The Public Library in Norway (Folkebiblioteket i Norge)
Norsk 101
Oslo Public Library (Deichman bibliotek). Photo: Christie Ericson
Language practice with Christie Ericson
As a librarian (Som bibliotekar), I like to visit (liker jeg å besøke) other libraries (andre bibliotek) when I travel (når jeg reiser). So of course (Så selvfølgelig), I had to visit (måtte jeg besøke) the public library (folkebiblioteket) when I was in (da jeg var i) Oslo!
The Oslo Public Library (Det Deichmanske biblioteket) is Norway’s oldest and largest public library (er Norges største og eldste folkebibliotek). It was founded in (Det ble grunnlagt i) 1785 and was named after (og er oppkalt etter) Carl Deichman, who donated (som ga) his book collection (boksamlingen sin) to the city (til byen). In 2018, the name of the library was changed (I 2018 ble navnet på biblioteket forandret) to simply (til bare) Deichman. Today, Deichman consists of (I dag består Deichman av) the main library (hovedbiblioteket) and 22 branches (filialer) throughout (over hele) Oslo.
Everyone who lives in Norway (Alle som bor i Norge) can apply (kan søke) to get a library card (om å få bibliotekkort/lånekort). Deichman has a collection (har en samling) of nearly a million books (på nesten en million bøker) in many genres (i mange sjangere) that you can borrow (som du kan låne): fiction (skjønnlitteratur), non-fiction (faglitteratur), comics (tegneserier), children’s books (barnebøker), picture books (bildebøker), young adult books (ungdomsbøker), and many more (og mange flere). The library also has (Biblioteket har også) newspapers (aviser), magazines (tidsskrifter), audiobooks (lydbøker), movies (filmer), music (musikk), board games (brettspill), and computer games (og dataspill). Deichman also offers access to (tilbyr også tilgang til) e-books (e-bøker), scholarly articles (vitenskapelige artikler), databases (databaser), and other digital resources (og andre digitale kilder).
Deichman also has (har også) a “Makerspace” called (som kalles) “Folkeverkstedet.” Here you can use or borrow (Her kan du bruke eller låne) equipment (utstyr) and handtools (og håndverktøy) such as (slik som) 3D printers (3D-skrivere), soldering stations (loddestasjoner), and sewing machines (symaskiner). Many events also take place at (Mange arrangementer foregår på) Deichman: classes (kurs), concerts (konserter), film screenings (filmvisninger), lectures (foredrag), etc. (osv.)
A new main branch (En ny hovedfilial) is under construction in (er under oppføring i) Bjørvika, near the opera house (i nærheten av operahuset) and will be finished in (og kommer til å være ferdig i) 2019. The new innovative library (Det nye nyskapende biblioteket) will have (kommer til å ha) a movie theater (kinosal), media workshops (mediaverksteder), gaming zones (spillsoner), meeting spaces (møtelokaler), and a restaurant, (og en restaurant).
This article originally appeared in the April 19, 2019, issue of The Norwegian American. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.
