“Welcome to a book guardian’s world”

May 7, 2021 1:18 PM

A 20 minute documentary about the Reykjavík downtown library by Jiaqian Chen, who interviews staff and patrons, including a child, a musician, and a homeless person, and films various activities taking place on the first day the library opened after the latest Covid lockdown in Iceland. The interviews are in English, the narration is in Chinese, and everything is subtitled in English and Chinese.
posted by Kattullus (7 comments total)

Incidentally, this is my local library when I’m living in Reykjavík.

If you’re curious about the three musical acts mentioned, they are Jan Mayen (Valli’s band), DJ Flugvél og geimskip (Steinunn’s musical alter ego), and Power Paladin (Ingi’s heavy metal band).

Oh, and link via RÚV.
posted by Kattullus at 1:22 PM on May 7, 2021 [3 favorites]

This is great. Thank you for posting it. It's wonderful seeing libraries reopen; the San Francisco Public Library re-opened this Monday.
posted by ALeaflikeStructure at 4:37 PM on May 7, 2021 [2 favorites]

I saw this, written in a frame, and hung on a Carnegie Library wall in 1965, in Selma, Alabama. I was six years old:

"Libraries will get you through times of no money a LOT better than money will get you through times of no libraries."
posted by halfbuckaroo at 5:32 PM on May 7, 2021 [8 favorites]

this was so charming! if only my local library were more like this. thanks for sharing.
posted by too bad you're not me at 8:12 PM on May 7, 2021 [1 favorite]

Loved this! My local library is like this but not this well funded - lovely place and such great people!
posted by esoteric things at 10:19 PM on May 7, 2021 [1 favorite]

wonderful. gives me hope for humanity.
posted by brambleboy at 10:19 PM on May 7, 2021 [1 favorite]

Charming. Wonderful. Yes. :)
posted by Glinn at 6:21 AM on May 8, 2021 [1 favorite]