Gothenburg’s libraries move to the beach

Books go where the summer action is

Starting on 29 June, Sillvik beach, located in the western reaches of Gothenburg municipality, will feature a library. The on-site container will be stocked with books, games, crafts and magazines, all of which the beachgoers can borrow between the hours of 11 am and 5 pm, from Tuesday to Saturday, and until 17 August.

Sweden’s beach season may be short, but at least it can be fun in all possible ways

This initiative is returning this year, even if under certain restrictions to account for the pandemic situation that is still in place in the Scandinavian country. Due to current restrictions, there will, unfortunately, be no craft table for visitors this year. Instead, activities are offered where it is possible to keep your distance. Two theatre companies will also come to visit (Teater Trampolin and Sagofen Isadora).

There will be summer book meetings with a storytelling workshop, as well as a visit to Västerhavsveckan, which in August has an exciting workshop on how to create musical instruments from rubbish recovered from the sea. There are drawing bags and natural bingo bags that the children can borrow with them for the beach blanket to do crafts and look for beach finds.

“We, who work on-site, see the Beach Library as a unique opportunity to give our time and our commitment, as well as to be able to spend more time with the children than what is normally possible at ordinary public libraries. We get an opportunity to give book tips and hold spontaneous readings. 

We want to lower the threshold for those children and families who are not so used to visiting the library,“ explained Ellinor Spång, who works at Torslanda Library, one of the participating municipal facilities (the other being Trulsegården’s library).

What is more, special book buses, which normally visit residential areas and preschools will also change their routes in order to visit parks, playgrounds and beaches during the summer. From 28 June to 22 August, they will go to these areas in order to meet the children at the places where they are most likely to be.