Open Letter on the Appropriate Future Use of Klementinum

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open letter

Subject: Citizens' Initiative Regarding the Appropriate Future Use of the National Cultural Monument Klementinum

Dear Minister,
we are reaching out to you as current and former regular users of the services of the National Library of the Czech Republic, as current and former students of Charles University, or other universities in Prague, as citizens of the Czech Republic, and as residents of Prague.
Following the presentation of plans for the construction of a new building for the National Library, the framework plans for the use of the national cultural monument Klementinum have now been published, which, as the core of the National Library, provides a vast range of services for the broadest circle of users. These plans are surely known to you as the representative of the governing body of the National Library.
In connection with these plans, we would like to express our serious concern and fear that the leadership of the National Library intends to implement a change of purpose for Klementinum that would deny its current mission of serving the public, despite the fact that the unprecedented opening to the public is presented by the National Library's leadership as a goal of the changes: the building may be opened to the public, but for purposes that have little in common with public librarianship (i.e., the statutory goal of the National Library) or education (the reason for the construction of Klementinum and the content of its services). On the contrary, after more than 400 years of existence, the building is essentially to be taken away from those for whom it is intended: primarily students of all disciplines, scientists, researchers, and readers. This does not change the fact that the Slavic Library, ancient manuscripts, and music collections will still remain here in the future, serving only a marginal portion of the current users. Furthermore, parts of the building are to be unnecessarily allocated to several essentially private institutions, even if they are cultural. If the modern Central Depository of the National Library continues to operate in Hostivař, established with a view to further construction, and if a multi-billion investment into the construction of a new National Library building is currently being discussed, in our opinion, the need for the Klementinum building for the National Library after the completion of the new building is very questionable, especially in regard to the purposes that the leadership of the National Library envisions it fulfilling.
Therefore, we believe that in searching for a future appropriate use of the Klementinum, representatives of Charles University, as well as the academic and professional community, should be invited to discuss this issue as equal partners, since Klementinum has served for centuries alongside Karolinum as the second natural center of Charles University (and by extension Czech education in general), from 1622 to 1945, or until 1958 when the University Library was transformed into the State Library, the predecessor of today's National Library. It can, however, be said that Klementinum, due to its central location and the absence of a university library, continues to serve precisely as a university library and study room. We therefore believe that, given the indications of a real interest from the University in the Klementinum complex appearing in the press, the outcome of considerations regarding the future of the complex after the relocation of the National Library to the new building should be its transfer to the administration of the University. To the administration of the University, which historically, morally, and in terms of the needs of current university operations (the issue of university campuses, the lack of a central university library and study room, a general shortage of space) belongs in our opinion.
Dear Minister, we wish you great success in your work and thank you for considering this initiative in the discussions about the future of the National Cultural Monument Klementinum. We would also appreciate any notification regarding this matter.

Sincerely,

Adam Křístek
Marek Hilšer
Jan Brabec
Berenika Kučerová
Vít Georgian
Jana Vobecká
Petr Záruba
Hana Koubková
Milan Rejtar