The National Library has a new establishment

The new office of the National Library is going to be open to the public today.

In the first five days will be organized events where visitors will learn about the library's mission and activities.

Library spaces will be opened gradually.

Now are available only seven of the 14 reading rooms, including a space with an unusual destination, reading room for those who still cannot read, or for pupils who enter the preparatory class.

Readers can enjoy in the reading room light lecture and listen to headphone music in the listening room.

In total, the new National Library building shelters 14 large reading rooms, six meeting rooms, an auditorium of 400 seats, 30,000 square meters of storage space for books and 15,000 square meters of multipurpose spaces for exhibitions, auditions, bookstores and coffee shops.

To access the reading rooms is required a permit that is free of charge on the spot with a photo and an ID.

On Sunday, the new office was consecrated by the Patriarch of Romania, Daniel, and with this occasion the National Library director, Elena Târziman said that she wants to initiate partnerships with prestigious professional associations, but also with the institutions that promote culture.

"It was made a good beginning for the National Library of Romania in another stage of its existence. A good start for everything is made by blessing. The support that the Orthodox Church as in the medieval period accompanied culture and civilization is becoming more and more present today with many cultural institutions", said Elena Târziman.

The Minister of Culture, Kelemen Hunor, said Sunday at Radio Romania Actualitati that the effort of this project was a big one, but it worth it.

"I believe that Romania deserves, Bucharest deserves such an institution and I am proud and happy that finally we are not to be ashamed if someone asks us where the National Library is, we must not stand with eyes to the ground and say that in fact we do not have one. It was a big investment, a great effort, but it worth it", said Kelemen Hunor.

National Library opening day coincides with the National Book Day and Copyright celebrated by UNESCO since 1995 and the National Librarian Day, celebrated in our country since 2005.

Regarding the events dedicated to this occasion, the poet Mircea Dan Cipariu said he made "a book program for the international day that involves a book tour on the route Romanian Literature Museum, Writers Union, the Romanian Copyright Office, University Central Library a book debate, "National written culture, the future library, copyright and new media" and finally a concert.”


Translated by Ioana Vioreanu
MTTLC, Bucharest University