IFLA Public Library of the Year 2026 Winner

The Mesa Gateway Library (USA) has been named IFLA/@James Bennett’s Public Library of the Year at the IFLA World Library and Information Congress 2026 in Busan.

The Mesa Gateway Library goes beyond the traditional concept of a library. Designed as a community-focused hub, it brings together spaces for reading, collaboration, and innovation. Its dramatic pleated roof forms a protective canopy within the Arizona desert landscape, connecting separate program areas and creating an inviting public space that seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor experiences.

Other shortlisted libraries included West Las Vegas Library in Nevada, USA, Library+ Caloundra on Australia’s Sunshine Coast, and Xiong’An Library in Hebei Province, China. West Las Vegas Library was recognised for its strong community focus, creating an inclusive civic hub rooted in local culture and social connection. Library+ Caloundra demonstrated the power of sustainable adaptive reuse, transforming a vacant civic building into a high-performing community destination for learning, creativity, and engagement.

Meanwhile, Xiong’An Library stood out as a major cultural landmark, combining striking architecture, advanced technology, and extensive public facilities to support the growth of a sustainable, future-focused community.