The Silesian Museum in Opava has begun the reconstruction of its library

Opava - The Silesian Regional Museum in Opava has begun the reconstruction of its central library. For 20 million crowns, the building will receive, for example, new shelves. The quantity of available books will be expanded, and readers will no longer have to face long waiting times. The museum's spokesperson, Romana Talačová, informed about this to ČTK.
    "The Central Library of the Silesian Regional Museum is the largest non-university scientific library in Czech Silesia. Thanks to the reconstruction, not only the historic building of the Janotta Villa will be preserved, but also the collection funds," said the spokesperson.
    The extensive reconstruction in the first half of next year will also allow for the creation of new spaces for storing books. "In these, we will be able to place the books that we have so far stored in several different locations. Thus, readers will also feel the results of the reconstruction. We will improve our services and readers will have access to books without waiting," added the head of the library, Jitka Štěrbová.
    The valuable Janotta Villa building was closed to the public in mid-December. Just before Christmas, clearing of the premises began. The museum management hopes that the extensive reconstruction will also save the building. "In addition to protecting the book collections, our goal is also to bring the exterior of the building closer to its original appearance from the 19th century," said Antonín Šimčík, the director of the Silesian Regional Museum. The work is expected to be completed in the autumn of 2012.