Stockholm Public Library, Stockholm

The Stockholm Public Library, located in Stockholm, is an iconic architectural landmark designed by the renowned Swedish architect Gunnar Asplund. It is celebrated not only as a central hub of knowledge and culture in the city but also as one of the most significant structures in Stockholm's architectural heritage. The term "Stockholm Public Library" refers both to this main building and the broader municipal library system of Stockholm.

The building's design was notably influenced by the Barrière Saint-Martin (Rotonde de la Villette) by Claude Nicolas Ledoux. Asplund initially envisioned a dome but eventually opted for a rotunda, creating a tall cylindrical form that imbues the exterior with a sense of monumentality. Throughout the planning stages, Asplund embraced a minimalist approach, stripping classical architectural elements down to their most abstract geometric forms and largely avoiding decorative details.

When it opened on March 31, 1928, in the presence of Prince Eugen, the Stockholm Public Library became the first public library in Sweden to implement the principle of open shelves, allowing visitors to access books freely without needing assistance from the library staff—a concept Asplund studied during his travels to the United States. Every piece of furniture within the library was meticulously designed for its specific location and function.

Today, the library holds over 2 million volumes and 2.4 million audio materials, including tapes, CDs, and audiobooks. The library's "international library" section, located in an annex near Odenplan, houses a vast collection of materials in over 100 languages, serving as a critical resource for both Stockholm and libraries throughout Sweden via interlibrary loans. Among the most borrowed languages in recent years are Russian, Thai, Spanish, Arabic, Persian, Chinese, Polish, and Japanese.