This library is so awesome. You have to go on the very top floor and check out the view from there. I love walking through the bookshelves and looking at all the different books and looking at each floor. Such a cool experience to visit here highly recommended. read more

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I have been here before (a few years ago) and it was a better experience then. I'm not sure if it's due to the pandemic or too many influencers but the security situation is over the top and rude. They have security standing at the entrance interrogating people about why they are there. Presumably if you say, "to use the library" or "check out a book" (why do people go to libraries?) they will allow you to pass unmolested. If you say, "to look around," this is what happened to me. The guy led me over to the sign and pointed at "20 minutes" and said "20 minutes." I speak German just fine and I don't know why we needed to do that visually. He handed me a clip with a card on it to indicate I was a visitor. Not sanitary. He also said no camera photos, only phone photos. I went inside and filled out the form that asked for my name, contact information and time of visit. That form is normal these days in Germany. The pens were communal. Not sanitary. They have a one way path through the library that gets you all views all the way to the top floor and back again. The tour is not accessible. You climb all the stairs up and down. On a hot day, there is no air conditioning. That was the case when I was there. read more

Full disclosure: I am a librarian with many years of working in many libraries. I love libraries. However, I did not love the Stuttgart Library. This is a sterile institution with little in the way of comfort or warmth. I saw no comfortable seating, no cozy reading nooks, it's all white on white and has a very minimalist interior. This library does not invite a visit nor a stay. The elevators are horrible and I was not sure where the steps are. The elevators are too slow, too small, and 1 out of 3 is broken. One patron with one stroller pretty much takes up all the space in these tiny elevators. The books are not book-store displayed, there are no inviting murals or works of art. Except...for the top floor. The Stuttgart Library has a small collection of matted prints that can be borrowed and bought. Much of what I looked at was excellent local art and very affordable. The cafe on the top floor was filled with people and was perhaps the only inviting space in the whole building. This library screams that it is an architect's dream and that it looked great on paper. The reality of this library is that it prohibits use by a lack of warmth. Form and function should be considered in equal measure and this library is more form than function. read more

Stadtbibliothek Stuttgart - Libraries Near Me - Stuttgart, BW

I love libraries. I always like to go to libraries in other countries when I visit. Now that I live in stuttgart I wanted to check out the new library. In a purely aesthetic review, I would venture another star at least. It's a modern design that works well to some degree. Basically it's pretty to look at kind of like an apple store for books. But I think it lost a few stars when it comes to function. The biggest issue is that there isn't any wifi. I mean, it's a library right? At least it has computers, but if I read the sign correctly, you only get 15 minutes to use it. There are very few tables, and even fewer chairs with backs on them. Again, it's a library right? Almost everything about it screams uncomfortable and unwelcoming. Maybe this is how all libraries in Germany are but for me, a library is a place to get some peace and quiet and have a place to do work or read outside of the home. I have heard there is an English section but that it actually costs money to get a library card. I don't think I'll ever get over that one. read more

Awesome library! Make sure to check out the view from the 8th floor, and the view from the roof. On the first floor you can see into the room where they have a little book trolley system on tracks that carries the books from floor to floor. Definitely worth the stop! read more