Summer is the time for pop-up libraries. I love how they help us re-envisage what a library can be, how they play with architecture and space, and how fun they always are.
Here’s a wonderful one from last summer created by Massimo Bartolini for Project TRACK (you can read more about it here: http://track.be)
Set in the vineyard at St Peter’s Abbey in the city of Ghent, Bartolini’s library mimics a vineyard; the shelves reminiscent of the vines themselves. As with any pop-up library, visitors could borrow a book, buy a book, or exchange one.
all photo credits: track.be
Hopefully, they provided some wine as well!
reading interrupted. 
My I would love to be there right now, first grab a book and then get some wine to read and have a picnic like the couple in the first picture ( I think is couple). I love this idea so much!
I love that first picture too. This library definitely makes one want to have a picnic, I agree, Doris!
Oh! Oh! Oh! This is marvelous. The combination of summer, books, and a fresh open green space is a piece of heaven. 🙂
You’re right, the perfect combination- these pop up libraries are so great, taking advantage of these great landscapes!
This is great – like the beach library in another of your recent posts. And yes picnics definitely – wonderful!
Yes, like the beach one- it’s so fun to see what kind of different libraries pop up in different places. I never tire of it!
Now this is more to my liking than the beach library you posted about before. At least there’s no sand sneaking into my shoes here! 😉
There’s a pop up library for everyone! 🙂 I’m like you, although the beach library was so fun, this one is more my style too.
that’s cool. hope it doesn’t rain though.
Good point, maybe they have huge tarps to put over the shelves or something…
I love your vine yard library! A book and a glass of wine, taken in the shadow of a nearby
Tree….! Sounds lovely!
So many different libraries! People love reading!
Francoise
I love how he thought about this particular reading experience too! One can just imagine oneself there…
Love Ghent (and the rest of Belgium, too), love libraries, love the unexpected. This is just about perfect!
The unexpected, yes, that’s the perfect word – I love the unexpected nature of the outdoor pop up libraries!
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Looks very cool. How do you even find all of these different libraries?
I love when people play around with the concept and space of a library so any article on one immediately catches my eye. They are often so playful!
I bet at this point people also send you links when they see something like this. You are library woman.
Library woman… I wish!m
Thanks for share. I feel this way when I can read a book, as if eating the book as a bread, and drinking what the words carry within them.
I hadn’t though of this, but you are so right Walter- the idea that the books themselves are metaphors for the grapes and wine that feed our bodies and souls! Wonderful!
What a beautiful library to experience. It’s fascinating how it reverses our usual idea of a library. Here the books are exposed and out in the open and part of the world whereas we usually have our books tucked away in a special building ( a monument to books sometimes) almost hidden from the world. Exposed in every sense! Do they allow the books to get wet if it rains?
I always wonder about rain with these open air libraries too. I imagine they have some kind of system in place, perhaps with tarps?
But, I agree, the accessibility, is so interesting and so different from our usual understanding of a library.
Every single post of yours comes up with something I have never seen, or thought of. How come you do it this consistently? You must have an eye for such creative reading spaces.
This looks amazing! Nothing better than mild alcohol and a book of poetry. Absolute bliss 🙂
Thank you, Tatsat, I could say the same of you!
I love that this artist embraced the history and layout of the environment to create his project- so creative.
Letizia. You continue to make me smile and think. I didn’t know where Ghent was , but now I do. Book…, got to love them!
Thanks, Dannie! I should have mentioned where Ghent was, oops!
Oh yes ! …a little bread beneath the bough,
A flask of Wine, a Book ( of Verse) – and Thou
beside me in the Vineyard… with apologies to Fitzgerald
Brilliant, Valerie! I love this so much!
What a wonderful and fabulous idea. I’ve never seen anything like that here in South Africa. Hmm, if they produce wine as well, then I’m definitely there 🙂
It’s a wonderful project, isn’t it? The locale definitely calls for a bottle of wine and a picnic blanket to go with one’s book, I agree!
The Grapes of Last because books are the fruit of creativity and are appropriate for all time (and anywhere). Thanks for the fun post!
