The cultural treasure of the city
Municipal Library of Patra
Adress: 110 Maizonos Str., Patras
Tel. of Reading Room +30 2610 224813
mail: [email protected]
https://patraslibrary.weebly.com
Municipal Library of Patra
The origins of the Municipal Library of Patras lie in the donation of the library of the “Patra Craft Company” to the Municipality of Patras in 1903.
Δημοτική Βιβλιοθήκη Πατρών – Αναγνωστήριο / Municipal Library of Patras – Reading Room
In 1908, after petitions through the local Press, the Municipal Library of Patras was founded, and the first Supervisory Committee was elected. The Library was housed in the school on the corner of Gounari and Karaiskaki Streets. Two years later, in 1910, the official opening ceremony took place.
The Library closed in 1926, abandoned, and its contents were stored in the basement of the Municipality until 1944, when a group of book lovers transported them to the house of former mayor Ioannis Vlachos and subsequently to the Karamandani Mansion, on 42 Maizonos Street.
Δημοτική Βιβλιοθήκη Πατρών – Αρχιτεκτονικό σχέδιο / Municipal Library of Patra – Floorplan
In 1947 the postwar Municipal Library was inaugurated, with 18,200 books, mostly donated by the public. In 1948, by royal decree, the Library became a legal entity governed by public law. In 1955 the new building was inaugurated, and the books transported there.
Since 2011, the Library is part of a newly founded legal entity governed by public law, under the name “Municipal Library-Cultural Organization of the Municipality of Patras”. It comprises the Central Library (110 Maizonos Street) and the Annex (Eleftheria Square, 26 Fokaias Street). The ground floor houses the Children’s Department and the Municipal Gallery. Visitors can use the reading room, borrow books, access the Internet, use the computers for research purposes, and there are workstations for people with disabilities.
Head of the Library is the librarion Ms. Aikaterini Kourou
Future plans
The Municipal Library of Patras falls under the category of public libraries. Within this framework, its plans include the restoration of the buildings and the upgrading of services and functions, in order to develop into a large central public library that will support the right to self-education and public education, providing access to every resident of the city. Furthermore, it may also become the centre of a network of municipal/public libraries in the neighbouring municipalities and regions.
Δημοτική Βιβλιοθήκη Πατρών – Εκπαιδευτικό πρόγραμμα / Municipal Library of Patra − Educational programme
For the moment, a study for the creation of a modern section for children/teenagers, a department for digital technologies and an exhibition of rare books and documents is underway.
Moreover, funding is being sought for the installation of digital services through the use of radio-frequency identification technology (RFID).
ΕΚΔΟΣΕΙΣ
Two rare local women’s costumes at the Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation PFF
A donation from the "Plomari Ouzo Distillery Isidoros Arvanitis SA" The Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation, thanks to a donation by the Plomari Ouzo Distillery Isidoros Arvanitis S.A. company, has acquired two rare local women’s folk costumes, one from Giromeri in Thesprotia and the excellent "costume in white", a Pomak wedding dress from Livadi, Xanthi; while at the same time the Foundation will be able to preserve two other costumes from Lesvos, the sponsor's homeland. The costumes will be on display on the 1st floor of the Museum until July 25. The collectible packaging for Ouzo Plomari was also ...More
Xenocracy: State, Class, and Colonialism in the Ionian Islands – HOU Publications
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The Aegina of Kapodistrias – ‘Aegina 2021’ Committee of the Municipality of Aegina
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The Revolution of 1821 – HFC Publications
Title: The Revolution of 1821: Eleven Historians trace the course of the revolutionary struggle Author: Collective Volume Publication editor: Christina Theochari Artistic editing: Louiza Karapidaki Text editing and proofreading: Georgia Micha Genre: History Publisher: Hellenic Foundation for Culture Year: 2021 Pages: 341 Dimensions: 24 x 17 cm In this collective volume, prominent historians approach the various aspects of the Revolution and the origins of the Modern Greek State. From the ideological awakening that led to the Revolution and the philhellenic movement abroad, to the heart of the revolution, the war victories and setbacks, and the ...More
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