Written by: Ljiljana Maletin Vojvodić //

In the middle of the Arctic Ocean, on the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, lies the town of Longyearbyen. This is a unique place — the northernmost populated town in the world with over 2,000 residents, where more than 50 different nationalities live. And here’s an interesting fact: After the closure of the settlement of Pyramiden and its public library in 1998, Longyearbyen became home to the northernmost public library on the planet!

Renovated in 2017, the library is an important part of the city’s cultural scene and shares space with a Mexican restaurant, a cinema, and a local cultural center.

It is a favorite spot among residents, who can spend time there even after official opening hours, until 10 PM. Membership is free, and in addition to Norwegian, there are also books in other languages, with a notably excellent selection of books in English.

A cozy space with a special tradition

The library itself spans 500 square meters and is designed to be bright, spacious, and very welcoming. One of the interesting practices here is to ask every visitor to remove their shoes before entering. This not only helps keep the space clean but also gives the whole place a warm and inviting feel — perfect for relaxing with a good book.

The colors and materials used in the interior make visitors feel at home, even in the midst of the

More Than Just Books

Although it has an excellent selection of books, the library in Longyearbyen is much more than a place to borrow books. The space is lively throughout the year with various activities, from literature festivals to concerts and other cultural events. It also features an advertising area where you can find information about cultural happenings in the city.

Books are checked out and returned without the assistance of library staff, who are, on the other hand, available to help if someone needs assistance choosing fiction, non-fiction literature, films, or magazines.

The library also offers rentals of films, e-books, and online magazines, and if a requested book is not available but can be found in libraries in Norway, it will be borrowed and delivered to Longyearbyen upon the reader’s request.

Whether you are there for reading or just looking for a quiet place to relax, the Longyearbyen public library is truly the cultural heart of this Arctic town, enjoyed by both adults and children. The children have their special play area, which is functionally integrated into the entire library.

The city library in Longyearbyen serves as evidence that even in some of the most isolated locations in the world, it is possible to create a high-quality public library that facilitates community meetings and gatherings.

If someone is ill and unable to borrow books in person, a service is organized to deliver books to the desired address.

The library in Longyearbyen, a small, isolated town in the Svalbard archipelago, is a perfect place for quality leisure time that aims to provide access to public resources regardless of income, class, background, occupation, education, etc.

The local city library is not the only library in the northernmost inhabited town on the planet. Indeed, it is the only one accessible to all residents of the town, including tourists, who cannot borrow books but are welcome to sit in the library, read, and use the internet.

In addition to the city library in Longyearbyen, there are also school and university libraries.

You can find more information about the city library HERE.