<html>Národní knihovna a Klementinum: Je třeba vrátit se na začátek</html> <html>National Library and Clementinum: It is necessary to return to the beginning</html>

Publisher
Kateřina Lopatová
16.01.2008 22:50

The theme of the National Library, awakened by the competition for its new building and since then almost continuously discussed, is still alive. Moreover, the signatories of the open letter sent to three representatives of the executive power and the mayor of the capital city believe that the debate should be returned to the very beginning. Leading Czech scholars and educators point out that the discussions in the last ten months, taking place mostly within the confines of "like - dislike," do not reflect the significance and values of the place at stake. They highlight the absence of preparatory studies – for instance, an urban university master plan that would respect university life in the center of Prague as part of the authenticity of the Prague Monument Reserve protected by UNESCO. They suggest the establishment of a preparatory committee composed of representatives from the government, Prague, the National Library, and Charles University. As Luboš Velek, a teacher at FF UK, mentioned today, "The National Library has usurped decision-making and is now caught off guard by developments." The committee should, moreover, proceed from the fact that the discussed new construction of the library should not be addressed separately from the renovation project of Klementinum.

As further stated at today's press conference, Karlova Street – now almost synonymous with the commercialization of the city center, an artery clogged with shops selling souvenirs for tourists – should not be expanded into Klementinum. "I feel the Disneyfication of the city..." Václav Cílek sighed. He added that student life "dilutes the enjoyment of the city by tourists", who come not only to visit the Church of St. Nicholas but also to soak in the atmosphere. "A vibrant atmosphere is an economic value." No one knows what will really happen to Klementinum after the books are moved out. Therefore, this former Jesuit center of education, where university books have been residing since 1622, deserves at least an independent study on its capacity and potential. Currently, students from the Emil Přikryl School of Architecture at Prague's AVU are working on it. Jiří T. Kotalík also recalled one of the proposals by Ladislav Machoň, who previously considered linking Klementinum with the opposite Strahov Monastery via an underground tunnel.
Although the press conference took place at a time coinciding exactly with another significant public theme – the press conference of Radiožurnál, which was set to present a new controversial broadcasting scheme initiated by Barbora Tachecí – a large number of media representatives came to the AV CR building to raise questions related to the library issue. It will now depend on them whether they recognize the significance of this topic amid a flood of new issues, one which has already passed its media-attractive youth. And it will depend on politicians whether the weight of the academic titles of the signatories represents a sufficient weight in the confrontation with other values that are asserting themselves in the world of market economy – enough to prompt them to respond appropriately.

We present the open letter in its full wording.

The English translation is powered by AI tool. Switch to Czech to view the original text source.

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Učenci proti učencům za práva učenců:-)

Fedi

18.01.08 05:06

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0 29.04.2016 | Librarians at the National Library are reconsidering a new building, as the capacity is reportedly insufficient

0 04.11.2010 | The ministry will choose a new head of the National Library

4 03.11.2009 | The reconstruction of Clementinum will begin at the beginning of the year