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
“Spyridoules” return to the New Vasilakou Theater
Following its premiere at the Athens and Epidaurus Festival in 2023 and its successful run last year, the play "Spyridoules" returns to the New Vasilakou Theater from October 6, every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. The performance is a production of the Athens & Epidaurus Festival and was first presented at Peiraios 260, as part of grape (Greek Agora of Performance), the platform for promoting Greek performing arts abroad. Nefeli Maistrali's "Spyridoules," co-directed by Thanasis Zeritis and Haris Kremmydas for the 4Frontal group, make a powerful return to the stage, bringing back to the forefront the voices ...More
Patras | The play “Rain of Arrows” at the Act Theater | October 11 & 12, 2025
The play "Rain of Arrows," starring Stratos Tzortzoglou and Roula Koutroumpeli, is coming to Patras. A dramatic work that touches on the relationships between the two sexes, human fears and anxieties, but also the power of optimism. Humor and laughter follow emotion in a continuous play of feelings—just like life itself. Summary A man celebrates his sixtieth birthday. While waiting for his guests, he rehearses everything he wants to share with them: his childhood, his profession, his marriage, the women in his life, his fears and anxieties, his mistakes, his truths, and his lies. How far ...More
Fereniki Publications | Book launch-Anxiety: Understanding and Treatment | October 9, 2025
Fereniki Publications are organizing the presentation of Georgios Konstantinos Ioannidis' book entitled "Anxiety Understanding Treatment," which will take place on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. at the IANOS bookstore (24 Stadiou Street, Athens). Keynote speakers : Mr. Leonidas Mantonakis, Psychiatrist, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens The Publisher, Christos Zambounis and the author of the work. Excerpts from the book will be read by actress Georgia Xirou. About the book Anxiety is an integral part of human existence, a primitive survival mechanism that is activated in times of challenge. However, ...More
Michael Rakowitz & Ancient Cultures| The Lamassu of Nineveh sculpture installation at the Acropolis Museum
The Acropolis Museum and the NEON organization present the second part of the trilogy Michael Rakowitz & Ancient Cultures, Michael Rakowitz's work Lamassu of Nineveh (2018), curated by the General Director of the Acropolis Museum, Professor Nikolaos Chr. Stambolidis, and the Director of NEON, Elina Kountouri. It is a sculptural installation in the outdoor area of the Acropolis Museum. The Lamassu, proud guardians of the entrances to Nineveh, victims of antiquities trafficking and colonialism, are now housed in the world's largest museums. The installation at the Acropolis Museum is a commentary on the demand for the ...More
Leave A Comment