At home in the Boekentoren

On Sunday 21 April, it was time for Heritage Day, this time dedicated to 'Home'. But what makes a place a (real) home?

The library as a third place

Libraries where one can go for free, where one meets third parties in a casual way and where one has a good Internet connection have become very important third places in an increasingly individualistic society. The ivory tower where academics absorbed wisdom read only by their peers is no more. The threshold to walk into the University Library is thankfully much lower now.

Today, the academic library is above all a welcoming, comfortable information and study environment. Students enjoy the library as a third place. They like to study there in groups. They feel safe and at home here together. Studying together provides a form of social control and there is room for meeting. During exam periods, it is drumming to get a seat.

In addition, ever-improving services mean that the library has also become more accessible to researchers and enthusiasts of our collections.

With photos in the study landscape, we showed how students have felt at home in the Book Tower for decades and how they inhabit the space here, past and present.

(at) Home in our collection

Naturally, we also delved into our wonderful collection again and put together an exhibition with 'home' as its common thread. Visitors could browse through images of iconic Ghent houses, retro interior items, antique interiors in advertisements and folders, architectural plans and so much more. Per table there was one room highlighted.

In the reading room, there was room to play around with reproductions from our collection. Pieces on show in the expo could be used to decorate your own room. With the end result, we were able to fill the former magazine cabinets with wonderfully crazy viewing boxes.

Visit to the Belvedere

The Belvedere was also free to visit on Heritage Day, without reservation. Big and small -as usual- appreciated the beauty of the space and the magnificent view of the city.

Thanks to the creative work of our staff and enthusiasts, the replicas in the passageway were decorated like dolls' houses. Visitors were already feasting their eyes on so much originality.