Bright Idea You may not think to put the Reykjavík City Library on your must-do list, but there are a lot of good reasons to drop into this bright, spacious and airy interior. Consider the following: On the first floor, there is a large selection of newspapers and magazines (in eight languages no less) and these are as recent as the papers in the shops downtown. There is also a frequently freshened bulletin board and a large space allocated for information booklets and flyers about what's on and where. Moreover, the sofas are comfy, there's coffee available on the first floor, and plans are afoot to add a snack vendor to save avid readers from the plight of the rumble-tum. The library collection includes a broad selection of English and Scandinavian fiction, and a good range of factual books on Iceland, published in English, German and French. And the children's department is quite wonderful too: equipped with its play area for the energetic little ones and special computers for the older kids. Internet access is available at a nominal fee for non-card holders on the first floor, should you want to log on and check your mail. Upstairs on the fifth floor, there are terminals available for longer periods (more suitable for those who want to surf or do research). And if all that were not enough, once you've settled down with a coffee and your selected reading, you can also pick a CD from the music collection and borrow a portable CD player from the lending desk. Reykjavík City Library, Tryggvagata 15, 101 Reykjavík, tel.(+354) 552 7545. Open Mon.-Thur. 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Fri. 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 1 p.m.-5 p.m. www.borgabokasafn.is ART CAPITAL Framing the North First time visitors to Reykjavík often have difficulty believing the rich and very evident appreciation for arts and culture that exists in this city, with its mere population of 100,000 citizens. There are many impressive visual arts facilities housing both traditional and modern works in the capital. The Reykjavík Art Museum is located in three different buildings in the city, each one of them unique. Kjarvalsstadir, a modern, one-level building set in a picturesque park a short distance away from the city centre, is home to a collection of works by Iceland's greatest painter, Jóhannes S.Kjarval. Aside from this collection, a number of contemporary artists, Icelandic and international, exhibit in the spacious premises. The stunning white simplicity of the Ásmundur Sveinsson Museum in the Laugardalur valley is a sculpture in itself. The museum and accompanying sculpture garden are dedicated to the works of modernistic sculptor Ásmundur Sveinsson. The most recent and most impressive addition to the Reykjavík Art Museum is the Erró collection located in the Harbour House. The large, austere building formerly housed the Port of Reykjavík's offices and warehouses, and was recently transformed by the same architects responsible for the City Hall into a magnificent backdrop for modern art. The museum features a collection of works by some of Iceland's finest 20th-century artists, and frequently plays host to the work of renowned international names. Originally conceived as a home for the statuesque works of Paris-based Icelandic pop artist Erró, the museum opened a comprehensive exhibition of his works on midsummer's night, June 23. The exhibition will run until January 2002, and after that at least one exhibition hall will be permanently dedicated to the artist's works. Reykjavík Art Museum's buildings have proved to be a popular spot for Reykjavík's art-loving population, not only for the works on display but also for the charming cafeterias at Kjarvalsstadir and the Erró Museum. The panoramic view from the large, north-facing windows of the Harbour House includes the quaint harbour, framed by its newly renovated surroundings. All the Reykjavík Art Museum buildings have a museum shop where visitors can buy prints, postcards, sculpture replicas and other art souvenirs to remember Reykjavík by. Reykjavík Art Museum, tel.(+354) 552 6131 IMAGE CONSCIOUS With its collection of 1.5 million photographs, negatives and prints, the Reykjavík Museum of Photography is one of the most important documentary sources in Iceland. This collection includes images taken by both amateur and professional photographers, and together these not only capture the physical and social circumstances of the nation throughout the decades, but also exude the feeling of those moments in time. The museum's roles are multifarious, being responsible for the collection and cataloguing of images, the organisation and execution of exhibitions (which include the work of both Icelandic photographers and photographers from abroad), and the provision of an educational service to schools and higher educational establishments. The Reykjavik Museum of Photography relocated recently to Grófarhús, in the city center, above the City Library. The 3rd of November 2001, the RMP opened the exhibition Contemporary Reykjavik, showing works from 17 Icelandic photographers. In co-operation with the Art Museum of Reykjavik and The Art Festival in Reykjavik , the RMP will open the exhibition MARY ELLEN MARK: American Odyssey in May 2002 at Kjarvalsstadir. Ljósmyndasafn Reykjavíkur, Grófarhús, Tryggvagata 15, 101 Reykjavik, tel. (+354) 563 1790. The RMP is open Mon.-Fri. 10 p.m.-16 p.m., Exhb. Mon-Fri. 12 p.m.-5 p.m and Sat. -Sun. 1 p.m.-5 p.m. HISTORY REVISITED The past comes to life Built around the old picturesque farm of Árbær, the Reykjavík open-air folk museum, Árbæjarsafn, opened in 1957 to present a cultural history of Reykjavík. The popular museum constantly strives to expand its permanent collections, but it also presents various changing exhibitions and guest programmes which have become favorites amongst tourists and residents, such as the annual handicraft and haymaking day. This summer the museum provides an exciting line-up of activities and exhibits that will allow one to revisit the past, like 'History of Reykjavík, From Farm to City', an exhibition that traces the history of Reykjavík from the time of settlement to present day. Special emphasis will be placed upon economic developments and working life. In addition to exhibitions, the museum also oversees the island of Videy, located in the middle of Faxaflói Bay. Videy is a must-see summer destination that's steeped in history. Videyjarstofa, Iceland's first building made of stone - now a popular restaurant - is located on the island, as is Iceland's second oldest existing church (est. 1774) which, during the summer months, holds services ever other Sunday. Videy is perfect for bird watching, and has many trails that offer visitors spectacular views of Reykjavík and an up-close look at Mt. Esja. The museum is open in summertime Tue.-Fri. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sat.-Sun. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. In Wintertime on request. For information on ferries to Videy, call (+354) 892 0099 or (+354) 581 1010. Árbaejarsafn, tel. (354) 577 1111, e-mail: [email protected], www.arbaejarsafn.is