The new National Library in Bucharest, a new building close to the Unirii Square in the city, will be finalized by November this year, following investments of EUR 100 million, all covered by European funding. Construction works on the building started in 1986, during the Communist period and were re-started after 2006.

Three to four halls will be opened every year and the entire library should be opened by 2014. “This is the biggest investment in culture in Romania in the last 20 years. It is an investment of EUR 100 million and EUR 80 million have already been paid. […] I believe that more and more young people will go more to the library than to the mall, because here they will find modern amenities, based on their expectations: internet, digital library, which is information for the century we live in,” said Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc, who visited the construction site of the new library.

Reading halls will total 14,000 sqm, while 3,500 sqm will be dedicated to warehouse and 8,000 sqm of offices. It will also include a restaurant with a view to the Dambovita river, a coffee shop and a hall for cultural screenings.

The Culture Minister decided to turn the building into a Cultural Center and National Library in 2006 and in 2008 the four-floored building and the plot around it were given back to the Bucharest Trade and Industry Chamber.

editor@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Arhivafoto.ro)