The building and the architect  

On 16 July 2001, Utrecht University started the construction of the new University Library in the central area of the Uithof. On 1 September 2004, the University Library opened its doors to the public. The official opening took place in the spring of 2005. 

The building was designed by the architect Wiel Arets.

Click here to view a short film made by Henryk Gajewski..

A new library

1. Why a new library building?
2. Why is the library located in the Uithof? 
3. What were the costs?
4.Who funded the new library?
5. What advantages does this library have to offer students, lecturers and staff?

History

6. When was the library founded?
7. What was the growth of the collection between 1584 and 1984?
8. What is the size of the collection now?

Facts about the building

9.  What is the total floor area of the new building?
10. What materials were used?
11. Why are there two kinds of stairsteps?
12. What about the reed print on the walls and windows?
13. Why is the library black?
14. What about the acoustics of the building?
15. How many vehicles can be parked in the car park?
16. How many bikes can be parked in the bike shed?



1. Why a new library building?
The three main reasons were:

• The old library had grown too small to house the collection and to accommodate the growing number of students;
• An urgent need existed for better housing conditions for the library's large and valuable cultural possessions (the Special Collections precious and vulnerable works, such as the famous 9th century Utrecht Psalter);
• A more modern building was needed that would be better equipped to meet the latest modernizations in the rendering of services (in particular in the field of information technology) which the library has developed during the past years. Also better and more modern study facilities were needed for the library visitors.
• If you would like to read more about the reasons for the move, please visit the website in our archives about the new building (in Dutch).

2. Why is the library located in the Uithof?
The University Library wishes to emphasize its cultural role: the library as a meeting place to exchange knowledge and playing a central part in the process of gathering knowledge, so the heart of the university campus seemed like a logical choice.

3. What were the costs?
The building costs totalled €45 million excluding VAT.

4. Who funded the new library?
Utrecht University.

5. What advantages does this library have to offer students, lecturers and staff?

• The users of the faculties in the central area of the Uithof will find an integrated information centre conveniently located in one place;
• Waiting times for requested material from the depositories will be considerably shorter for users on site; 
• The best study facilities: a large number of computers, laptop connections, wireless internet; the computers are equipped with as much software and hardware packages as possible, fitting in with the current study methods (RefWorks for instance), comfortable work stations (tables with different heights), individual study rooms and group study rooms;
• Climate controlled reading rooms (Special Collections and the Map Collection); 
• More material on open shelves;
• An increase in the identity of faculty collections with each discipline having its own reading room;
• An auditorium with several audiovisual facilities which can seat approximately 120 persons. The auditorium is used for cultural and academic events and can be booked for a number of scientific, cultural and representative activities. For instance: symposia and congresses, Studium Generale lectures, degree certificate ceremonies, film nights, receptions related to education and research, music performances, exhibitions, video conferences and such;
• Not only the collection but also the library building is accessible to all Utrecht University staff and students. In that sense, the University Library is the only basic facility for all faculties and institutions on the Uithof;
• The University Library is a place to meet people, making the Uithof a better place to be;
• Easy to reach as it is located in the central area of the Uithof;
• Ample parking facilities next to the University Library: car park (520 cars) and bike shed (300 bikes);
• In the future an increasing number of items will be electronically available, and as a consequence less room will be taken up by bookshelves and more room will become available for study places. During the construction of the car park it was taken into account that in the future an extra floor (for the library) can be built on top of the car park.

6. When was the library founded?
In 1636, the Utrecht Town Library on Janskerkhof became University Library as well. In 1820, the University Library moved from the Janskerkhof to Wittevrouwenstraat 7-11 (the former palace of King Lodewijk Napoleon). In 1837, the faculty libraries were founded, in 1985 most of them were joined together again.

7. What was the growth of the collection between 1584 and 1984?
In 1584, the collection of the Town Library consisted of 600 volumes, in 1608 of 6000 volumes, in 1718 the library possessed approximately 7200 books and 479 manuscripts, in 1810 8699 and 681 manuscripts, in 1939 the library possessed 250.000 titles (732.675 volumes) and in 1984 725.000 titles (3.750.000 volumes).



8. What is the size of the collection now?
Nowadays, the collection consists of approximately 2.090.000 titles (4,2 million volumes).

9. What is the total floor area of the new building?
30,000 square metres 30.000 m2 (gross).

10. What materials were used?
The building itself mainly consists of concrete and glass. The floors are covered with light-grey shining material which reflects the light. This means that the lower bookshelves receive enough light. The desks are covered with especially designed red imitation leather (pleasant to the touch / multifunctional, also suitable for the benches). The colour red draws attention to the desks.



11. Why are there two kinds of stairsteps?
Based on the concept: "the library as a meeting place", the architect has chosen for the so-called sauntering stairsteps to the second floor and normal stairsteps to the other floors.

12. What about the reed print on the walls and windows?
The print is based on a Kim Zwarts photograph. The screen prints on the windows filter the incoming light.  Behind the black concrete relief walls with the same reed pattern, the depositories are located, which hang as a kind of "floating clouds" among the open spaces. 

13. Why is the library black?
The architect settled on black to create an atmosphere in which attention is drawn to the books.



14. What about the acoustics in the building?
In fact, much of the concrete consists of pieces of sheet metal and in combination with the floor covering and the coverings on the bookcases it has a sound insulating effect.

15. How many vehicles can be parked in the car park?
520 parking places and a floor area of 10,000 square metres.

16. How many bikes can be parked in the bike shed?
300 parking places, of which 100 for staff and a floor area of 400 square metres.