THE NEW NATIONAL LIBRARY OF ISRAEL As a dynamic center for intellectual and For 2,000 years our treasured books were artistic collaboration and creativity, it is scattered, with no geographic centre of gravity. THE NATIONAL my hope that the National Library of Israel Now at long last, these volumes as well as will play an essential role in promoting those yet to be written, together with a wide LIBRARY OF ISRAEL mutual understanding among all people— range of other collected materials, are to have within Israel and around the world. It is a a permanent home and one where it should Presenting the New Campus transformative project that will preserve the be—in the heart of Jerusalem... The Library past while imagining the future. will have the responsibility of nothing less than preserving and illuminating the history Mr. David S. Gottesman of Jewish civilisation. Lord Rothschild The lead partners in the building renewal project are: Building Renderings: © Herzog & de Meuron The Rothschild Family (Yad Hanadiv) Jerusalem, 2018 The David S. and Ruth L. Gottesman Family Design: Kobi Franco Design The Government of Israel ISBN: 978-965-7643-17-4 4 The New National Library of Israel Campus The National Library of Israel 5 Introduction The National Library of Israel (NLI) serves as the course of more than 125 years, yet the journey to realize environmental conditions that will ensure long-term The new campus will enable the National Library of Israel To build this Home of the collective memory of the Jewish people worldwide and its fullest potential has only recently begun. preservation of the intellectual and creative heritage of to most fully realize its tremendous potential, serving as Book dedicated to People of Israelis of all backgrounds and faiths. It is responsible Israel and the Jewish people. The new National Library a point of pride and the center of culture for Israel and for collecting, preserving, and making accessible the Through the construction of a new landmark building of the “start-up nation” will leverage the advances of the Jewish people, and as a singular source of inspiration that Book is a project that cultural and intellectual heritage of the Jewish people, adjacent to the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) in Jerusalem, today’s information technology revolution to open global for people of all backgrounds around the globe. could bring blessing not just the State of Israel, the Land of Israel, its people and as well as the implementation of groundbreaking cultural, access to its collections, enlightening and educating in region across the ages. educational, and technological initiatives, the National ways that were, until now, impossible. to Israel, and not just to the Library is encouraging diverse audiences in Israel and Jewish people worldwide, but Founded in Jerusalem in 1892, the National Library around the world to engage with its priceless treasures. The National Library renewal is perhaps the most grew and evolved with the growth and evolution of the It is attracting new audiences and connecting Jewish ambitious cultural project in the Jewish world. Its new to the entire world. State of Israel and was officially established as Israel’s communities throughout the world, while continuing to home will be a striking, multi-functional architectural National Library through passage of the National serve as Israel’s pre-eminent library for all of its people, icon. Its location among the centers of government and David Blumberg Library Law in 2007. The renewal process that has alongside international scholars and visitors. culture is the ultimate setting for this new international Chair, National Library of Israel Board of Directors Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks followed in the years since aims to adapt the NLI to the landmark. cultural and technological realities of the 21st century, The majestic new National Library of Israel, a 45,000 making it more inviting and accessible than ever before sq. m. (480,000 sq. ft.) building surrounded by gardens and creating a cutting edge global center at the forefront and plazas, is being designed by renowned Swiss of knowledge dissemination and cultural creativity. architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron, 2001 Pritzker Prize laureates and the designers of a stunning array The Library’s treasures include the largest collection of of international landmarks. It is scheduled to open in written Judaica ever amassed, significant handwritten 2021. The new campus, located in Jerusalem between works by luminaries such as Maimonides and Sir Isaac the Knesset and the Israel Museum, is made possible Newton, exquisite Islamic manuscripts dating back to through major lead grants from the Rothschild Family the ninth century, and archival collections of leading (Yad Hanadiv), the Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman cultural and intellectual figures including Martin Buber, Family, and the Government of Israel. Franz Kafka, Natan Sharansky and Naomi Shemer. The National Library holds the largest collection of Jewish The new National Library building will encompass three and Israeli music, as well as world-class collections of critical elements: facilities to enable wide and open access manuscripts, ancient maps, rare books, photographs, to the greatest number of users; venues suited in size communal and personal archival materials, and more. and infrastructure for research, as well as cultural and Its peerless collections have been developed over the educational programming; and secure and sustainable West elevation along Ruppin Boulevard 6 The New National Library of Israel Campus The National Library of Israel 7 View from intersection of Ruppin Boulevard and Kaplan Street 8 The New National Library of Israel Campus The National Library of Israel 9 The New National The new National Library of Israel will stand as but remains abstract in origin. Wood interrupts the rooms, public spaces, and educational and cultural an international landmark in Jerusalem's National massiveness of the structure and frames the glazed areas to the collection below, a wellspring of knowledge Library of Israel District, which encompasses the Knesset, the Supreme vitrines. Uncommon in contemporary Jerusalem, emanating upward and outward. Wooden bookshelves Court, neighboring government ministries and the the wood links the building to timber traditions line the void, letting the books shape the visual Avenue of Museums including the Israel Museum. important to the local vernacular from ancient to experience of the space. Throughout the multi-level The designated expanse, a plot of approximately early modern times. reading room, carrels provide space for researchers four acres, will accommodate the new state-of-the- and students to work. The reader becomes immersed art facility, beautifully landscaped gardens, plazas Visitor Experience in a sea of books and intellectual treasures. and outdoor spaces featuring an amphitheater and How the visitor feels when entering the building, singular installation by world-renowned Israeli artist traversing the spaces or strolling the outdoor plazas, The National Library of Israel Campaign Micha Ullman. In its unparalleled location, the new is of critical importance. The Library was strategically The National Library of Israel has recently embarked National Library will open its gates to audiences of designed to maximize positive energy and convenient on an international campaign to raise funds that all ages, faiths, and backgrounds, and will be easily flow. Central areas, including the exhibition spaces, will provide financial security for many of our core accessible by public and private transportation. The visitor center, and educational area, are easily programs for years to come. Among the programs that new National Library campus will be a beacon of light accessible on the entrance level. The spatial plans the campaign funds will support are: acquisitions and and inspiration in Israel and throughout the world. will bring the Library's diverse users to and through preservation of the collections; integration of advanced its many other public spaces, which are distributed technologies to expand public education, enhance Building Design Concept and Function throughout the building. Continuous circulation visitor experience, and digitize the collections; The new building’s design is open and transparent allows visitors to move through each level and around exhibitions, cultural programming and improving but grounded in the traditions of great libraries of the central reading room. An auditorium slopes down public access to the collections. We are thrilled to offer the world and the eternal city of Jerusalem. As in the to provide visual connection to the street and plaza exceptional naming opportunities in the new building past, books and other physical works of intellectual below. Clear and convenient signage will show the in recognition of designated or undesignated gifts to and cultural creativity remain at the center, visible way to the beautiful and inviting spaces. the campaign. to all in a central atrium. Vitrine-like elements form the bottom two floors and transparently display the A Wellspring of Knowledge, the 'Sea of Books' and Library’s content and activities to the outside world. Intellectual Treasures Underground stacks will contain the majority of the The building’s curved, elevated and cantilevered form Library’s physical collection and form the foundation necessitates a contemporary take on the cut Jerusalem of the building. A void, consisting of offset circles limestone