The Rostock City Library held a future workshop on 6 and 7 November 2026 to present the findings of several months of public consultation and discuss them with interested participants. According to the city, the evaluation drew on more than 400 responses from around 20 different formats, as well as a city-wide online survey. The workshop aimed to clarify key requirements for the library’s future redevelopment and use, and compare them with the administration’s existing plans.
The clearest request was for more spaces for events and meetings, as well as bookable group and study rooms for learners, clubs and community groups. Other recurring suggestions included improving the indoor climate, particularly on hot days, and providing clean, free-to-use toilets. Children and young people put forward ideas such as reading nooks and themed rooms. Participants also criticised the limited awareness of some of the library’s services, saying this could be a barrier to access.
Organisational and technical options were also discussed. These included longer opening hours and further automation of borrowing and returns. One possible new service mentioned was a TechnoThek , where technical equipment could be borrowed and tried out on site. The administration stressed that these points are matters for further investigation and priorities identified through public consultation, not measures that have already been approved.
The focus of the building plans is the main branch at 82 Kröpeliner Straße, which municipal planning documents identify as requiring renovation and fire-safety work. However, no specific decisions have yet been made on the scope, timetable or funding. Responsibility lies with the departments for education and culture and the public consultation coordination office; the City Assembly will be updated on progress at further meetings.
The city considers the future workshop’s findings a sound basis for the next stage of planning. The administration and politicians intend to link the prioritised proposals to budget and funding questions and assess their legal and operational feasibility. Until decisions are made, the outcome remains a matter of setting priorities: the consultation shows that Rostock City Library should be strengthened as an open place for learning and meeting, with better-quality spaces, a clearer identity and services that work beyond traditional borrowing hours.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).