How perfect, I love it!!
I love the idea of a pop-up library! Take a book and walk to a tree, sit at its base and open the front cover 🙂
And what a perfect afternoon you just described….
That would be fantastic in nice weather, have a browse, bring a picnic and get your literature rush. Beats vines for wine, we should grow books, after all they don’t grow on trees(!)
Ha!
Outdoors, sunshine, books, and wine sounds like the perfect combination to me! I’ve never heard of anything like this, but it looks like so much fun. I might just have to move there.
It’s the combination that makes it so inviting- you are so right!
This makes my heart flutter!
It’s so exciting to see different creative projects around books and libraries, isn’t it? Especially when reading is such a solitary act, these projects bring book lovers together. Thanks for dropping by and commenting!
I have never seen an outdoor library and this looks like the perfect place to spend a summer afternoon 🙂 Annie
I think there should be more outdoor libraries, in the summer at least!
Wine and a book–how do i get my membership?
🙂 great, isn’t it?
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i can imagine when libraries pop up in spots like this, it just attracts readers. They come out of the woodwork, so to speak. I’d love to bring a book to it, leave it and bring home something new.
And it would be fun to see who picks up your book, what others are reading. I imagine there would be quite interesting conversations around the bookshelves.
I’d write a note in the cover and include my email address so they can tell me what they thought of the book. Books attract the kinds of people I’d want to converse with. Oh, so does pizza.
You would love bookcrossing.com then! Although it doesn’t include pizzas….
yet. it doesn’t include pizzas yet.
What a dreamy combination. Thank you sharing.
So glad it connected with you too – he picked a wonderful location and seemed to do justice to it!
What a lovely idea! I enjoyed vineyard-library very much thru Your beautiful photos.
I love this idea too – I like how the artist respected the history of the place.
To sleep perchance to dream—of waking up in that meadow filled with books! Do you think the wee animals pop in for quick read? :o)
What a wonderful idea- the rabbits and squirrels and perhaps a deer all congregating around the books looking for a good read!
You’ve done it again…found a creative library to share with us…like the IKEA library at the beach. Fresh air and green grass amongst the most literate of vineyards. Lovely.
I’m so glad you like these pop-up libraries too- they really are so creative!
A new library branch! Thanks for sharing it.
A library branch! I love that!!
Sunshine, wine, books, feel of the grass on bare feet. ❤ Thank you for reminding me the simple pleasures of the heart.
A perfect combination, I agree!
Thanks for dropping by 🙂
books and nature (and maybe wine) — great combination!
Just need a picnic blanket and you’re set for the afternoon!
A vineyard library! Somebody totally broke into my mind and robbed my version of paradise.
You’re so right, paradise = books, nature, good company, and perhaps an open bottle of wine….
I’ve really missed your gorgeous posts, during my internet holiday, and feel lucky to not have missed this one!! You’ve got such an eye for intriguing things, and I always value what you bring my attention to. Good to be back 😉
Wonderful to have you back!
I love all these pop-up libraries you keep bringing to our attention. Fascinating! I wish I’d stumble upon one. I’d probably giggle with glee.
I’ve never accidentally stumbled upon big ones either but I’d be giddy too!
Books, fresh air, bird chirping sound (may be)… lovely! 🙂
It would be extra special if a bird made a nest in one of the bookshelves!
whoa that is cool! i dont think i have ever seen that around st pete anywhere!
I agree, it’s wonderful!
Thanks for dropping by 🙂
Up and down the rows I go. I pick up this book – they said it was the best year for Chardonnay. Back and for I go – my hands hover a Grand Cru. Now this would be memorable. Some thing that travels well, perhaps this Malbec. So many choices. I could celebrate with this sparkling Champagne. Each volume I touch has the wonderful promise of the excitement found in a bottle of excellent wine. Books/bottles to linger over long into the twilight. Then one book calls my name and I hurry home. … to a plate of strawberries, some brie and my delicious book. V.
Yes, yes, yes! You captured the moment perfectly! A toast to you, my dear!