Reykjavik City Library: Fostering ‘open conversation’

Thursday, 14 August 2025 Books+Publishing

With libraries, their work, and free access to information under increasing threat around the world, B+P and the Melbourne UNESCO City of Literature Office reached out to libraries in other designated cities of literature to ask them about their libraries, their systems, their triumphs, their challenges, and the messages they want to share with the world.

This week we hear from Reykjavik City Library in Iceland:

Borgarbókasafnið Grófinni (Reykjavik City Library)

At just over 100 hundred years old, Reykjavik City Library owes its beginnings to an unconventional source – the Icelandic government’s sale of 10 shipping boats to France. It was decided part of that sale would go towards something that would benefit Reykjavik and its residents and so the public library was opened in 1923.

The first library was in a small building that is now home to Mokka, one of the oldest and most well-known cafes in downtown Reykjavik. Since its establishment, the library has operated in various locations and now boasts branches in eight different locations across the city. Today, visitors can find books, exhibits and technology exploring Iceland’s literary heritage and global inspirations, making the library a place to connect with the city’s creative energy.

‘In recent years, we have worked to establish the library as an open and welcoming public space for everyone,’ said Guðrún Dís Jónatansdóttir, head of communications at Reykjavik City Library. ‘Here, our users can enjoy the facilities for a variety of activities – not just for reading books, but also for socialising and engaging with their community. We promote the library as an inclusive and welcoming space where people from all backgrounds can come together as equals, fostering mutual respect for diverse values and perspectives.’

One factor that keeps the library accessible to everyone is that a library card is not necessary to spend time at the city library, to use its facilities, or attend free events. ‘As a result,’ said Jónatansdóttir, ‘the number of visitors is growing rapidly.’

Staying connected to the community remains a top priority for the library. ‘We use different methods to create connections,’ said Jónatansdóttir. ‘Establishing active collaboration with those who work for Reykjavik city who provide welfare and school services for vulnerable groups has proven effective. We have also established a good network of experts in different fields, such as in matters concerning immigrants, refugees, disabled people and other marginalised groups. There has also been an emphasis on engaging in a dialogue with various associations through Opið samtal.’

Opið samtal (Open Conversation) is a conversation platform at the library where individuals discuss issues with the aim of collectively finding solutions, figure out how to use the library as a democratic platform, and engage in respectful and open exchange. Library patrons can contribute topics to the conversation platform and contribute to what the future city library will look like. In fact, patrons are invited to submit their feedback about what they would like to see from the city library.

Programming plays a key role in shaping the library into a warm and inviting public space. The library offers a variety of workshops that encourage reading, as well as events that target different groups. Branches also regularly host writing workshops for adults, led by staff and trained creative writing instructors, to provide guidance, writing prompts, and discussions for aspiring authors.

‘We also warmly welcome those interested in hosting their own workshops at the library,’ said Jónatansdóttir. Stofan | A Public Living Room was a program hosted by local writer Michelle Spinei. The space was set-up comfortably with pillows, rugs, plants and boards displaying writing tips, advice and prompts to inspire writers, and allow them to practice writing with community.

Aspiring writers are also encouraged to use the library for writing, meeting fellow writers and attending literary events, and can host their own events at the library free of charge. Additionally, said Jónatansdóttir, ‘The City Library has put an emphasis on highlighting and supporting authors of foreign origin who live and work in Iceland.’

There is also a distinct focus on sustainability in the library’s programming, helping to connect the community to the living world around them. For example, the Freeshop is a project where people can drop off things in good condition that they no longer use and take home anything they might need. The library also hosts the Reykjavik Tool Library for tools instead of books. In 2024, the library launched a seed library, where patrons can go to get seeds for free to plant their own gardens. Alongside these initiatives, the library holds engaging programs for children and adults focused on the circular economy, sustainability, and environmental issues.

When working in a library, Jónatansdóttir said that it is essential to have a clear strategy developed in close dialogue with users and staff. ‘This should be launched with a ‘dynamic action plan, which the staff actively follows when embarking on new projects,’ she said. ‘It is essential to work with creative tools to engage users and strive to identify different needs and develop ways to meet them, and to remember that the library is, above all, a public space – one of the few where the diverse fabric of society can meet on equal footing.’

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