Geretsried: Björn Rodenwaldt leaves the city library after six years

Created: 12/17/2021, 8:00 PM

From: Doris Schmid

Master of 41,000 media: Björn Rodenwaldt managed the city library in Geretsried for six years.

Now he and his family are off to China.

© Hans Lippert

Björn Rodenwaldt headed the city library for six years.

The 42-year-old is now leaving Geretsried for a job in China.

Geretsried - Big changes went hand in hand with Björn Rodenwaldt.

In the past six years, the qualified librarian has turned the dusty city library into a modern library.

Now the 42-year-old is facing big changes.

Rodenwaldt leaves Geretsried at the end of the year and goes to China with his family.

There he will take over the management of two libraries at the German School in Shanghai, as he reveals in the farewell interview with our newspaper.

Mr. Rodenwaldt, you came to Geretsried in 2015.

What was your first impression of the library and your new home?

Rodenwaldt:

The library was getting a bit old.

Geretsried itself looked young, dynamic and green to me and my wife.

We are communicative and curious.

But the Geretsrieder also made it easy for us.

We made friends very quickly.

Quite a lot has been initiated under your leadership.

Was there actually a year when there were no craftsmen?

Rodenwaldt:

The bar area was rebuilt in 2016.

But that was what my predecessor started.

I just finished that.

Then things really happened in quick succession.

We have redesigned the children's and youth area as well as the fiction and crime department.

There is a new magazine wall and nice, comfortable wing chairs.

For our projects we received 50 percent funding from the State Office for Public Libraries.

I think there was no renovation in 2021 (smiles).

Are you satisfied with the measures implemented?

Rodenwaldt:

In Germany, attempts have been made to establish public libraries as so-called third places.

This is a non-commercial place with a high quality of stay and a low-threshold offer.

That was important to me and we were on the right track.

Then came Corona.

Everything is different now.

A renewed rethinking will have to take place.

In which direction do you have to rethink?

Rodenwaldt:

You have to concentrate even more on the digital, massively and professionally.

Perhaps we also have to expand a few event formats in the digital framework.

Before the corona pandemic, the city library posted record attendance.

Are you proud of that?

Rodenwaldt:

I am proud of my entire team and of the fact that we have always received advance laurels from the town hall.

But I haven't always been the one to take the initiative.

These are also individual employees who have very good ideas.

My deputy Anja Hagen earned the children's library award that we received.

I am happy that we are so well received.

Where else can you tackle?

Rodenwaldt:

The basement with the non-fiction area could still be equipped with shelves that are as good as new.

There are already new windows and a new carpet.

That would be a nice visual finish.

And I have a drawer with a couple of projects.

But I don't want to anticipate so much.

I leave that to my successor.

The gaming room is also located in the basement.

With this project you were a pioneer in the district.

Rodenwaldt:

Larger city libraries offer something like this from time to time.

But that a smaller library did it was rather new.

There was a lot of support from the city council and the mayor.

Our gaming room has attracted attention across Bavaria.

We have received quite a few email and telephone inquiries from other libraries for advice.

There were often colleagues there who had a look at it on site.

Maybe we got a ball rolling with it.

Because the gaming area was included in the offer in many places.

This offer was certainly also well received by the Geretsried youngsters.

Rodenwaldt:

It has to be said that the main users of a public library in rural areas are children, young adolescents and older adults, i.e. senior citizens.

You mostly miss teenagers and young adults because the library is often not cool in their eyes.

They only come back when they have children of their own.

Of course, the main focus is on media lending.

But there is now so much more that we offer.

So we try to bring the teenagers and young adults to us.

That worked pretty well through the gaming room.

In the meantime, users no longer necessarily have to come by in person.

The digital offer is now diversified.

Rodenwaldt:

Electronic books, magazines, newspapers, audio books and English-language literature are available to our users via the digital eLibrary.

With “Film-Friend” we also have a streaming service with decent films, documentaries and series, also for children, on offer.

All of this can be used from home.

In the current situation, this is also recommended.

The game nights that you initiated also fell victim to the pandemic.

Rodenwaldt:

It was really a project close to my heart.

This created friendships that still last.

Our idea was also taken up by other libraries in the surrounding area.

Everyone has space, tables, chairs and a few board games.

We really miss these evenings.

The move of the city library to the New Center, i.e. to Karl-Lederer-Platz, was also discussed.

Would you have wished that?

Rodenwaldt:

That was talked about once.

It would certainly be interesting to upgrade the New Center as a new cultural center.

But the location here at the school center is at least as interesting because there is a connection.

That is a question of the future.

In mid-December you will be heading to Asia.

Why did you choose China?

Rodenwaldt:

To be honest, I always looked a bit to see what jobs were available elsewhere, but actually more for friends and colleagues.

Then during my research I came across the position at the German School in Shanghai.

There the management of two large school libraries was advertised, and I just applied.

But I only really thought about it when I was accepted.

We haven't been all that great in the world, and now is a good time since our five-year-old daughter will start school next year.

We want to stay there for at least four years, maybe even longer.

Are you leaving Geretsried with a crying eye?

Rodenwaldt:

Of course I don't just go with one laughing eye.

I will miss my colleagues and the town hall.

The cooperation has always been excellent and was really fun.

I don't think it goes without saying that you have such a trusting and pleasant working relationship.

One last question: Christmas is just around the corner.

Your personal book tip for the table of gifts?

Rodenwaldt:

I prefer to read fantasy and science fiction novels.

I was enthusiastic about the Askir series by Richard Schwartz, it's fantastic.

I had a lot of fun on long car journeys with Mario Giordano's Tante Poldi series.

In it, a sprightly pensioner who emigrates to Sicily is repeatedly entangled in criminal cases.

It's really funny.

The Quality-Land series by Marc-Uwe Kling is also recommended.

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By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our regular Wolfratshausen-Geretsried newsletter.