The Garden Library

“A library without walls?” you might wonder. That’s exactly what The Garden Library is. It’s a unique and inspiring project right here in the heart of Tel Aviv’s Levinsky Park. This isn’t your typical library. The Garden Library was founded in 2010 with a beautiful idea: to make books and the joy of reading accessible to everyone. It’s a haven for refugees and migrant workers. They find solace and escape within the pages of a book. The library itself is an open-air space. It consists of two striking bookcases nestled between the walls of a public shelter. The taller bookcase, illuminated from within, houses books for adults. Its glow creates a beacon of warmth in the park at night. Opposite this stands a smaller bookcase designed for children. The doors of this bookcase cleverly unfold to create a floor where children can sit and enjoy their literary treasures. What makes The Garden Library truly special is its heart. It houses around 3,500 books in 16 languages. These range from Mandarin Chinese and Amharic to Thai, Arabic and many more. This diversity reflects the multicultural community it serves. But the magic doesn’t stop there! The Garden Library has discarded the traditional library cataloging system. Instead of being organized by genre or author, books are categorized by the emotions they evoke. A book that made one reader laugh might be on the “Joyful” shelf. A book that moved another to tears could be found on the “Heartfelt” shelf. This unique system ensures that each book finds its perfect reader based on shared emotions. The Garden Library is more than just a repository of books. It’s a vibrant community hub. It symbolizes the power of shared stories and the universality of human emotions.