Construction has begun on a public library designed by Dutch firm [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] in Spijkenissse, the Netherlands.

Alongside the book collection and reading areas, the building -
referred to as Book Mountain - will include commercial space, offices,
an auditorium, conference rooms, and exhibition spaces.

These facilities will be stacked vertically, creating brick-clad terraces where the book collection will be displayed.

The books will be clearly visible from the outside through the glass
shell, which also affords views over the town as visitors ascend the
staircases that link the terraces.

Completion is due for 2011.

Here’s some more information from MVRDV:
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Start construction MVRDV Book Mountain
Today the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the new
Public Library for Spijkenissse, near Rottterdam took place. Completion
of the building designed by MVRDV is scheduled for fall 2011. The new
public library with a surface of 10,000 m² will be an example of energy
efficiency and advertise reading through its design of a book mountain.
The new public library with a surface of 10,000 m² will be located in
the inner city of Spijkenisse, at the corner of a major throughway, the
central market square and the church opposite. In addition to the book
collection and reading areas, the library will accommodate commercial
facilities, offices, an auditorium, conference rooms, and exhibition
spaces.

The exterior of the building refers to a traditional Dutch barn
style typology, in shape and choice of material; as a memento to the
agricultural history of Spijkenisse Village, now a suburban area of
Rotterdam with statistically a low average of readers. The library is
designed to advertise reading. By stacking facilities such as offices,
meeting rooms and auditorium vertically, terraces of different sizes
emerge upon which the book shelves are positioned creating a grand book
mountain. The terraces are linked by staircases to form a route that
curves around the mountain to the top, where a panoramic view of
Spijkenisse awaits.

The book mountain is covered by a glass shell, creating a bell jar,
an open-air library. The bell jar is a simple membrane, an almost
invisible envelope that softens the edges of the building. The bell jar
is also a climate-controlled public space. Solar protection (as used in
greenhouses), natural ventilation and an underground heat storage
system provide for comfortable conditions all year round. The climate
system is a carefully balanced collection of sustainable features which
together form an innovative new, highly sustainable system. Underneath
the transparent bell jar, the library faces the streets on all sides,
which enhances the safety of the public space around the building. The
climate system was developed in close collaboration with Arcadis
Engineers and was last year nominated for De Vernufteling award,
declaring the library an inventive and resourceful project with social
and economical importance.

The new public library is part of a greater scheme for the inner
city of Spijkenisse. In order to strengthen and densify the inner city,
MVRDV has proposed a series of apartment buildings which reflect the
local typology though on a larger scale. The entire new complex
including the public spaces will be clad in brick. The result is an
extension of the existing pattern and enhancement of the local identity.
Completion of the library and the apartments are expected September
2011. The ground breaking ceremony took place in the presence of
Spijkenisse City Councillors Gert Jan ‘t Hart and Marjolijne Lewis and
the director of the Spijkenisse Public Library Mr. Huub Leenen. Further
architect Winy Maas of MVRDV, Jaap Bosselaar and Charif Mounji of
Arcadis and Mr. Meurs, director of contractor Vorm Bouw, took part in
the ceremony which was also attended by elementary school children from
Spijkenisse.
Posted by Rose Etherington from dezeen.com