The City Library has renovated its branch in Prague 10, it is now the House of Reading

Prague - The Municipal Library yesterday opened its renovated branch on Russian Street in Prague 10. The reconstruction took nearly four years and cost over 92 million crowns, including new equipment. The library named the branch House of Reading, as according to the chief librarian Jaroslava Štěrbová, visitors will now find a place to sit with a book and a club room where various events will be held. Today, the library will also open the renovated Stodůlky branch.
    The building where the library is located has been completely rebuilt over four years. According to the director of the Municipal Library in Prague Tomáš Řehák, only part of the skeleton of the original structure from 1983 remains. "The building didn't have a ground floor, just a second and third above-ground floor. Not everything could fit into it. It had to grow outwards on all sides," architect Jan Janoušek, who participated in the renovation project, told reporters. Thanks to this, the area of the library has approximately tripled, now totaling 1,200 square meters.
    In addition to books, readers can also borrow maps, DVDs, and CDs with spoken word at the branch. Besides the now common internet access including a wireless network, the building is equipped with a children's corner and changing tables.
    According to Janoušek, the House of Reading represents a trend towards which libraries are currently heading. Besides a selection of beautiful and educational literature, people can lounge on sofas with lamps, receive advice from specially trained librarians, or simply meet each other. A so-called club room was created on the second floor, which can be separated from the rest of the library by sliding doors. In this space, the library plans to host poetic evenings, a creative writing club, and discussions with authors.
    The library is also preparing literary competitions, a club for parents and children, and programs for schools in the new space. The first event will be this Saturday to celebrate Children's Book Day. Interested parties will be able to listen to readings from children's books or learn about the publications of Fragment and Baobab publishers.
    The library will open another renovated branch today in the Mlejn cultural center in Stodůlky. It was closed for about two years. The renovation of the entire building, which cost approximately 185 million crowns, was financed by the Prague 13 municipality, while the library only covered the new interior equipment, amounting to around 1.4 million crowns.