Fukui Prefectural Library, Public library in Fukui, Japan
Fukui Prefectural Library is a public library in Fukui, Japan, with tall ceilings, open reading areas, and wide windows that face a garden with a pond. The building sits within a landscaped setting that visitors can see from inside the reading rooms.
The library was founded in 1950, and the current building was designed by Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki and completed in 2003. Maki is internationally recognized for other projects, including buildings at the World Trade Center site in New York.
The library maintains an extensive collection of literature and hosts regular exhibitions, workshops, and educational programs that promote literacy within the Fukui Prefecture community.
The library is located outside the city center but can be reached by a free shuttle running from JR Fukui Station. There is also free on-site parking, which makes it easy to visit by car.
The library stands in the middle of rice paddies, which makes for an unexpected contrast with the modern building. Despite this rural setting, it has one of the highest book borrowing rates of any library in Japan.
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