Question: Ever wondered how a former post office transformed into a haven for book lovers? That’s the Bezirkszentralbibliothek Spandau. It stands proudly in Spandau’s old town.
The Bezirkszentralbibliothek Spandau is more than just books. It is a vibrant community hub with a rich history. Let’s step back in time. We will uncover the Bezirkszentralbibliothek Spandau path from humble beginnings to a modern library.
In 1920, the Stadtbibliothek Spandau emerged from a public library. It began with about 9,156 books and 100,000 marks. Imagine this small collection in a department store. It was on the first floor of the Grand Am Markt 4. Amazingly, it achieved 70,000 loans in its first year.
The Bezirkszentralbibliothek Spandau then moved to the Old Town Hall. Its collection grew rapidly. It had 25,000 books including a dedicated youth section. During the economic crisis, the library became essential. Many locals relied on it because they could not afford books. By 1928, the library moved again. It occupied the attic of Spandau’s new town hall. Branches opened in Staaken, Kladow and Gatow. Loans doubled. In the early 1930s, they reached 165,000. Each reader could borrow only one book and paid one mark per quarter.
The dark shadow of Nazism fell upon the library. About ten percent of the books were removed. Works by authors like Kurt Tucholsky and Erich Maria Remarque disappeared. Jewish staff members were fired. During the war, most employees were drafted. Branches closed. Only lending services continued.
After the war, the Bezirkszentralbibliothek Spandau reopened in 1945. New branches appeared. Spandau developed a new cataloging system. It was called the Hakenfelder system. It was adopted across Germany. In 1956, the main library moved to Seegefelder Straße 35. It was in a former printing house. With 86,000 adult books and 21,000 youth books, Spandau became Berlin’s largest city library. Spandau pioneered home lending and Saturday lending. It even used punch card sorting machines. An extension was added in 1974. The library expanded its collection. It included music cassettes, CDs, videos and software.
After the Berlin Wall fell, user numbers surged. People returned books borrowed in 1961. The first PC arrived in 1991. Loans exceeded 500,000. Tough times followed. Cost-cutting measures reduced staff. In 2001, the main library returned to Spandau’s historic center. It is located in the former post office at Carl-Schurz-Straße 13. It joined Berlin’s public library network. Kladow introduced self-checkout with RFID in 2011. The Stadtbibliothek celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2020.
Today, the Bezirkszentralbibliothek Spandau holds approximately 189,000 items. These include books, CDs, DVDs, comics, and more. You can borrow e-readers or use tablets and notebooks.
The Bezirkszentralbibliothek Spandau also offers cozy reading spots. In summer, enjoy the reading terrace. A diverse program includes readings, lectures, and courses. These courses cover computers, tablets and smartphones.
The Bezirkszentralbibliothek Spandau embodies Spandau’s spirit. It embraces knowledge, community, and progress. As you leave, remember the Bezirkszentralbibliothek Spandau story. It shows how a library can evolve. It can adapt and serve its community through different times.