Tilburg’s LocHal named one of the best libraries in the world

The LocHal library in Tilburg is among the top four best libraries in the world. The IFLA Best Public Library of the World Award went to the Oodi library in Helsinki on Tuesday. The other two libraries in the top four are the Green Square Library and Plaza in Australia and the Turanga Christchurch Central Library in New Zealand, Brabants Dagblad reports.

The international jury of experts praised the transformation of the LocHal, from an old railway workshop to a public library. "A place that now serves as the living room of the city and as a locomotive in the urban transformation", the jury said. 

Moniek Wegman of the Tilburg library told Omroep Brabant that she is a bit disappointed that LocHal did not get first prize, but she's still immensely proud. "We belong to the four best libraries in the world, and that is important."

A spokesperson for the library gave Brabants Dagblad a similar statement: "It's a shame we didn't win, but it was really cool that we could present ourselves and be among the best four."