The library is centrally located on the Frescati campus of Stockholm University and is linked with the southernmost building by way of a large entrance hall.
Stockholm University has always been considered a modern university in contrast to the older, more traditional universities, and the library buildings reflect this with their open and comfortable spaces.
Erskine designed the library to resemble an inviting living room, with comfortable furniture and balconies. For example, one can enjoy natural light and a cup of coffee near the main entrance.
The library building is characterised by the large, open indoor landscape and the varying outward facing facades. The facade to the north is angled to provide a view of Djurgården’s natural beauty, and to the east the facade forms a loose clover shape that surrounds an oak grove.
Along the west facade, four balconies stand out like the bridge of a ship. The building marks the surrounding landscape with its shiny steel roof and two towers. The open spaces on the ground floor and upper levels are connected by a staircase and three garden spaces to provide natural light to the main body of the building.
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The Library's Main Floor
The numbers of the different floors of the library are based on the South Building, which explains why the main entrance is marked as the fourth floor and the upper floor as the fifth floor.
The staff offices are on the third and fourth floors. The sixth floor has meeting rooms for library staff, offices for some of the university's institutions, and examination rooms. Book collections occupy the largest part of the third floor and the entire second floor.
The Bergdahl Room
The Bergdahl Room is a glassed-in reading room with two floors. The height of these rooms provides plenty of natural light and important contact with the surrounding natural environment, which Erskine greatly appreciated. In one corner of the room there is a quirky, cavernous reading space. From inside this space one can look upwards and get a glimpse of natural light and the sky above.
The Library's Décor and Furnishings
Erskine furnished the library with functional, comfortable furniture, including ample sofas and armchairs. During the renovations completed in 2015, it was important to preserve the light of Erskine’s inspiring environment, as well as the special interaction with surrounding natural elements, while modernising the study and workspaces to match contemporary needs.
At the entry level there are now larger areas for group work, including space to spread out materials and hold group discussions. There is also an information desk and self-issue loan terminals, as well as study rooms and counselling and guidance rooms.
The library's upper level holds most of the open collections and the more peaceful study spaces. Different areas of study are shielded from the open spaces by rows of bookshelves, forming rooms within rooms to add to the tranquil environment. Bookcases form two main avenues. The north-south corridors where the books are found have high ceilings and windows that provide pleasant, natural lighting.
In addition to the study spaces with tables, there are comfortable sofas and armchairs to sink into for reading or rest.
The Library Artwork
In connection with the reconstruction of the library, the Swedish Public Art Agency consigned new art to the library. The new, more strictly styled premises called for art with distinct expression, and the library staff requested both more contemporary work and work by female artists.
Among other things, there are now three major works in the light gardens, including Leontine Arvidsson's "Rational decision made by the 19/4 2014 at 11:47 in the space of a split second”, which is made of a 6 mm thick reinforcing bar, Matti Kallioinen's "The organism in the food chain and the dream world,” an artwork of light previously exhibited at the World Expo in Shanghai, and Torsten Renqvist's "The battle between angels and birds," which was previously located in the main entrance hall outside the library.
Three of Torsten Renqvist's sculptures remain in the main hall, including the small bronze sculpture Kangaroo, which faces the entrance to the library.
Some works of art have been kept by the library, such as the busts of Karin Boye and Elin Wagner, which were made by Ylva Lindgren and Jan-Erik Bjork and consigned by the University Association.
The library's site-specific original art is found on the mezzanine level and includes three murals conveying light green orchid jungles and two decorated pillars by Kerstin Abram-Nilsson.