | | media items. Libraries in Vienna are a |
| terms of inventory development and | | | | customer-oriented service organization with a |
| maintenance as well as customer information. | | | | vast range of up-to-date quality media to |
| | | | choose from plus specific advisory services |
| The Vienna main library, the radio chips | | | | for all their users. The libraries were |
| store information such as copy number, | | | | established by the City of Vienna as a major |
| author, library code, location in the | | | | source of information and education and to |
| library, systematic group, last individual | | | | promote cultural and leisure time activities. |
| who checked out the book, status as well as | | | | They are part of a worldwide network of |
| completeness information for media packages. | | | | libraries. |
| | | | |
| One of the most fascinating facets of the new | | | | With its new Main Library the City of Vienna |
| Main Library of the City Libraries is the | | | | participates in the international boom in |
| view through its vast glass facades – | | | | library construction by promoting a |
| Kahlenberg, Leopoldsberg and large parts of | | | | trend-setting project. Choosing a huge |
| the Vienna Woods seem close enough to touch. | | | | circular traffic artery of Vienna as location |
| Spacious library rooms with Internet and | | | | for a new main library, Vienna has set |
| audio stations, reading nooks and a caf? are | | | | specific standards and requirements for both |
| conducive to reading and reflecting. | | | | architecture and city planning. Director Mr. |
| | | | Alfred Pfoser introduces the architectural |
| Directly above the underground station | | | | ideas of the building and its organisation. |
| Burggasse-Stadthalle one finds the new | | | | He describes the concerns and implications of |
| library, opened in 2003 and created by | | | | placing a new main library in an area of |
| architect Ernst Mayr. A supporting structure | | | | tension, which has become the special object |
| spanning three stories makes the building | | | | of town planning and redevelopment. |
| look as if it were suspended above the tracks | | | | |
| of the old Otto Wagner station pavilions. It | | | | Its pleasing design, long opening hours, |
| is located directly between the two lanes of | | | | reading areas and work stations for the |
| the Vienna "G?rtel," one of the busiest roads | | | | different media will make you want to stay a |
| of the city. | | | | while. Take a break from the books and enjoy |
| | | | splendid views of Vienna from the caf? on the |
| The generous open staircase of the library | | | | roof. |
| connects to the roof of Urban-Loritz square, | | | | |