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
Eleven new entries in Greece’s National Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage
The Ministry of Culture announces the registration of eleven new items in the National Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Greece, in accordance with the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (UNESCO, 2003). The Directorate of Contemporary Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Culture was responsible for collecting and processing the data. These were approved by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Council, with the participation of the communities and organizations that bear this living heritage. The Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, stated: "The registration of the eleven new elements highlights the cultural diversity of Greek ...More
The Sanctuary of Pythian Apollo is being restored on the acropolis of Rhodes
The restoration of the Temple of Pythian Apollo in the ancient acropolis of Rhodes (Monte Smith) is currently underway by the competent Directorate of Restoration of Ancient Monuments of the Ministry of Culture. The project aims to restore and reinforce the monument, as well as to protect and preserve it from deterioration due to intense erosion and adverse climatic conditions. After the monument has been dismantled and the fallen and dismantled members have been recorded in detail, the original ancient structural members are separated and preserved, while the remaining structural members of the modern restorations are ...More
Hungarian László Krasznahorkai wins the 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature | Βy Panos Liakos
In a press conference that was as concise as usual, the Swedish Academy announced its final decision for the 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature on Thursday, October 9, 2025. Taking over from South Korean Han Kang (1970), László Krasznahorkai (1954) from Hungary was honored this year with this highest literary distinction. Born in the Gyula region, the Hungarian author initially followed in his father's footsteps in law, but ended up getting his PhD in literature (with a thesis on the work of Sándor Márai) from the University of Budapest and initially working as an editor at ...More
Book launch- Evanthis Chatzivasiliou| National Schism. The impact on institutions and political culture | October 21, 2025
Public and Patakis Publications are organizing the presentation of the new book of Evanthis Chatzivasiliou National Schism. The impact on institutions and political culture Keynote Speakers Evangelos Venizelos, former Vice President of the Government and Minister of Foreign Affairs, former President of PASOK, professor emeritus at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Thanasis Diamantopoulos, Professor Emeritus, Panteion University Angelos Syrigos, Professor, Panteion University, Member of Parliament for Athens A with the New Democracy party Public (Karageorgi Servias 1, Syntagma Square) Tel.: 2108181333 About the book The National Schism, which began in 1915, was the longest political conflict in ...More
Leave A Comment