Central Library Mönchengladbach: The Future is Now!

In early June 2023, the City Library Mönchengladbach celebrated the reopening of the renovated and expanded Central Library Carl Brandts Haus with around 9,000 enthusiastic visitors. The redesign of the interior spaces, including the extension, the atrium, the bridge, and all outdoor areas, has implemented a visionary and already award-winning spatial and usage concept: a modern, integrative, and inclusive feel-good place for all people. The fresh interior design is impressive. "The Central Library is the city's most-used cultural and educational institution and now has the suitable spatial facilities," says Library Director Brigitte Behrendt.

Advanced self-service kiosks, return solutions, and security gates blend harmoniously with the atmospheric appearance. Numerous customer-specific adjustments regarding device design and technical requirements have been implemented, demonstrating the great flexibility of Nexbib's RFID solutions.

"In the first year of operation, 62% more people visited the Central Library than in the last pre-Corona year 2019. Compared to 2019, there has been a 120% increase in new registrations. This is mainly attributed to the new diverse spatial and usage possibilities and the extended opening hours - for which self-service is, of course, a prerequisite," says Brigitte Behrendt.

Open for All Until 10 PM

With the extended opening hours until 10 PM on weekdays, the library positions itself as contemporary and community-oriented. "We want to be as low-threshold as possible, meaning our spaces and services are available to everyone, not just people with a library card. This also applies during Open Library times, and even on Sundays! Therefore, we do not require entry identification with a library card at the entrance," explains Brigitte Behrendt.

Visitors still feel safe and, above all, comfortable. The centrally hosted Open Library Web Portal makes it easier for the team to manage opening hours and the use of video surveillance.

"The future viability and harmonious interplay of RFID systems are very important to us. Having library technology from a single source simplifies processes and stabilizes system operations. The ability to integrate the systems into a central monitoring and configuration tool guarantees safe and efficient operation. The Nexbib team, including project management and support, knows our needs and responds promptly. This was the only way the installation and commissioning could function under a tight schedule parallel to the reopening preparations. We are very satisfied with the personal and solution-oriented service," says the library director.

Custom Design

As soon as the discreet Nex.Gates at the main entrance of the Central Library are passed through, three sleek Nex.Kiosk Nordic units stand out, ready for users to self-checkout media and manage accounts. The self-service kiosks can be electronically adjusted to the desired height, making them accessible at all times. A special feature is the color scheme, which specifically reflects the corporate design of the Central Library and thus integrates perfectly into the foyer. The self-service kiosks, along with their Corian shelves, are uniformly designed in anthracite. The bases of the security gates are in the color of the door frames, which are also found in the shelves. The media trays of the two return systems in the foyer also repeat this elegant, modern color scheme. This makes the entire library technology visually cohesive. The cladding of the entire return and sorting system with aesthetic acoustic panels in oak corresponds to the house's minimalist design concept.

For user identification at Nex.Kiosk and Nex.Return, contactless Mifare cards are used. Their multifunctionality allows the desired flexible combination with other institutions and services. Moreover, due to their low detection range of a few centimeters and special data encryption, they offer increased process security and precision. As an alternative, customers also wanted to use the barcode of their library card integrated into their smartphone wallet. Therefore, all devices were additionally equipped with barcode readers.

Additional Security at the 24/7 Return

At the 24/7 outdoor return, a sluice prevents non-library media from being returned. The operation is very simple: when a book is identified at the Nex.Return tray, the front flap opens. The book can then be placed in the chute. It is moved only up to a second, rear flap. There, the medium's return authorization is first checked; the first flap is closed in the meantime. If the medium belongs to the library's collection, it is now returned to the library system, and the second flap opens. The book then swiftly moves on the conveyor belt until it is sorted into one of nine Nex.Bins.

New Digital Services

Catering to current usage habits, the library relies on mobile devices (laptops and tablets) and self-service for customer IT equipment. Since May 2024, users can borrow handy tablets from a Hublet Dock, a charging and storage station. For hours, they can browse, work, play, watch movies, or listen to podcasts at their favorite spot, and there are many in Carl Brandts Haus. Visitors can move more flexibly within the library to use various digital offerings for themselves or in groups.

Well-deserved: More Architecture Awards

The Central Library has recently been honored with two awards: the NRW Architecture Prize and the German Lighting Design Award 2024.

In winter 2023, the library and the architectural firm Schrammel Architektur Stadtplanung received the Linker Niederrhein Architecture Prize for the monument-appropriate renovation and expansion and the modern usage concept, which has made the library a popular meeting place in the neighborhood.

The Central Library, with its concept Central Library of the Future: Open Library, Hybrid Learning Place, Innovative Networking Space, (Inter)Cultural Meeting Point, is an essential part of the Social City Gladbach & Westend funding measure for the redevelopment and strengthening of the city center and the neighborhood. The competition winner, Schrammel Architects, has successfully given space to the innovative concept with an exciting design between monument preservation and modernity: on approximately 3,000 sqm of public space, the library offers a lively, inclusive, and integrative place that invites all people to exchange, meet, and network, inspiring creativity, participation, joint actions, (experimental) learning, and discovery. The Mönchengladbach city community has found a new meeting place here!

The following systems are in use:

Central Library Carl Brandts Haus

3 Nex.Kiosk Nordic. Height-adjustable stand models in the library's own design
1 Nex.Return system with 9 sorting targets. 2 internal returns and 1 external return 24/7
2 Nex.Gates Diamond Premium. Each with a comfortable passage width of 145 cm
1 Hublet Dock with 6 tablets
Nex.365 Open Library

District Library Rheydt

2 Nex.Kiosk Nordic. Height-adjustable stand models in the library's own design
1 Nex.Return system with 7 sorting targets and two media return options: in the foyer and inside the library
1 Nex.Gate Diamond Premium

School and District Libraries Giesenkirchen and Rheindahlen

1 Nex.Kiosk Nordic. Height-adjustable stand models in the library's own design for lending, returning, and paying fees
1 Nex.Gate Diamond Premium

Central Library Mönchengladbach

The Central Library Mönchengladbach is open to all, colorful and lively. Competent, innovative, and customer-oriented, it accompanies the entire community with over 250,000 media for leisure, school, and work, the internet, 24/7 service and Web 2.0, advice and reading promotion, readings, projects, and exhibitions through all stages of life. With media and people, it opens worlds. The entire diversity of the media world is high-quality and always up-to-date thanks to the latest technologies. The city library is much more than a lending station, but rather a place for inspiration and relaxation, a workplace, and an (inter) cultural meeting point.

Megatrends like digitalization, sustainability, and democracy play an important role in their work. The current funder of the Smart City Model Project has approved the measure to set up a Citizen Lab for active digital participation for all in the Central Library.

More info at Central Library Mönchengladbach.

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