Serendipity

Serendipity. I love that word both for it’s beautiful sound and the concept it encapsulates, ‘the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.’

I had a series of serendipity moments last week all related the libraries and Denmark. Intrigued? Let me explain.

It started when Kevin Hennah, library merchandising maestro posted a photo of a school library in Perth that had created a cosy nook comprising easy chairs and a computer generated fire. The fire may not necessarily be needed in Perth but nice idea ( pop over to Kevin on Insta @Kevin_Hennah to check out the pic). The image reminded me of a similar use of computer generated heat in one of my absolute favourite libraries in the whole wide world ( big call I know), the Culture Yard in Helsingør, Denmark.

I visited the Library and adjacent Museum in March 2014 as part of an IFLA Public Libraries mid-term meeting, and believe me it was fire weather as demonstrated by this photo of me with my buddy Marian Morgan-Bindon. Wind blown? Us?

I have drawn inspiration from the Culture Yard over the years for example these chairs below – though the view over the Øresund dividing Denmark and Sweden may be more exciting than the intersection of Peisley and March Streets Orange.

In another twist in the story this week I have been listening to The Helsingør Sewing Club by Ella Gyland ( on Overdrive courtesy of Libraries Tasmania), set in this beautiful city during the Second World War. The main character arrives by train from Copenhagen (as we did) and is blown away by the grandeur of the railway station which was described as the best in Denmark complete with chandeliers. We felt the same. Continuing the author tells us that the station is a short distance from the shipyards. These have now been repurposed into the Library which has clear links to its maritime past in every corner.

Scandinavia has many magic libraries but if you find yourself in Helsingør (also known as Elsinore) make time to explore the Culture Yard, the adjacent Maritime Museum and of course Hamlet’s castle. You won’t regret it.