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A Library Visit Without a Library Card

02-02-2011 om 09:35 by Amanda Potter

072Maastricht’s public library at the Centre Ceramique is a great resource with not only a large collection of fiction and non-fiction books, but also art and history exhibitions, special events for adults and children, and a nice café where you can sit forever. Even without a library card, here are 5 things to do when you go to the library.

1) Explore the Exhibits

library atrium-350

At any given time the library usually has two artistic, historical, or cultural exhibitions going on. As you walk in the front doors, you will often been confronted with an intriguing photograph exhibit filling up the atrium space and frequently themed after Maastricht’s culture and/or history. If you mount the steps behind the stepped seating area, you can often find a second exhibition in Museale Zaal. Here more in-depth historical exhibits usually reside.

2) Drink Coffee in the Café

library cafe and laptop-350


On the first floor overlooking the atrium of the library is a small café/cafeteria with lots of open seating. They serve coffee, lunch stuff, and sweets during regular operating hours and is a great place to sit with a cup of coffee and read a book or write. I find the library a superior place to blog since there is no wait staff to wonder when I’m going to clear up a table (or order another drink).

3) Visit the Stacks

library fiction stacks-350

Even without a library card you are always welcome to visit the stacks. The second floor on up houses the non-fiction collection which is mostly in Dutch, but with a few English language titles mixed in. You can find English and Dutch fiction in the basement, along with the children’s department.


4) Muddle through Dutch Comics

library comicbooks-350


Comic books are a fun way to practice my Dutch reading comprehension and is relatively non-threatening with images to help me understand the story and few large blocks of text. Comics are all downstairs and are refreshingly not superhero stories (for the most part).


5) Toilet Break

The library has a free bathroom. It may not seem like a big deal, but there aren’t many free toilet facilities in Maastricht.

Free services not enough? If you want to check out a book from the library, you’ll have to purchase a library card. Fortunately the process is pretty inexpensive and easy. Just bring some proof of address and cash next time you visit and a library staff member can walk you through the application process.

Comments

Erik Klok said
09-02-2011 at 14:44

Hi Amanda,

thanks for your kind words and free advertising.
I work, just like Bart, in the library of Centre Ceramique.
The only two things I'd like to add are;

the possibility to use our free wireless internet.
You don't have to be a member to use this Wifi network.
Just bring along your laptop,netbook, smartphone, Ipad or PDA and log on to a network called "publiek" and you're all set and ready to surf on the internet.
And if you live in the outskirts of Maastricht visit our library branches in Malpertuis and Heer. They also offer free wifi.

And secondly, we're also opened during the weekend, on saturdays and sundays, except for sundays during july and august.

For more information: www.centreceramique.nl

Keep up the blogging and have a real good time in the Netherlands!

Bart Linssen said
05-02-2011 at 11:55

Thanks for your excellent review. With a library card its also possible to get access over 1700 international newspapers at home with a database called Pressdisplay! Read all recent editions of newspapers like LA Times, Daily Telegraph, Washington Post and Milliyet online.

Log in with a valid Centre Céramique library card number, starting with 2431200.... For pincode you can use the first four numbers of your birthday. Born on 1 January 1980? Your pincode will be 0101.

Centre Céramique has a limited number of simultanuous user channels on Pressdisplay. If you can't access Pressdisplay because all channels are in use, please try again later.

Access to PressDisplay: http://www.centreceramique.nl/zoeken/digitalebibliotheek/kennisgebied/nieuws_kranten_tijdschriften.htm

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Amanda Potter moved to Maastricht from Boston, Massachusetts in April, 2009 with her husband Dan for his research position at the University of Maastricht. Between exploring their adopted country and learning about a new culture, Amanda blogs about her experience and the city at www.MaastrichtMinutiae.com. Amanda works as a freelance writer and web designer at www.FallenKitten.com and webmaster for the comic www.WalkingtheLethe.com. She has two globetrotting cats that keep her company in their second floor Maastricht flat.
 
 

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