The postponement of the construction of the new library is also delaying the repair of Klementinum

Source
Markéta Horešovská
Publisher
ČTK
24.01.2008 10:25
Czech Republic

Prague

Prague - The planned construction of the new National Library (NK) building will be delayed by a year by the end of February. At a time when the National Library team should definitively decide whether the building designed by Jan Kaplický will be constructed in Letná, nearly a year will have passed since the announcement of the results of the international architectural competition. The delayed construction is also holding up the renovation of NK's main headquarters at Klementinum.

The baroque complex and the depositories are still being filled with more books - according to NK, the capacity of Klementinum is the main reason why the new building is to be constructed. "Some works on the renovation of Klementinum, such as restoring frescoes, can be postponed by a year or two. However, filling the depositories is a problem; finding alternative and temporary capacities is very difficult," said NK director Vlastimil Ježek to ČTK.
A few days ago, the library submitted an updated investment plan to the Ministry of Culture, which includes a year delay and adjusts the work schedule; however, costs remain the same for now. The state budget allocates 151 million crowns this year for the renovation of Klementinum and carries over a reserve of 14 million from last year. Overall, it plans to spend 886 million on the repairs of the building. For the new construction this year, it considers 218 million, which are designated for land adjustments and preparatory work. The ministry conditions the disbursement of funds on the fulfillment of conditions, i.e., resolving the land issues.
The timing of the start of construction can only be speculated at this point. According to some opinions, a potential problem could arise from the condition of closing a contract between NK and the city regarding the land for the library, which talks about the necessity to obtain a building permit for the new construction by the end of this year. The NK director admits that this deadline cannot be met. However, if the National Library team allows Kaplický's construction to proceed in Letná, it is expected to try to negotiate this condition with Prague.
NK has divided the Klementinum renovation into three phases, but the crucial phase depends on the existence of the second building. This phase, however, pertains to a large part of the building, about a third to half.
The first phase of the repairs has been ongoing for two years, which includes the opening of a refreshment area and a café in the library, the repair of façades and the wing leading to Karlova Street, and the accessibility of the Klementinum Gallery, where the famous Devil's Bible is currently on display. The second phase will begin after the relocation of the collections of the State Technical Library, which is renting space in Klementinum and is constructing its own building. Although there have been delays, this should be completed by the end of 2009. The Slavic Library will then move into this wing, which will also require partial adjustments of the space. The third phase is expected to commence after the new building is completed, where modern library collections, numbering in the millions, will relocate.
Ježek intends to make Klementinum more open - in addition to its library function, he wants the library to serve visitors and educational purposes; he believes that the premises could also host conferences. This fact faces resistance from some individuals in academic circles, who fear that Klementinum could become a tourist attraction. They argue that Klementinum will not be utilized after the completion of the second building, and suggest it could be used by Charles University. Ježek counters that Klementinum will remain primarily a library.
NK is currently signing a cooperation agreement with the university; the library offers Charles University the possibility of using space for educational purposes. However, according to the school's spokesperson Václav Hájek, the specific form of cooperation will only take shape after 2010.
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