Takeo City Library and Historical Museum Wins 2013 Good Design Award "Gold Award"

2013.11.07 Press Releases
Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd. Library Company

- The first library to receive a special award in the "Service Systems for the Public" category -

We are pleased to announce that Takeo City Library and Historical Museum (5304-1 Takeo, Takeo-cho, Takeo City, Saga Prefecture), which was planned by Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd. and Takeo City and reopened on April 1st of this year, has won the Gold Award in the 2013 Good Design Special Award sponsored by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion, a public interest incorporated foundation.

This is the first time a library facility has received a special award in 12 years, since the Sendai Mediatheque was selected for the Good Design Grand Award in 2001 in the architectural design category, and the first time that a library has received a special award in the public service system category, for Takeo City Library and Historical Museum.

Since its founding in 1957, the Good Design Award has been widely known as Japan's leading design evaluation and promotion initiative, and in 2013 the winners were selected from a pool of 3,400 entries. The Gold Award, which was won this time, is awarded to high-quality designs that provide advanced solutions to contemporary issues, and is the highest award given by the judges.

Takeo City Library and Historical Museum is a new type of library that has been described as "unmeasurable by the standards of previous libraries," realized through public-private collaboration under the "New Library Concept," which was planned with the idea of "proposing a library-centered civic life."

The new library, which combines a library, bookstore, and cafe, is a new place where people with various lifestyles can find their place, whether they are studying, working, or chatting, as they are free to read books in the library while enjoying a cup of coffee, and it is creating a new community.

In addition, the open stacks have been expanded by 1.4 times compared to before the renovation, and the number of books available for loan has increased by approximately 1.8 times compared to last year, allowing the library to function as a traditional library, with materials storage and book lending, and has been used by approximately 520,000 people in the past six months.

The Good Design Award commented, "In an age where people are increasingly turning away from books, this museum plays an important role in enhancing the cultural level of the region, and suggests great potential for collaboration between the public and private sectors. " It received high praise and was awarded this prize.
Encouraged by this Gold Award, Takeo City Library and Historical Museum will continue to reflect the opinions of visitors and users and innovate in the future as a library that is of great value to the public.

(Reference material)
■ Comments from the judges regarding the "Takeo City Library and Historical Museum" upon receiving the Good Design Award
*Good Design Award website (http://www.g-mark.org/award/describe/40615) Full text quoted from
"This case has overturned the common sense that public services should only be at this level. This is the Takeo City Library, which was made possible through collaboration between Takeo City, Saga Prefecture, and Culture Convenience Club. In the traditional and conservative field of libraries, we are returning to our roots of conveying the joy of books, and are thoroughly pursuing ease of searching, enjoyment of reading, and ease of use through public-private collaboration. As a result, since the library reopened on April 1, 2013, the number of visitors has increased fourfold compared to the previous year, and the number of books loaned has doubled. In today's world where people are increasingly turning away from books, these libraries play an important role in enhancing the cultural level of the region, suggesting great potential for collaboration between the public and private sectors. "

■About the 2013 Good Design Award
*Good Design Award website (http://www.g-mark.org/activity/2013/outline.html)
Since its founding in 1957, the Good Design Award has become a globally recognized design award that represents Japan and recognizes and promotes design. Designs submitted come from a wide range of fields, including products, architecture, and projects. By judging designs based on a variety of criteria required today, such as usability, environmental friendliness, and the ability to propose ideas to society, in addition to the appearance, the competition has delivered many "good designs" to society.
In fiscal 2013, 1,212 award winners were selected from 3,400 entries after rigorous screening by a total of 66 judges.

■About the Good Design Award Special Award
The following special awards will be selected from among the Good Design Award winners.
Good Design Grand Award (Prime Minister's Award)
The most outstanding design from among all Good Design Award recipients will be selected by votes from the judges and award winners.
Good Design Gold Award (Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award)
This award is given to high-quality designs that provide sophisticated solutions to contemporary challenges.
Good Design Manufacturing Design Award (Small and Medium Enterprise Agency Commissioner's Award)
This is a special award that recognizes the ambitious efforts of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Good Design Regional Development Design Award (Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry President's Award)
This special award recognizes comprehensive efforts aimed at revitalizing the local community.
Good Design Future Design Award (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Commerce and Information Policy Bureau Director-General's Award)
This special award recognizes designs that will lay the foundations for the society of the future.

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Materials related to this matter

Takeo City Library and Historical Museum Wins 2013 Good Design Award "Gold Award"

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