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Dessau's library in transition: modernization for the future!
The city library in Dessau-Roßlau is changing: modernization, digital offerings and social meeting places for everyone.
Dessau's library in transition: modernization for the future!
It's getting colder and colder, and the city library in Dessau not only offers protection from the cold, but also a glimpse into the future of the library landscape. Today, on October 28, 2025, many people, like an older lady with her walker, enter the library and look for their favorites, be they women's novels or current bestsellers. Their questions and needs reflect the change taking place in the library. The Mitteldeutsche Zeitung reports that the city library is constantly being rebuilt and modernized to meet the needs of its readers.
What does this actually mean for users? On the one hand, the library's holdings are being thinned out in order to offer fresh and relevant content. On the other hand, space is created for new areas that significantly change the character of the house. Library director Tom Weiß emphasizes that this process is necessary in order to remain sustainable and to position ourselves as a modern meeting place. “It’s a lengthy and careful process,” says Weiß.
The library as a social space
Modern libraries are increasingly developing into multifunctional meeting places. Frebiblio highlights that the use of libraries has undergone a change in recent years. People come not only to read, but also for digital training, workshops or simply to come together in the digital age. An example from Barcelona shows how a library with hammocks and digital offerings attracts young and old residents alike.
The library in Dessau is also striving to take up this trend. Informal seating and open architecture, where low bookshelves provide clarity, are increasingly becoming the norm. Such changes promote social cohesion in the city districts and encourage people to linger. Readers appreciate the library as a warming retreat, especially in the cool season.
The digital transformation
Digital transformation could fundamentally change libraries. De Gruyter describes that artificial intelligence will become increasingly important in the provision of information. Libraries are faced with new challenges when it comes to combining analog and digital content. The future will definitely be exciting because everything we knew about libraries could change fundamentally.
Leaping into the future does not require concentrating on pure technology. It's more about understanding people's needs and responding with tailor-made offers. The question remains: How can you preserve the library's old charm and at the same time break new ground?
In Dessau it is clear that the air smells of change. With a targeted redesign, the library aims to appeal to both younger and older users and to establish itself as an important part of the city's social life. A bold step into a new era that will certainly not be without challenges.