Response from the Ministry of Culture to the open letter

Dear Sir,

On behalf of the Minister, I am responding to your letter dated May 24, 2007, in which you express doubts about the suitability of the intended use of the National Library of the Czech Republic's Klementinum building after its reconstruction and the relocation of selected service units to the planned building in Letná.
Allow me to express my opinion that addressing the issue of the use of the Klementinum area at this moment is, in my view, somewhat premature. First, it is necessary to secure the construction of the new building in Letná, to which part of the services, namely the section of modern collections, should be moved. According to information from the leadership of the National Library of the Czech Republic, a significant component of the National Library of the Czech Republic – the Slavonic Library and the Department of Historical and Music Collections – will remain in the Klementinum area.
I am convinced that the Klementinum area will continue to serve cultural purposes in the future, namely for activities carried out in accordance with the statute of the National Library of the Czech Republic as a state subsidy organization that utilizes its property to ensure the activities for which it was established. I can promise you that, in addressing the future use of the Klementinum area after the construction of the new building in Letná, the opinions of collaborating cultural and scientific institutions, including Charles University, will also be taken into account.

Sincerely
A. Toman