(TOP image) SS Co., Ltd. Toshihiko Kato
Go, see, and feel the world of art
File.8 Yamato City Cultural Creation Center Sirius
Miyuki Inoue (Magcal Editorial Department)
There is a banner that catches your eye while driving on the Tomei Expressway.
It is said to be "the best library in Japan".
I went to "Yamato City Cultural Creation Base Sirius" with a stimulating invitation.
Official name: Yamato City Cultural Creation Base.
A cultural complex centered around a library, an arts and culture hall, a lifelong learning center, and an indoor children's plaza.
Rather than writing it down like this, calling him by his nickname "Sirius" would be more appropriate.
This is because the facility, which just opened on November 3, 2016, has a very stylish exterior. Because it is in a good location, just a 3-minute walk from Yamato Station, where the Sotetsu Main Line and Odakyu Enoshima Line intersect, you might mistake it for a shopping mall.
When you enter from the front entrance, the coffee shop and library space are neatly arranged. The floor with an atrium is bright and airy, and mothers pushing strollers come and go while chatting.
Is it a shopping mall?
With that in mind, I picked up a nearby book, and since it had a classification sticker on it, I was convinced that it was indeed a library.
The library currently has about 410,000 books, so it is by no means a large library. However, little by little, I came to understand why this place can be declared "the best library in Japan".
When I visited, books related to music, orchestras, etc. were featured in conjunction with information about concerts held in the main hall on weekends.
It is said that such complex projects are being planned by Yamatomirai, the designated manager of the consortium that operates Sirius. For example, if you are holding a rakugo show in the hall, you can feature related books in the library, hold a course to learn more about rakugo at the lifelong learning center, and hold a "children's rakugo" for children in the indoor children's plaza. And so on.
It was a wonderful initiative that was unlikely.
This is the open shelf area on the second floor. On the other side of the atrium, there is also a paid space that can be used as a second office.
The collection of books is distributed on each floor, so it may be difficult to find the book you want. However, one of the pleasures of the library is to come across new books while wandering around. In fact, you can also see people walking around with coffee in their hands. Yes, in Sirius, it's okay to drink anywhere.
The 3rd floor is "Yamato Children's Country".
The "Children's Library" has picture books and picture-story shows, and the bookshelves and chairs are all child-sized. The colors are also colorful, so adults who are watching will be somewhat happy
*Photo: SS Co., Ltd. Toshihiko Kato
The "Genkikko Square" in the back is a playground for parents and children for children from the age of 3 to the second grade of elementary school. You can play actively with the playground equipment produced by the popular "Bornelund", so it is always crowded despite the fee.
The Healthy City Library on the 4th floor is an area unique to Sirius.
First of all, on the bookshelves in the "Health Corner", a wide range of health-related books are displayed beyond the general library classification. At the "Health Terrace", lectures on various themes are held every day, from medical information to old games, and there is also a "health level visualization corner" equipped with a body composition meter and bone health measuring device. There was also an exhibition related to disaster prevention, and I felt the spread of the theme of "health."
What is surprising about Sirius is the number and variety of reading seats. A total of 915 seats, from counter tables suitable for studying to sofas that make you want to take a nap. This is what happens when the concept of a "residential library" is put into shape.
Whether you are a mother raising a child or an elderly person living alone, it seems that you can naturally find your own place here.
*Photo: SS Co., Ltd. Toshihiko Kato
On the 5th floor, there is a reference counter that responds to inquiries about research, and the scenery that is most like a library spreads out. Perhaps because the colors are so chic, even their demeanor becomes "library-like", so it's strange to be human.
And the 6th floor is the only floor without books. There are also meeting rooms available to the public. At Plat Yamato, a citizen interaction space where you can eat and drink, high school students were working on their homework with their friends while eating sweets.
Ahead of the line of sight is a terrace seat with a good view!
It's a bit cold in winter, but when it gets warmer, I thought I'd like to relax here and read a book. along with a cold drink.
