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
Greek Community of Melbourne | Seminar with Dr. Dilek Özkan Pantazis | Fortified Cities and Border Dynamics: Ottoman Military Strategy in the Peloponnese in the 18th Century | June 25, 2026
This paper examines Ottoman military strategy in the eighteenth-century Peloponnese through the lens of fortress-towns and their role in frontier governance. Rather than treating fortresses solely as static defensive structures, it approaches them as active sites of military organization, administrative control, logistical coordination, and imperial reconstruction after the Ottoman reconquest of the Morea in 1715. Focusing on key fortress-towns such as Navarino, Nafplio, Methoni, Korinth, Koroni, and Patras, it explores how the Ottoman state maintained authority through repair works, garrisoning, provisioning, labor mobilization, and the management of surrounding rural populations. It argues that Ottoman strategy in the ...More
The “Chronotopia” project, which received the G. & A. Mamidakis Foundation’s 2026 Art Award, was inaugurated
A few days ago, the sculpture installation Chronotopia by Caitlind R.C. Brown and Wayne Garrett from Canada was unveiled in Agios Nikolaos, Crete; the work won the 2026 Art Award from the G. & A. Mamidakis Foundation. Set on a hilltop surrounded by greenery, the sea, and the open horizon, Chronotopia was a unique experience for those who attended the presentation from Crete, Athens, and abroad. The large-scale site-specific sculptural installation, which stood out among more than 450 proposals from 65 countries, will remain on permanent, open display as part of the G. & A. Mamidakis ...More
The 8th Loutraki International Film Festival “BRIDGES” continues in full swing with films, honorary awards, and visual surprises!
The 8th Loutraki International Film Festival “BRIDGES” continues to draw unwavering interest, offering the public unique cinematic and artistic experiences while building bridges of communication between filmmakers and audiences. On a particularly moving evening, the Festival honored the great actress Alexandra Ladikou for her long and valuable contribution to theater and film. At the same time, audiences in Loutraki and the surrounding area had the opportunity to attend the world premiere of the dramatized play “A Season in Hell” by Ilias Malandris, based on the letters of Arthur Rimbaud and translated by Stratis Paschalis. The event ...More
Epikentro Publications| Nikolaos Chr. Papageorgiou—The Painters of Samarina: From the 18th to the 20th Century
Title:The Painters of Samarina: From the 18th to the 20th Century Author: Nikolaos Chr.Papageorgiou Publisher: Epikentro Subject: Art History Year: May 2026 Pages: 280 The painters of Samarina constitute one of the largest and longest-lasting artistic groups of the late Ottoman period. The first painters from Samarina to sign their works by mentioning their place of origin appeared in the late 18th century. During the 19th century, the number of painters from Samarina increased dramatically, and members of these “artistic” families continued their work into the early decades of the 20th century. The painters worked in ...More
Leave A Comment