Massive Beijing Library Wins 2024 ‘Public Library of the Year,’ Topping Sydney’s Yellamundie

Two massive public libraries, from Sydney and China, went head to head in the recent competition for Public Library of the Year.

In Sydney, Liverpool, the new public Library called 'Yellamundie' became a crowd's favorite with its design, and even more for making it into the four finalists for the competition.

However, The Guardian reported that the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, or IFLA gave the award to the Beijing Library. The two massive libraries opened at the same time last year, in December. Both are internationally recognized for their designs, but Beijing takes an edge with its 75,000 square meters size, compared to Yellamundie's 5,000 sq m. Made with over $200 million (AUS$300 million), it surpasses Yellamudie's size and funding.

Regardless, Ned Mannoun, Liverpool Mayor, took pride in Yellamundie Library's recognition and its place as a finalist for the prestigious award. He remarked that being recognized means they were able to create a library that is both beautiful and functional.

Beijing Bags the Public Library of the Year Award

IFLA's 2024 Public Library of the Year nominees include over a dozen new libraries from ten different countries. Yellamundie received praise for its design, which in the local Dharug language, means 'the storyteller. However, the Sydney representative also competed with heavyweights, such as the Beijing Library.

IFLA judges believe Beijing gave more with an impressive wow factor with its design and status as the largest climatized reading space in the world.

Other reasons that made Beijing Library win are the way it integrated books, nature, and people in their design, its smooth integration with the Tonghui River's environment, and the way it was built to be a contemporary hub. Meaning, besides reading, visitors can learn, share knowledge, interact socially, and engage with each other comfortably.

Among all shortlisted, Beijing Library is perhaps the only structure that is committed to sustainability design and materials through its effort to adopt eco-friendly processes, reduce carbon emissions, and promote a circular economy for greener objectives.