Hopes that plans in pipeline will make Vallianeios ‘the jewel of Athens’
Athanassios Fokas, who is a professor at the Isaac Newton Center at the University of Cambridge, was appointed president of the new library supervisory committee a year ago. His sole motive is to repay his native land for the many honors it has bestowed on him. Until the appropriate plot can be found for the new National Library, he has decided to acquire a new building that can serve the purposes of the foundation. The Education Ministry secured 6 million euros, through EPEAEK (Operational Program for Education and Initial Vocational Training), to cover the costs of this temporary solution, which involves the purchase of a building with a surface area of 10,000 square meters and the lodging of an international tender in the next few days. «My relationship with the library is entirely fortuitous,» Fokas said, explaining that a high-level official at the Ministry of Education first made the proposal during the Athens Academy sessional meeting in December 2004. «I did not have the time for such responsibilities,» Fokas said. «I replied ‘no.’ If I could help in any other way I would do so gladly.» The proposal was made again and it was his teacher, the famed mathematician Israel Gelfant, who persuaded him. «If you want to do something for Greece, then you should take on the library,» Gelfant told him. «Over the last few years Greece has bestowed on me the highest honors,» Fokas said. «I was made a member of the Academy and a professor emeritus at various universities. I was awarded the Aristeio of the Athens Academy and was decorated by the president of the republic. All that was on my conscience and I decided to accept. I took on the task in March 2005 without any knowledge of the issues and problems that have beset the National Library. Our first task was to safeguard its existing treasure. Afterward we started to examine the problems.» The problems What problems have you encountered and what priorities have you set? The problems are what any library has to deal with in its everyday operation, but also some basic issues concerning the proper functioning of the National Library. For instance ISBN numbers, the precise cataloging of titles (in the polytonic system where it applies) and the problem of multiple copies. Even if we make progress as regards them, the big problem remains: the premises. One day I told the supervisory committee, «So far we have been on the defense; now we will attack.» There are two buildings in Nea Halkidona and in Aghia Paraskevi. Both have problems. They are too small, have high rents, one of them leaks water and in the other they want to push us out. What stage had the building issue reached then? The government had already announced the search for a location to construct the building. At that time there was a site available in Goudi, near the Air Force Hospital. In the meantime, the Niarchos Foundation had already expressed its intention to fund the cost of building the National Library – on the order of 200 million euros. But even if the new site had been found immediately and building had started, it would still have taken five to seven years to complete. That’s why I suggested that new premises be found for purchase or rent. What is the purpose of such an action? First, to empty the existing storehouses and move the material to be stored under better conditions. Second – this is assistant director Aikaterini Kordouli’s idea – to provide a reading room for newspapers and periodicals. Third, and most importantly, once the left wing of the old building is emptied of books it can be renovated and be turned into an area for events. Initially there were reservations, but when the solution to build the library in Goudi fell through, then everyone was more in favor. Education Minister Marietta Giannakou suggested that the new building be bought and 6 million euros have been secured for this purpose through EPEAEK. In search of sponsors Have all the necessary funds been secured for these plans? The funds for the renovation of the existing building have not yet been found. At this moment the building on Panepistimiou Street has a fire safety system that operates with water. The electric installations date to 1930 and there is a high risk of fire. The static restoration of the building has been completed. What remains is its architectural renovation. We want the building to be the jewel of Athens. Architect Constantinos Staikos has already drawn up the plans and we are looking for sponsors. Fokas is full of ideas for the new life of the old building. One of his suggestions is that 10 important artists be asked to decorate the interior with their works. Until then, though, there is no money for either the restoration of the Valianeios Library or for the reconstruction of the new building that will be bought.
