Airport Library at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is the world’s first airport library and a much copied example around the world. The library has repeatedly been proclaimed by foreign visitors as one of the best places to stay at Schiphol.

Airport Library is located on Holland Boulevard, after security at Schiphol. This is the area where passengers traveling outside the Schengen countries can relax while waiting for their (connecting) flight. Airport Library is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science.

Opened in July 2010, the world’s first airport library measures 90 square meters. The first discussions about creating the library began in 2006, at ProBiblio’s offices, which happen to be in the shadow of Europe’s fifth-busiest airport. The library offers e-books and music by Dutch artists and composers that can be downloaded, free, to a laptop or cellphone. The library also is equipped with Apple iPads loaded with multimedia content, including photos and videos, that is likewise devoted to the theme of Dutch culture. A digital guest book invites visitors to jot down their musings or leave messages for wayward companions.

In 2014 Airport Library closed due to renovations at Schiphol. The renewed Airport Library opened on 7 September 2017, under supervision by the Stichting Collectieve Propaganda van het Nederlandse Boek (CPNB). Since 2019 the Dutch foundation for literature (Nederlands Letterenfonds) is responsible for Aiport Library, and the daily exploitation is carried out by the Dutch library organization Probiblio.

According to airportlibrary; nytimes