Taman Bima Microlibrary

Recycled ice cream tubs cover walls of Microlibrary by Shau. (Griffiths, 2016)

Located in the neighborhood of Taman Bima in the city of Bandung, Indonesia, the microlibrary is a low-cost 1,700 square feet library that is built over an existing stage with 2,000 recycled ice cream containers used as its facade.(“Library made from ice-cream containers”, 2016) The library is built with the purpose of combating Indonesia's low literacy rates and to provide the neighborhood's local citizens a place to get together and socialize. The library also provides local schools with access to a shared library and a diverse catalog of educational resources, books and access to the internet for free. 

The Taman Bima Microlibrary is a work of art that serves an educational purpose as well as a social purpose that brings people together to learn, socialize and engage in productive dialogue around issues in their neighborhood and their city. Moreover, the micro library serves as an inspirational structure for creatives and people from all across the world and reminds them of the importance of being resourceful and using their existing resources to solve challenges that they may be facing in their lives and communities.