
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
Epigraphic Museum-Exhibition Catalogue| The Matter of Myth, Matteo Fraterno
The Epigraphic Museum presented the exhibition of Matteo Fraterno, The Matter of Myth, from 19-12-2024 to 11-04-2025. Using the technique of frottage and with the Museum's permission, the artist reproduced on paper the surface of 29 ancient Greek inscriptions, most of which are located in the museum's courtyard. This was done in 15 days, in the autumn of 2023, as part of a creative residency programme aimed at tracing our cultural heritage. The curator of the exhibition, Katerina Koskina, (Dr. Art History-Museologist) in the extensive text of the bilingual (Greek-Italian) catalogue points out the main axes ...More
National Gallery-Alexandros Soutsos Museum, Nafplio branch| Maria Filopoulou-“Eleftheria”| 24 May-30 October 2025
On Saturday 24 May 2025 a retrospective exhibition of Maria Filopoulou entitled “Eleftheria” will be inaugurated in the temporary exhibition hall of the Nafplio branch of the National Gallery - Alexandros Soutsos Museum. Maria Filopoulou, through her fifteen paintings and two sculptures, reveals to us her own truth and relationship with nature in the field of senses and emotions. Feeling free in the natural environment and especially in the life-giving water, she paints vividly experienced places under patio skies and Mediterranean suns, celebrating human existence and composing the whole of nature bathed in light and rhythm. ...More
Historical Archives-Museum of Hydra| Group Exhibition| “ See you in Hydra ” | 03-29 May 2025
Eight well-known Greek artists with an extremely rich creative past, give their own present in an artistic “See you in Hydra” at the Historical Archives and Museum of Hydra, with a group exhibition that highlights and promotes the power of contemporary artistic creation. Katerina Chatzigiannouli With reference to the place, the history and the timelessness of Art, Panagiotis Tountas, Efi Soutoglou, Katerina Hatzigiannouli, Konstantina Bolieraki, Voula Efthymiou, Cleo Bolieraki, Christina Papadaki and Varvara Spyrouli converse with each other and are inspired by different media and approaches, creating a wonderful visual landscape, an impressive colourful ...More
Open Call| EMΣT X WIELS | Residency Programme
Participation in one session of 6 months: July through December 2025 In partnership with WIELS, Brussels, the current call for applications for a 6-month residency in 2025 is now open to artists from Greece (Greek nationals, or living and working in Greece). The objective of this programme is to encourage and facilitate the mobility of artists and to expand their professional and artistic network. For more information about the WIELS Residency Programme, please contact: [email protected] For any questions about the application, please send an email to: [email protected] APPLICATION GUIDELINES Please fill in the online application form HERE. HOW TO ...More
Leave A Comment