Abstract
Public libraries in Germany are currently under pressure, with many closures recently due to reduced municipal budgets. Public libraries hence need to demonstrate relevance to their communities, sponsors and other accountable bodies to avoid the continuance of this trend. This paper shows how libraries can link into debates in society and politics by adopting the urban gardening trend as well as developing new services around this green movement. Within the debate on public libraries’ transformation, urban gardening and the idea of the green library provide an opportunity to develop new green and sustainable library services. By combining makerspaces and community building with urban gardening and foodsharing, the public library of Bad Oldesloe developed a series of events that turned the library into a modern and creative learning space. At the same time, the library offered its physical space as a community platform for networking, cooperation and creativity.
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