로봇 사서부터 사막의 피난처까지…세계는 ‘미래형 도서관’ 혁신 경쟁 중

In a world of futuristic libraries, the Suisan Library in Hebei, China, has made waves as a potential "Public Library of the Year." This massive library, spanning a floor area of 68,000 square meters, boasts a subterranean level and seven ground floors, housing an impressive collection of over 200,000 books. The library's innovative automated book delivery system, staffed by robotic librarians called 'Suti,' significantly lessens the workload of human librarians.

However, despite its cutting-edge technology, Suisan Library was not crowned the ultimate winner at the 2026 World Library Information Congress (WLIC), held in Busan, South Korea, from the 10th to the 13th. The prestigious award went to Mesa Gateway Library in Arizona, USA.

Mesa Gateway Library stands out with its unique architectural design, resembling a protective structure blending into the harsh desert landscape of Arizona. The building offers a variety of spaces, including maker spaces, multipurpose rooms, individual study areas, and collaborative zones, catering to the diverse needs of its users.

The library also includes sensory rooms for neurodiverse individuals and nursing rooms for new parents. Its exterior features a 24-hour reservation bookshelf and an interactive digital art exhibition. The library's exceptional performance in several categories, such as architectural excellence, interaction with the surrounding environment and local culture, interior design and flexibility, sustainability, learning design, and social connection, as well as digitalization and technological solutions, led to its selection as the 2026 Public Library of the Year.