The new library in Sokolov will also have an outdoor terrace

Sokolov - Two houses in the Old Square in Sokolov will undergo a complete transformation after renovation for the purposes of the city library. The two four-story buildings will be fully connected, and an elevator will ensure barrier-free access. The new library will also include, for example, a lecture hall or an outdoor terrace, said Jaroslav Urbánek from the city development department of the Sokolov city office to ČTK. The city recently selected a company to carry out the construction for 35.6 million crowns, with work set to begin in the spring.

"The layout of both buildings will change completely. Due to the weight of the books, entirely new ceilings will be made, among other things. New networks for all necessary connections will also be installed,” said Urbánek. The entrance to the library will be from the Old Square, where library visitors will enter a lobby, which will offer refreshments. From the lobby, there will be separate entrances to the library and the lecture hall, which will allow it to be used even outside the library's opening hours.

On the ground floor of the library, there will also be a club room, reading room, and space for computers. There will be a separate entrance to the library from Křížová Street, near the freight elevator, which will facilitate the delivery and dispatch of books. On the first floor, there will be an adult library section, and according to the project, there should also be facilities for an audio library including listening areas. The company will renovate the dilapidated terrace on the first floor, which is expected to be glazed and thus usable year-round.

The second floor of the library will be used for the children's section. It will have a separate club room with a kitchenette for organizing events for children or even birthday parties. "The attic of both houses will serve as a staff area for the library and as a storage space. Each floor will also have sanitation facilities,” Urbánek added.

The renovation of the houses is expected to take approximately one year, so the new library should open in the spring of 2020. The city library is currently located in rented premises in the Sokolov Castle. However, it lacks barrier-free access, and the museum wants to use the rooms to expand its exhibition. The library in Sokolov is visited by about 60,000 readers annually.