Micro Library – A Library of Physical Impact

The core idea of the micro library is very simple. Libraries always emphasize how many books they have. Sometimes, that number is 700,000. Sometimes it’s 2 million. No one can read even a fraction of those books. This vastness is, of course, impressive, but on a human scale, it is impossible to grasp or comprehend. But one can take a step in the opposite direction—create a library with, for example, 9 to 13 books. This is a manageable amount for a person, even though it still cannot be read through very quickly.

A large library is like a metropolis—no matter how much you explore it, most of it will always remain unseen. A micro library is a room or perhaps just a corner of a room. You can read through and memorize every nuance, adjacency, and detail. In this meeting model, quantity and vastness do not dominate.

When there is no need to worry about volume and overwhelming choice, one can read in peace. There is time to focus on a sentence and a paragraph. There is also time to focus on design. Who came up with the absurd idea that books shouldn’t be judged by their covers? Of course they should be! The material and colors of the cover, the weight of the pages, the sound they make when turned. Does the book stay open in your hands? Are there alternatives to bound pages? Where are the Greek-style scrolls? A single page could be a one-ton stone slab. Who shattered a poem into pieces again?

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The Library of Physical Impact features four sets of books.

On Tuesday, May 6th: selection by Eik Hermann
On Wednesday, May 7th: selection of bookbinding works by EKA students
On Thursday, May 8th: selection by Lina Itagaki (Lithuania)
On Friday, May 9th: selection by Jaak Tomberg and Andrus Laansalu

Librarian: Andrus Laansalu

On Wednesday, May 7th at 15:30, a discussion will take place of the physical properties of books, featuring Eik Hermann, Ulla Väljaste, and Tõnis Tootsen. The discussion will be moderated by Andrus Laansalu.NB! Access to the micro-library requires a ticket to Tartu observatory (Tähetorn), which costs 3€ when purchased at the ticket office using the code “Prima Vista”. The ticket includes full access to the observatory. Admission is free for Museum Card (Muusumikaart) holders. The discussion event on Wednesday is free of charge.