The former director of the National Library cut the ribbon at its model

Prague - The National Library in Letná was "opened" this evening in the courtyard of the Letná gallery Scarabeus by students from the Prague Theatre Faculty who sympathize with the well-known octopus designed by architect Jan Kaplický. They titled their event "What will spoil our panorama." They invited the former General Director of the National Library, Vlastimil Ježek, to unveil the approximately one-meter tall model of the blob, who unsuccessfully ran for the Senate today for KDU-ČSL.
The students, hiding under the label Amateur Society of Bookworms, presented a humorous parable dedicated to the selection process for a new library building titled I Like the Blob. They approached the performance as a puppet show, in which instead of puppets they used printed materials - specifically the Civil Code, the Quran, the Bible, Mein Kampf, and two magazines of dubious content. Part of the story took place in "Jehliček's Institute." Before they were burned at the stake, it culminated with the singing of books substituting for puppets the song Where is My Home.
"It was the most beautiful experience of today, which, given the results of the Senate elections in Prague 9, is otherwise a bit bitter for me," Ježek told ČTK. He appreciated that there are still people willing to do something just for their conviction that it should be that way, without expecting anything in return.
"They simply engaged in it because they like the project. Everything that has been done against the new building, they consider unfair," Ježek added about the students.
This politicized project cost him his job when Minister of Culture Václav Jehlička dismissed him from his position at the beginning of September. He explained at that time that the architectural competition was announced in violation of the law, which Ježek disagrees with. The ministry's analyses ruled out continued preparations for the construction of a new library.
"It has been two years and 27 days since a library happening took place not far from here. At that time, an unnamed politician expressed pleasure that in four years he would cut the ribbon at the new library," Ježek said today at the unveiling of the model, which was applauded by about fifty sympathetic spectators. He does not like that reasons are still being sought as to why the competition was bad and why the winning project cannot be realized. "It has more fans outside the borders of the Czech Republic. I remain optimistic and believe that the new library will be built," he added.
A year and a half after the announcement of the results of the international competition, many problems have emerged. The way it was announced has come under fire, reportedly in violation of Czech law. It is pointed out that the winner, with the approval of the jury, violated the competition rules and that the library did not secure land for the construction. Moreover, debates about the beauty or ugliness of Kaplický's design have nearly become a subject of defense of national interests.

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Correction of the article:
The National Library in Letná was "opened" by students of the Secondary School of Applied Arts in Prague. The program also included a short performance by students from the Prague Theatre Faculty.
(21.10.2008)