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The winner of 2019: Oodi Library, Helsinki
The winner of 2019: Oodi Library, Helsinki

Press release -

Five innovative libraries nominated for the Public Library of the Year award 2021

For the sixth time, Systematic and the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) presents the Public Library of the Year Award, honouring new, innovative public libraries. The jury has narrowed 32 libraries down to five nominees in the quest for this year’s winner.

The Public Library of the Year award is presented every year to the world’s best public library – a newly built public library that combines functional architecture with creative IT solutions and includes digital development with local culture. Systematic is the main sponsor of the award, which comes with 5,000 US dollars, corresponding to more than 4,200 Euros.

An international jury of IFLA members chooses the nominated libraries. 

This year, the five finalists come from very different parts of the world:

  • Marrickville Library, Australia
  • Deichman Bjørvika - Oslo Public Library, Norway
  • Het Predikheren, Belgium
  • Ningbo New Library, China
  • Forum Groningen, Holland

The nominated libraries are distinguished by sustainable recycling of materials, natural daylight incorporated into the buildings, and many unique, architectural details.

Jakob Lærkes, Director of the Gladsaxe Libraries in Denmark and Chairman of the jury, is very impressed with this year's 32 highly qualified applicants:

“It is a fantastic, strong field of exciting libraries from all over the world. It has been a pleasure for the entire jury to see the development taking place in the library sector in recent years - especially how innovative, technological solutions and sustainability are clear factors in construction processes across the globe.”

The winner will be announced during IFLA's annual congress, held online this year from 17. - 19. August and the award is presented by IFLA’s president Christine Mackenzie.

Past Public Libraries of the Year:

2019: Oodi, Helsinki Central Library, Finland

2018: KopGroep Bibliotheken (School 7), Holland

2016: Dokk1, Denmark

2015: Kista Public Library, Sweden

2014: Craigieburn Library, Australia

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Established in 1985, Systematic A/S develops software and system solutions to customers in both the public and private sector. A common feature of these customers is a need to integrate, compare and analyse large volumes of complex data, and to generate an overview that allows decision-making based on a solid foundation, often in critical situations.

Systematic’s software solutions are used in healthcare, intelligence, law enforcement, defence, education, renewable energy and utilities industries.

Today, Systematic is the largest privately owned software company in Denmark, with solutions sold to customers in 50+ countries. More than 1 million people worldwide use Systematic solutions and services every day.

Systematic has approximately 1,100+ employees and is headquartered in Aarhus, Denmark, with offices in Copenhagen, Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, New Zealand, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Romania and the United States. www.systematic.com

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Maia Lindstrøm Sejersen

Maia Lindstrøm Sejersen

Press contact PR & Communication Manager +45 4196 5013

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SIMPLIFYING CRITICAL DECISION MAKING

Since our foundation in 1985, we have developed into an international IT company that focuses on five core business areas: Digitalisation, Healthcare, Defence, Intelligence & National Security, and Library & Learning

A common feature of all these sectors is a need to integrate, compare and analyse large volumes of complex data, and to generate an overview that allows decision-making based on a solid foundation, often in critical situations.
Even though our customers are active in many different fields, what we do is actually quite narrowly focused. As we see it, our role is to make complicated things simple, to continue development of the solutions that our customers already know and trust, and do everything a little better - and to constantly challenge existing work processes and technologies.

Everything we do at Systematic is expressed in our four brand values: Simplicity. Trust. Performance. Forward-thinking.

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